The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

The bumper harvest of experimental farming of the 'Hira', a high yielding variety (HYV) of rice, ended on Tuesday here at village Purbo Bairag in Anwara with jubilation.

Hundreds of enthusiastic farmers and onlookers from different villages watched the harvesting session ignoring the ugly summer heat.

A private seed distributor - Supreme Seed Company Limited - brought the HYV rice seed Hira in Bangladesh and hosted experimental farming of the variety on 900 hectors of land in Chittagong.

A harvest of 11.32 metric tonnes has so far been made from the experimental farming of the variety, which is nearly double than the production of ordinary variety of rice in the region.

Shahidul Khair, a farmer at the city suburb Anwara, and the partner of the experimental farming said that he did not even expect such a bumper production.

"I'm really impressed with the production size and I'll ask fellow farmers to try it next time," he said while giving his feeling on the outcome of the experiment.

Officials of the company are optimistic of increased production of rice using the HYV Hira seed. They hoped that at least 2000 hectors of land would be brought under the Hira farming next season.

Deputy Director of Agricultural Department Anisur Rahman presided over the harvesting session while Additional Director AK Azad joined it as chief guest.

Former joint Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) Jamal Ahmed, Managing Director of Supreme Seed Company Limited Mokfur Uddin Akon, Agricultur Advisor Ibrahim Khalil among others joined the session.