County’s scientists working to manage growing demand for food : Razzaque

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DHAKA, May 8, 2021 (BSS)- Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque today said the country’s scientists have been working relentlessly to meet the growing demand for food of the country.

“Recently, many improved varieties of paddy including BRRI -81, BRRI -89, BRRI -92 and BRRI -100 have been invented. The yield of BRRI -81, BRRI -89 and BRRI-92 varieties of paddy is much higher. By cultivating these varieties, a new green revolution will take place in the country. Food production in the country will increase many times and there will be no food crisis in future. All of these would happen because our scientists are working relentlessly to meet the growing demand for food of the country,” he said.

He was speaking at a programme on ‘ BRRI -89 and 92 varieties of paddy cutting and farmers’ gathering’ at Mushuddi-Kamarpara at Dhanbari Upazila in Tangail as the chief guest.

The programme was organized by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

The minister said that mustard can be produced in the free period of time in the same land by cultivating boro paddy and aman paddy using BRRI 89 and BRRI 92 varieties under improved cropping pattern.

Every year the country has to import a huge amount of edible oil worth Taka 15,000-20,000 crore from abroad, he said.

If these two varieties (BRRI-89 and BRRI-92) are cultivated, mustard can be produced as an additional crop, he added.

As a result, mustard production will increase and oil import will decrease, he continued.

With Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir in the chair, the programme was addressed, among others, by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Md Mesbahul Islam, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension M Asadullah , Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Director General Dr Md Nazirul Islam, Tangail Deputy Commissioner Md Ataul Gani and Superintendent of Police Sanjit Kumar Roy.

Earlier in the morning, the minister inaugurated the distribution of VGF programme worth more than Taka 1.43 crore to 31,187 families at Golabari Union Parishad in Madhupur as gift of Prime Minister on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

At that time, the minister said, there is no food crisis in the country.

“Now boro paddy is being harvested all over the country. Even then, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving this gift on the occasion of Eid so that no one has to suffer for food on Eid.”