RANGPUR, July 8, 2018 (BSS) – Director General (DG) of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Agriculturist Mohammad Mohsin has put emphasis on popularising cultivation of Aman rice varieties evolved by Bangladesh Rice
Research Institute (BRRI) to further increase rice production.
“The field level agriculture officials should ensure proper cropping pattern of BRRI invented short duration Aman rice for its successful cultivation,” he said at a workshop held at Dinajpur on Saturday afternoon as the chief guest.
He suggested making exhibition plots to popularise the BRRI-evolved rice varieties and taking steps to prepare late variety Aman rice seedling to recoup crop losses from floods.
Rangpur Regional Station of BRRI organised the workshop titled “Steps necessary for cultivation of Aman rice in Dinajpur-Rangpur regions to increase production” at BRAC Learning Centre in Dinajpur district town.
Presided over by Director General of BRRI Agriculturist Dr Md Shajahan Kabir, Director (Field Service Wing) of the DAE Agriculturist Dr Md Abdul Muyeed and Director (Admin) of BRRI Agriculturist Dr Md Ansar Ali addressed
the event as special guests.
The Regional Additional Directors, Deputy Directors, Additional Deputy Directors, Upazila Agriculture Officers of the DAE, horticulture specialists, agriculture scientists, representatives of NGOs and farmers from all over
Dinajpur and Rangpur agriculture regions participated in the event.
Principal Scientific Officer and Chief of Rangpur Regional Station of BRRI Agriculturist Dr Md Abu Bakar Siddique Sarker delivered keynote presentation.
Horticulture Specialist at DAE’s Rangpur regional office Agriculturist Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam and Deputy Director at its Dinajpur regional office Agriculturist Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman delivered presentations on behalf
of their offices respectively.
Rangpur Regional Farm Broadcasting Officer of the Agriculture Information Service Agriculturist Md Abu Sayem moderated the function.
Dr Sarker discussed viability of farming BRRI-evolved flood-tolerant rice varieties like BRRI dhan52 and BRRI dhan79 on low-lying lands and drought-tolerant rice BRRI dhan56, BRRI dhan57, BRRI dhan66 and BRRI dhan71 on
drought-prone lands in the regions.
He suggested cultivating of the BRRI-evolved photo sensitive rice varieties like BR22, BR23, BRRI dhan46 and BRRI dhan34 during post-flood period in flood-prone areas to recoup crop loses.
He also suggested farming BRRI-evolved premium quality rice BRRI dhan34, BRRI dhan70 and BRRI dhan80 varieties in Dinajpur region and stressed the need for cultivation of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan62 and BRRI dhan72 during Aman
season.
Dr Sarker discussed proper methods for agronomical, weed and pest managements and suggested not using pesticide before 30 days since transplantation of seedling to get maximum yield rate of Aman rice.
Dr Shajahan Kabir in his concluding speech asked the participating field level agriculture officers to properly utilise the knowledge and recommendations they acquired from the workshop for ensuring hassle-free
cultivation of Aman crop this season.