Agriculture Minister Dr. Md. Abdur Razzaque MP said, there are many challenges in food security in the country. There are 170 million people in the country and it is increasing by 22-23 lakhs every year. On the other hand, the amount of cultivable land is decreasing due to various reasons. There are also adverse effects of climate change.
In this situation, feeding the people of the country, becoming self-sufficient in food is a difficult challenge. Scientists are working relentlessly to address this challenge.
Many new varieties of crops and cultivation techniques have already been developed. As a result, it is possible to meet the challenge of food security despite the gradual increase in population.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the “BRRI-81 Variety of Paddy Cutting and Farmers' Rally” programme in Gomstapur upazila of Chapainawabganj district on Thursday. The event was organized by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
The minister said, “Today, BRRI-81 variety of paddy is being harvested in this field of Rohonpur in Barind region. Its yield is much better. It produces 31 mounds per bigha and about 1 mound per decimal of land. It is like the popular BRRI-28 and BRRI-29 varieties. BRRI-28 and 29 have been cultivated for a long time but productivity is declining.
That is why this new BRRI-81 variety has been taken for rapid expansion at the farmer level. Farmers are also showing great interest in cultivating it. Cultivation of this high yielding variety will significantly increase the production of paddy and it will play an expected role in the food security of the country.”
Chapainawabganj Deputy Commissioner Md. Manjurul Hafeez presided over the function while, Director General of BRRI Dr. Shahjahan Kabir gave a welcome speech on the occasion.
Among others, local MP Samil Uddin Ahmed Shimul, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Kamalaranjan Das, Chairman of the BADC Dr. Amitabh Sarkar, Director General of DAE Md. Asadullah, former DG of DAE Hamidur Rahman and BARC Executive Chairman Dr. Sheikh Md. Bakhtiyar spoke.
BRRI DG Dr. Shahjahan Kabir said, BRRI Rice 81 and BRRI Rice 28 varieties are complementary. But it is thinner than BRRI-28 and does not get tilted during storm. The special feature of this variety of rice is that the leaves remain green even after ripening. Gives very good yields from medium to high lands. The yield of this paddy is very good in Naogaon, Rajshahi, Natore, Satkhira, Khulna, Jessore, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah. The average yield per hectare is 6.5 to 7 metric tonnes.
He added, after cooking this rice it becomes one and a half times longer like basmati. This rice is high in amylase, which is above 25 percent. The rice is crispy and delicious to eat. Ataap rice made from paddy can be exported abroad. It contains 10.3 percent protein, which is only 8 percent in BRRI Rice 28.
