Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Aug 31, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is promoting modern agricultural technologies at the field level under its "Location-Specific Rice Variety and Technology Innovation and Existing Research Development (LSTID)" project to boost rice production, increase 
farmers' income and build a sustainable farming system in coastal areas amid the impacts of climate change.

As part of the initiative, more than 50 farmers in a technology village in Batiaghata upazila of Khulna received modern agricultural inputs free of cost today.

The programme was organised at Boyarbhanga Technology Village under the jurisdiction of BRRI Satellite Station in Khulna.

Farmers were also provided with urea, TSP, MOP, gypsum, zinc fertilisers, pesticides and other necessary agricultural inputs, along with signboards.

Agriculture in coastal Khulna remains vulnerable to salinity, waterlogging, tidal fluctuations and cyclones.

Against this backdrop, BRRI scientists are focusing on selecting rice varieties suitable for local environmental conditions and farmers' needs, while promoting modern production technologies.

Project Director Dr Md Anwar Hossain said agro-ecological conditions vary from one region to another in Bangladesh.

"Identifying farmers' problems according to regions, developing suitable rice varieties and technologies, and expanding and popularising them at the field level are among the major objectives of the LSTID project," he continued.

He described technology villages as an effective platform for taking research findings to farmers' fields.

"Effective technologies will be rapidly disseminated among farmers through activities in the technology villages," he added.

Chief Scientific Officer and Head of BRRI Satellite Station, Khulna, Dr Md Sazzadur Rahman said balanced fertiliser application, proper water management and pest and disease control, alongside improved varieties, are essential for achieving desired yields.

"Farmers are being provided with regular technical advice and field-level support on these issues. This will help reduce production costs and improve yields and efficiency in technology use," he said.

BRRI Scientific Officer Billal Hossain said direct field-level activities are being carried out to transfer research-based technologies to farmers effectively.

"Through technology villages, farmers are receiving hands-on guidance on cultivation, crop management and pest and disease control of improved rice varieties," he added.

Farmers said their interest and confidence in rice cultivation had increased after receiving direct guidance on cultivating BRRI-developed high-yielding varieties-BRRI dhan112, BRRI dhan110 and BRRI dhan103-during the current T. 

Aman season, along with advice on balanced fertiliser use, pest and disease management and modern cultivation methods.

They expressed hope of achieving good yields this season if such support continues.

Technical support will also continue at the field level to reduce farmers' production costs, increase land productivity and make agriculture more profitable and sustainable, they added.