PABNA, June 8, 2026 (BSS) - An initiative has been launched in Pabna to expand the cultivation of zinc-rich rice as part of efforts to improve public health and address nutritional deficiencies, particularly among children and women. 

As part of the programme, 13,200 farmers in the district are receiving free zinc-enriched rice seeds for cultivation this season.

To support the initiative, a day-long training workshop was held on Monday at the office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Pabna. The workshop aimed to enhance the skills of field-level agricultural officers in promoting and expanding zinc-rich rice cultivation across the district.

The programme was jointly organized by HarvestPlus Solutions Bangladesh and Nutrition Agriculture Bangladesh in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

A total of 42 Deputy Assistant Agricultural Officers from four upazilas of Pabna participated in the training. The workshop was conducted by Dr. Hirendra Nath Barman, Chief Scientific Officer of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute's (BRRI) Sirajganj Regional Station, and HarvestPlus Project Manager and Master Trainer Md. Zakiul Hasan.

Among those who addressed different sessions of the workshop were Pabna DAE Deputy Director Md. Jahangir Alam Pramanik, HarvestPlus Solutions Bangladesh Country Manager Md. Wahidul Amin, Programme Manager Md. Mujibur Rahman, District Training Officer Saiful Islam and Additional Deputy Director of Pabna DAE Md. Rafiul Islam.

Speaking at the workshop, Md. Rafiul Islam highlighted the importance of zinc in human health, noting that zinc deficiency can lead to various diseases and hinder the normal growth of children.

"Currently, zinc tablets and medicines are widely used to address this deficiency. However, the nutritional requirement can be met more naturally through zinc-rich rice. The Agriculture Department is therefore working to expand the cultivation of these varieties," he said.

He added that while zinc-rich rice has been cultivated on a limited scale in recent years, efforts are now underway to significantly increase production in Pabna through direct support and motivation for farmers.

During the technical session, Dr. Hirendra Nath Barman said that Bangladesh currently has 127 registered rice varieties, of which only 10 are hybrid varieties. Among these, only a handful are rich in zinc.
    
He identified BRRI dhan74, BRRI dhan84, BRRI dhan100, BRRI dhan102, and BINA dhan20 as notable zinc-enriched rice varieties. According to scientific studies, these varieties contain more than 25 milligrams of zinc per kilogram of rice.

HarvestPlus Master Trainer Md. Zakiul Hasan said farmers in the Rangpur Division have achieved significant success in cultivating zinc-rich rice over the past few years. Building on that success, the programme has now been expanded to Rajshahi Division, with Pabna, Natore, and Sirajganj selected for implementation this season.

He said the distribution of zinc-rich rice seeds has already begun in Pabna and will be extended to other districts in phases.

Agricultural experts said that zinc-rich rice can be cultivated using the same methods as conventional rice and offers comparable yields. However, farmers are being encouraged to adopt these modern varieties due to their significantly higher nutritional value and potential contribution to improving public health.