The New Nation - Internet Edition

The scientists of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) have developed three new rice varieties, namely BRRI dhan-48, BRRI dhan49 and BRRI hybrid dhan 2.

The National Seed Board (NSB) has recently released the varieties for mass cultivation. With these three, the total number of BRRI developed high yielding modern rice varieties stand at 50.

Yield of BRRI dhan48, a transplanted Aus variety with 115 days growth duration, is 5 tons per hectare (7.47 biga).

Its milled rice is medium size and cooked rice non-stiky. It is moderately resistant against bacterial blight, says a press release.

BRRI dhan49, a transplanted Aman variety with 135 days growth duration, has the potential to yield half of a ton per hectare more than BR11 and one ton more than BRRI dhan 32. Size and taste of the variety are like that of the Nizersail.

The variety would meet the long time demand of the farmers and consumers. Intensity of pest attack in the variety is much less than that of BR11`. Stem of the variety is strong enough to keep the rice plant upright during stormy wealth. Moreover, it is 7-10 earlier than BR11.

BRRI hybrid rice scientists have developed another hybrid rice, namely BRRI hybrid dhan 2 suitable for the Boro season and the agro-climate conditions of he country.

It has 8.5 tons yield per hectare with 145 days growth duration. Its milled rice is medium slender and cooked rice is non-sticky. NSB released the variety for mass cultivation in Dhaka, Comilla, Jessore and Rajshahi.

In 2003, BRRI for the first time developed BRRI hybrid dhan 1.

Experts say, cultivation of the three varieties would contribute much to attain food security of the country.