The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has organised a seminar on Tuesday in Gazipur on effects of devastating cyclone Sidr and other unfavourable conditions in rice cultivation.

Dr Asdelbagi M Ismail and David E Jonshon, two scientists from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines, presented the seminar paper entitled 'Enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses in rice: coping with the warming globe' focusing on ways and means of dealing with such natural/hazards, says a press release.

The scientists said breeding of rice varieties tolerant to salinity, submergence and other stresses can be remedy for continuing rice cultivation in coastal regions of Bangladesh.

BRRI Director General Dr Md Nur-E- Elahi, BRRI Directors Dr BAA Mustafi and Dr MA Salam, IRRI Liaison Scientist Dr M A Hamid Mia were present on the occasion.

'To maintain food security on short- and long-term basis, the need of the hour of Bangladesh is to preserve the local rice germplasms as well as developing location specific high yielding varieties that can grow defying high stresses of salinity, submergence, drought and other unfavourable situations,' the speakers emphasised.

More than two hundred scientists and officials attended the seminar that also called for a national workshop to accumulate and disseminate all the available knowledge on the issue.