Agriculturists for regular consumption of zinc-enriched rice

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RANGPUR, Nov 10, 2017 (BSS) – Agriculturists at a crop cutting ceremony on Thursday laid emphasis on regular consumption of zinc-enriched rice to ensure normal physical and mental growths of the people of all ages.

“Each kilogram of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice contains 22.8 milligram of zinc, consumption of which meets micro-nutritional demand of the people,” said Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for Dinajpur region Agriculturist Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman.

Rahman was addressing the ceremony arranged on demonstration plot of BRRI dhan72 rice of farmer Shoilen Chandra at village Dakshin Krishna Nagar under Birganj upazila of Dinajpur yesterday as chief guest.

The DAE in association with HarvestPlus Bangladesh, RDRS Bangladesh and Mohanpur Union Innovation Centre organised the ceremony to harvest zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice, a press release said here today.

Assistant Agriculture Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mahbubul Alam, Programme Manager (Field Coordination) for Dinajpur Tapan Kumar Saha, Agriculture Officers Rabiul Alam and Nazma Begun addressed, among others.

Farmer Soilendra Chandra narrated his experience about cultivation of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice in the ceremony.

He got 5.75 tonnes of paddy per hectare after harvesting cultivated zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice.

Agriculturist Mahbubul Alam elaborately discussed on farming technologies, agronomical managements and benefits of cultivation and consumption of zinc-enriched rice.

“Around 44 percent children and 60 percent women in Bangladesh are at risk of zinc deficiency and they require supplementation of essential micro-nutrients for normal growth and healthier life,” Alam added.

Dr Mahbubur Rahman called upon the farmers for enhancing cultivation of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice to meet micro-nutritional demand of children, pregnant women and common people for building a healthier nation.