DAE experts for expanding cultivation of zinc-enriched rice

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RANGPUR, Oct 6, 2017 (BSS) – Experts of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) have called upon the farmers for expanding cultivation of zinc-enriched rice to meet nutritional demand of the people.

“Consumption of zinc-enriched rice prevents deficiency of zinc, iron and vitamin-A of the people,” said Deputy Director of Panchagarh DAE Shamsul Haque at a farmers’ field day held in village of Sarderpara under Sadar upazila of Panchagarh district on Thursday.

He was addressing the event jointly organised by DAE and RDRS Bangladesh on the occasion of harvesting zinc-enriched BRRI dhan62 rice on the crop field of farmer Isahaque Ali as the chief guest, a press release said today.

He said each kilogram of BRRI dhan62 rice contains 19.4 milligrams of zinc and its consumption could meet nutritional demand of the children, women and common people.

With Programme Manager (Filed Coordination) of RDRS Bangladesh for Panchagarh Hasina Pervin in the chair, Boda Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Al Mamun-Ar-Rashid addressed the function as the special guest.

Assistant Coordinator (Agriculture) Agriculturist Mahabub Alam, Agricultural Research and Development Officer of HarvestPlus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin Mandal, Agriculture Officer Feroz Bulbul, among others, spoke.

Hasina Pervin said 2,025 farmers have cultivated zinc-enriched BRRI dhan62 and BRRI dhan72 rice on one bigha of land each in 29 unions of Panchagarh during this Aman season with assistance of the HarvestPlus Bangladesh Programme.

Agriculturist Al Mamun-Ar-Rashid suggested for cultivation and consumption of zinc-enriched rice to increase disease resistant capacity of the people of all ages, reducing risks of diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia, maternal and neonatal deaths.