The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

The farmers during the current season achieved a bumper production of aromatic rice in the country's northern region with its harvest ended recently.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said that cultivation of fine as well as aromatic rice has been gaining popularity in northern Bangladesh over the recent years because of its huge demand and higher prices in markets.

They said cultivation of such rice has been increasing due to favourable climate and special steps taken by the DAE, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and several NGOs.The experts are expecting brighter prospects of increased production of different fine and aromatic rice in the country's northern region including greater Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogra and Rajshahi districts.

Chief Scientific Officer of BRRI Dr M Abdul Majid and DAE expert Nur Mohammad today told BSS that farmers are bringing more lands under the aromatic rice farming every year. There are huge potentials for enhancing fine and aromatic rice production by utilizing the latest agri-technologies and existing natural resources, they said adding, these varieties could be exported after meeting local demand.

In this respect, they stressed the need for ensuring adequate supply of aromatic paddy seeds and creating more facilities for exports by further encouraging the farmers to boost production.

Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer of Rangpur Alhaj Delbar Hossain called for more importance on minimum use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides and introduction of integrated pest management system. Presently, he said, aromatic and fine variety rice is being cultivated in less than two per cent of the total lands under rice cultivation. Crushing and processing systems for these varieties of rice should be improved up to the international standard, he observed.

The BINA, DAE and BRRI experts called for intensifying the innovation of more high yielding varieties of fine and aromatic rice that could be adapted with the topographic and climatic condition of the country for increased productions.

According to the experts, such rice including Basmoti, Chinigura, Kalijira and BR-34 being produced in the region are of international standard to attract the buyers in the global markets.

The BRRI and BINA have so far released six varieties of aromatic rice at the growers' level and the agri-departments and several NGOs including RDRS have been working hard for increased productions of the rice and seeds.

The per kg price of all varieties of aromatic rice marked a sharp fall by Taka 20 on an average than that it was one month ago due to appearance of huge quantities of newly produced such rice as well as bumper production this year, market sources said.