Preserving aroma of the golden past

Cultivation of these varieties are now on the rise as farmers are becoming interested, thanks to the efforts by officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Moulvibazar district.

Farmers in the district still grow at least 42 varieties, most of which have nice smell and elegant names. Some of these varieties are very favourate to people. It is part of local culture to serve rice from these varieties during functions like wedding ceremony. Limited quantities are also exported to the United Kingdom for Bangladeshi expatriates there.

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DAE officials said they have collected a total of 80 varieties of paddy seeds in the district with cooperation from Bangladesh Seed Industry Development Corporation. Forty-two of these are traditional local varieties. These have been collected from different areas of Moulvibazar district.

These include Beer Kajal, Sonamukhi, Jorina, Bansful, Moyna Shail, Tulsimakha, Vagyaswari, Thakurbhog, Modhumaloti, Samudra Fena, Chinigura, Porbotzira, Kalizira, Lakhir and some varieties of Binni paddy. Specialty of Binni rice is that it is gluey when cooked. Productivity of Binni paddy is very low. Binni rice is very popular. It is cooked to entertain guests in any festival. Each farmer in Moulvibazar cultivates Binni paddy, though in small scale, to meet family needs.

The DAE officials said that of late, cultivation of some varieties like Joyanti, Dhumni Chengri, Kartikshail , Guashail, Raja Shail, Arai, Goroi, Dudh Luky, Khasra and Chengamukhi have increased in Moulvibazar.

People of the district have urged the DAE to preserve local variety at any cost as these paddy have a glorious tradition in rural Bangladesh.

DAE official Anil Kumer Das said the government have also given importance to preservation of local varieties of paddy and the DAE is inspiring farmers to do that.

To motivate farmers, DAE is training them on preservation of the seeds and improved methods of their cultivation, he told this correspondent. The method outlined by DAE now helps farmers to preserve the paddy seeds for two years, he said.

DAE is also holding seed fair in different areas.

The DAE experts are of the view that with modern cultivation methods and favourable weather and soil conditions in Moulvibazar district, yield from the local varieties will increase without loss of their quality and aromatic flavour. These varieties would also be able to earn foreign exchange, they hoped. Cultivation of these varieties will also help preserve the environment, they said.