DHAKA, Feb 22, 2023 (BSS) - Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), an agricultural research institute in Bangladesh, is going to celebrate the golden jubilee of its establishment tomorrow.

The BRRI has taken a two-day long programme to celebrate its tremendous success in the history of the country's rice production.

On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages. 

"Paddy, our main food grain, is not only involved with our daily life, but this staple cereal is also part of our culture . . . So the advancement of agriculture means the progress of the entire nation," said President Hamid in his message. 

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced the 'Green Revolution' after the independence of the country for attaining food sufficiency in Bangladesh, he said, adding "Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in food production due to implementation of the agricultural-friendly initiatives of the incumbent government in line with the strategy illustrated by the father of the nation."

President said the government has ensured the supply of fertilizer and seeds in time along with providing financial assistance for purchasing farm machinery which ultimately has helped the country to secure the third position in rice production in the world.

Despite the grand success in paddy production, Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh is also facing a big challenge to ensure food and nutrition of the huge population due to the growing population, depletion of farmland and various reasons linked to the adverse impact of climate change. 

Recalling the significant role of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), he urged all the concerned to disseminate the inventions of BRRI to the remote areas across the country as the institute has so far invented a total of 111 stress tolerant high yielding paddy varieties, including eight hybrid paddy varieties.

Lauding the role of BRRI, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in the message, said the BRRI has enacted two strategies titled 'Rice Vision -2050' and 'Doubling Rice Productivity by 2030' as the strategies will act as a 'road map' in realizing the farsighted policies of the incumbent government.

The Prime Minister said the ruling Awami League government in line with the electoral manifesto of 2018, National Agricultural Policy-2018 and other policies has adopted an integrated agricultural policy. 

In the last five decades, she said the country has witnessed four times raise in food production despite an increase of population, depletion of farmland and various environmental hazards. 

The Premier said as the BRRI is well-equipped organization compared to any nation across the world and that's why the institute will contribute towards building the 'Smart Bangladesh' by making the country's food security sustainable.