New aman variety to ease monga

The NGO said its experiments and filed trial along with Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) showed that the variety of rice that can be planted and harvested at least 50 days ahead of BR-11 or any other aman varieties.

The experiments were done for years at RDRS' research centre at Uttom.

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The NGO hopes to introduce the variety to farmers in northern districts in the next Amon season.

"Monga during the Bangla months of Ashwin and Kartik in grater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts can be removed to a great extent if farmers cultivate BRRI Dhan- 33 during aman season," said RDRS Agriculture Co-coordinator MG Neogi while talking tot this correspondent.

Neogi explained that the life span of BRRI- 33 is around 100 days and it becomes ready for harvest in the first week of Arshwin. Other Amon varieties take 120 to 140 days, he said.

As there is no work in fields in northern districts during Arshwin and Kartik, about 90 percent day labourers remain jobless during the time.

Neogi said, cultivation of BRRI Dhan- 33 in the region

will create jobs for farmers as well as day labourers during Arshwin and Kartik.

RDRS has also published a prospectus of BRRI-33 that says the variety reduces cultivation cost by 30 per cent because unlike other Amon varieties, it can be sawn directly in field and does not need transplantation.