RANGPUR, Oct 29, 2018 (BSS) – Agriculturists at a crop cutting ceremony
have stressed on expanded cultivation and regular consumption of zinc-
enriched rice to meet nutrition for normal physical and mental growths of the
people.
“Each kilogram of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice contains 22.8 milligram
of zinc, consumption of which meets micro-nutritional demand of the people of
all ages,” said Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) for Nilphamari Agriculturist Abul Kashem Azad.
Azad was addressing the ceremony arranged on demonstration plot of BRRI
dhan72 rice of farmer Mozammel Hossain at village Paschim Bodi in Kishoreganj
of Nilphamari on Sunday afternoon as the chief guest.
The DAE in association with HarvestPlus Bangladesh, RDRS Bangladesh and
local Ranochondi Union Federation organised the ceremony to harvest zinc-
enriched BRRI dhan72 rice, a press release said today.
Kishoreganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Enamul Haque, Field
Supervisor of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Abdul Mazed Mian, its
Agricultural Officer Atikur Rahman, Agricultural Research and Development
Officer of HarvestPlus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin Mandal addressed as special
guests.
Farmer Mozammel Hossain narrated his experience of BRRI dhan72 rice
cultivation this season in the ceremony presided over by President of
Ranochondi Union Federation Rezaul Haque.
He got 6.10 tonnes of dry paddy yield per hectare after harvesting his
cultivated zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice.
Agriculturist Abdul Mazed Mian said 475 farmers have cultivated BRRI dhan72
rice this season in Nilphamari where 6,000 farmers were brought under the
zinc-enriched rice cultivation programme during both Aman and Boro seasons
beginning from 2014.
Agriculturist Enamul Haque discussed farming technologies, agronomical
managements and benefits of cultivation and consumption of zinc-enriched
rice.
“Pests attack on zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice during cultivation is less
than other rice varieties, its rice is of fine variety and white in colour
and less urea fertiliser is required for its cultivation,” Haque added.
The chief guest said cultivation of zinc-enriched rice varieties has
already become popular among farmers of Rangpur region bringing more profits
to them following less farming cost and higher yield rate.
He urged farmers for enhancing cultivation of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice
to meet micro-nutritional demand of children, adolescents, pregnant women and
common people for their normal growth and healthier life.