Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir said that with the improvement in the living standards of the people of the country, the demand for fine and fragrant paddy has increased.
Aromatic rice is being cultivated on commercial basis in different parts of the country not only for farmers’ family needs. This paddy cultivation requires equal labor but the profit gained from this is more compared to other varieties, he added.
The official further said, therefore, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has taken initiative to expand commercial cultivation of high yielding aromatic and premium varieties.
The DG was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural workshop on ‘Scaling Up Premium Quality Rice in Northern Region of Bangladesh’ organised by BRRI and non-governmental organization ASSEDS, Raiganj and Sirajganj funded by Agricultural Research Foundation under the Ministry of Agriculture.
BRRI and ASSEDS jointly organized a workshop titled ‘Scaling Up Premium Quality Rice in Northern Region of Bangladesh’ at the premises of non-governmental organization ASSEDS, Raiganj, Sirajganj on Saturday.
“Golden paddy is the golden dream of the paddy farmer, an integral part of the history, tradition and culture of this country,” he said. For a long time now, in the home festivals of the rich and the poor in rural and urban areas, various delicacies made of fragrant and premium rice have been a part of our tradition.
It is a part of Bengali culture to serve various delicacies including Polaw, Biryani, Kachchi, Finni, Pithapuli made of fragrant rice to entertain guests in various festivals and events including Eid-Puja and other festival. Therefore, cultivation of high yielding varieties of fine and fragrant paddy should be increased.
Chairman of the ASSEDs and vice-president of the Bangladesh Krishak League agriculturist Dr Sakhawat Hossain presided over the workshop while, as an honored guest Additional Director of Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Bogura Region Agriculturist Dr Yusuf Rana Mandal.
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On the occasion, Ariculturist Dr Md Humayun Kabir, Chief Scientific Officer and Head, Department of Applied Research, BRRI Dr Shah Kamal Khan, Project Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Agriculturist Md Abu Hanif Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture Extension, Sirajganj, Agriculturist Md Dulal Hossain, Deputy Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Bogura and others were present as special guests.
Dr Md Rafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer, Department of Applied Research, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute presented the main article in this workshop.
Dr Biswajit Karmakar, Principal Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute discussed on the main article while, open discussion episode was conducted by Dr Khandaker Md Iftekharuddaula, Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Plant Breeding, BRRI.
Among others, heads of different departments of BRRI, Upazila Agriculture Officers of Raiganj and Tarash Upazilas of Agriculture Extension Department, Agriculture Extension Officers and Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officers, officials of non-governmental organization ASSEDS were also present there.