A gateway to higher rice production

The BRRI Highbred Rice-1 used by farmers at three places in the northern region under the supervision of Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), an NGO, has given around 15 per cent higher yield than hybrid seeds imported from China and India.

The paddy grown by farmers at Debipur in Thakurgoan for the first time in the just concluded IRRI-Boro season was harvested on May 20 in presence of officials of BARI, IRRI and RDRS.

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"It is really a great achievement for Bangladesh", said Dr MA Hamid Miah, IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) official and former Director General of BARI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute).

"The seed will give higher yield and save time and money for farmers", he said while addressing as chief guest the officials and farmers on the occasion of a 'field day', organized by Debipur RDRS Union Federation (a federation comprises over 200 farmers).

RDRS had supplied mother seeds to farmers under an agreement with the BARI.

RDRS officials said they will have another agreement with BARI and multiply the seed through contract growers and market it throughout the country.

Experimental production of the seed by RDRS Zoldhaka Union Federation in Nilphamari and Mohendranagor Union Federation in Lalmonirhat also gave similar yield, RDRS officials at the simple ceremony said.

They said the climate of Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari districts is favourable for cultivation of the highbred rice seed.

Talking to this correspondent, RDRS Senior Programme Manager (Agriculture) Mrinmoy Guha Neogi said the BRRI hybrid seed will give at least 15 per cent more yield than imported hybrid seeds and other high yielding varieties now being used and reduce farmers' cost.

RDRS will be able to supply the seed at not-more-than Tk 50 per kilogram against its import price of Tk 100 per kilogram now, he said.

The seed will be multiplied through contract farmers under buy-back arrangement, he said.

Another RDRS agriculturist, Zeaul Hoque, said the maximum yield from the BARI hybrid seed was 10 tons per hectare and the minimum was six tons. This is higher than from seeds imported from India,

China and other countries, he added.