<i>Scientists see bright prospect for high-yielding BINA Dhan-7</i>

19 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Agriculture scientists accompanied by farmers visit a field of BINA Dhan-7 during the 'Field Day' arranged to make locals familiar with the early high yielding variety of aman rice in Rangpur yesterday. Photo: STAR

BINA Dhan-7 bears bright prospect for a massive change in the socio-economic condition and food security status in the monga-hit northern region as opportunity to cultivate a third crop (an additional crop) in a year will benefit both the farmers and farm labourers. Scientists of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh and Agriculture Extension Department (AED) and farmers expressed the hope as they met on a 'Field Day' on the prospect of the high yielding variety of aman rice at Joyrampur Anwar village in Mithapukur upazila yesterday. BINA and Rangpur AED with the assistance of a few NGOs cultivated the early variety rice on 7000 hectares of land in greater Rangpur region this season. Ideal for the soil and climate of the region, BINA Dhan-7 is least affected by natural calamities like flood, drought and pest attack, said Dr Lokman Hakim, chief scientific officer (Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Division) of BINA. Farmers can get about 4.7 to 5 tonnes of rice per hectare by cultivating BINA Dhan-7 and the fine quality rice will be more profitable than usual varieties, said Dr M Raisul Haider, principal scientific officer (Training Communication and Publication Division) of BINA. BINA Dhan-7 can be harvested in mid-October and it will create job opportunity for the farm labourers during October and November when monga prevails in the northern region, speakers said at the function. International Atomic Energy Agency developed the variety in Vietnam in 1999. BINA brought the variety and conducted experiment and research on it for long. In 2007, National Seed Board of Bangladesh approved it as BINA Dhan-7. Plant Breeder of International Atomic Energy Agency Qingyao Shu also spoke on the occasion.