Bangabandhu Dhan 100, invented by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Gazipur will hit the fields by next 2025 in full swing. Zinc enriched, non-aromatic and fine rice will capture the market for its quality and medicinal potentials throughout the country. The field level trial of the rice is running for the second year in the country. Both the BRRI and department of agriculture extension (DAE) have been conducting trials among the farmers at filed level that will enter in the market through Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC).
A number of farmers have been producing foundation seeds form the mother seeds on trial basis at some villages of Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah. The farmers have been showing eagerness to cultivate the same for rapid expansion among the farmers due to add zinc, its comparably fine quality of grain, short duration for 150 days and better prices for the farmers, said a source related to the BRRI in Gazipur.
Farmer Ibnul Kuau Nine alias Parash of village Talbaria under Harinakudu upazila of Jhenaidah when contacted at his filed said the farmers in the area have been cultivating the Bangabandhu Dhan 100 on trial basis to produce foundation seeds from the mother seeds this season. They are expecting 7.50 to 8.00 tones on each hectare which will benefit the farmers due to its non-aromatic nature, fine grains and better prices in the market.
The seeds produced in the plots will be distributed among the farmers for future to expand the same.
Jillur Rahman, a leader of HEED Samabaya Samity in the locality when contacted said he had collected 100 kilograms of Bangabandhu Dhan 100 mother seeds from BRRI in Gazipur and took it in the field for foundation seed production to benefit the farmers as well as to ensure zinc enriched rice for the people.
Director General (DG) of the BRRI Dr Shahjahan Kabir when contacted said they had invented Bangabandhu Dhan 100 adding zinc considering the malnutrition of the children and mothers. Further, the non-aromatic rice is fine in quality and palatable in taste. It seems to be Jiramati or Nizershail and ensures better prices for the farmers. The sort duration paddy will help strengthen socio-economic state of the farmers. Although they brought it in 2022 for the first year, they will be able to take in the fields by 2025 after a certification of the BADC Seeds section.
BRRI had distributed 100 tones of the mother seeds in last season, while another 500 tones in the current season. Bangabandhu Dhan 100 will play significant role in removing the malnutrition of the people of the country as well as consumers in outside the country in future as both BRRI and DAE have been working join hands to make the rice popular, BRRI DG Shahjahan Kabir informed.
