RAJSHAHI, Nov 14, 2020 (BSS) – Agricultural scientists and researchers today underscored the need for enhancing boro paddy yield to ensure food security in the country amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic situation.
There is an enormous scope of boosting the paddy production after the best uses of modern varieties and technologies, the discussants said, urging the field level officials and scientists concerned to put in their best efforts to reach those to the grassroots farmers on priority basis.
They came up with the observations while addressing a regional workshop titled “Way Forward to enhance Boro Paddy Production in Rajshahi Zone” at conference hall of Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) in Rajshahi.
Rajshahi Regional Station of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) organized the workshop in association with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Additional Secretary (Research) of the Ministry of Agriculture Komolaranjan Das addressed the workshop as the chief guest, while BRRI Director General Dr Shahjahan Kabir was in the chair.
BCSIR Director Dr Muhammad Ibrahim and DAE Additional Director Sirajul Islam spoke as special guests, while BRRI Principal Scientific Officer Dr Fazlul Islam and DAE Deputy Director Khayer Uddin Mollah illustrated the successes, so far, achieved in the rice production sector in their two separate keynote presentation.
Dr Fazlul Islam told the audience that BRRI has developed 14 Boro varieties of paddy which are appropriate for Rajshahi region including its vast Barind tract.
Of those, Brridhan50 is export-oriented premium quality rice, Brridhan58 is comparatively high yielding and Brridhan62 and 84 are iron and zinc-enriched, he said.
Dr Islam said there is no way but to enhance the rice production through facing the existing challenges of adverse impact of climate change side by side with gradually declining of resources.
Komolaranjan Das urged the DAE officials and others concerned to expand the paddy varieties to the farmers for better yield as food security is largely depended on rice production.
He said concerted efforts of all scientists, researchers and officials are very important to boost paddy yield to feed the gradually increasing population of the country.
Dr Shahjahan Kabir told the meeting that the conventional varieties are being replaced by modern varieties which are good signs for the region in terms of boosting yield.
More than 150 paddy related scientists, researchers and officials from both government and non-government entities concerned joined the workshop sharing views on the issue.