Production of zinc rice seeds stressed

Experts at a meeting have stressed on increasing production of zinc rice seeds and its smooth marketing to enhance cultivation, production and consumption of zinc rice for improving nutritional status of people.

They viewed this on Sunday at the ‘Zinc Rice Seed Value Chain Actor’s Meeting’ at the conference room of Sundarganj upazila under Gaibandha district on Sunday organised by RDRS with assistance of HarvestPlus Bangladesh.

Fifty participants including farmers, seed dealers, seed company representatives, seed entrepreneurs, officials and experts of RDRS Bangladesh and HarvestPlus participated the function.

The upazila agriculture officer Rashidul Islam attended the event as the chief guest while seed dealer Nawsha Miah chaired the event

Head teacher of Belka Majidpara Girls’ High School, Abdul Mannan Akond, Songho project representative Mostakim Hossain, farmers Ayesha Khatun and Abdul Majid, seed dealer Sarwar Hossain, seed entrepreneur Younus Ali spoke among others.

Speakers said, Zinc Rice varieties- BRRI dhan -74, 84 and 100 farming is being popular among the farmers in the region due to extensive works of RDRS Bangladesh and DAE’ s support in Rangpur region. They urged the seed companies to ensure the supply of quality seed of the rice variety.

They said inc deficiency hinder physical and mental growth of children, causes infertility, baldness, maternal problems, disease infestation, diarrhea and pneumonia and other complications.

They suggested the farmers to cultivate the BRRI dhan varieties of zinc rice for their high yielding nature, diseases resilient capacity and suitable in the late boro farming season.