If the cultivation of new high-yielding varieties of rice can be spread throughout the country, it will be possible to export rice to meet our own needs, said the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Md. Abdus Shaheed.
He said, our main food is rice. Currently our population is 17 crores. To meet the food demand of this growing population, we must increase the production of rice. Therefore, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the cultivation of new high-yielding varieties of paddy should be spread throughout the country. Then it will be possible to export rice to meet our own needs.
The minister said this at the Boro Paddy Cutting Festival organized by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRI) at Rustampur village in Hail Howe of Srimangal Upazila of Moulvibazar on Monday.
The Agriculture Minister said, Boro paddy supplies more than half of our total rice production throughout the year. That is why we have provided incentives of more than 215 crore rupees to the farmers to increase the cultivation and yield of Boro this year also. As a result, Boro rice has been planted in 50 lakh hectares of land across the country this year. This year there is a target of 2 crore 22 lakh tons of rice production.
Addressing the farmers, he said that the yield of new varieties such as Bri rice 89, Bri rice 92, Bangabandhu rice 100, Bri rice 102, Binadhan 25 etc. is much higher than the old varieties Bri rice 28 and 29. By cultivating these new varieties of rice, the farmers got an unprecedented yield. The average yield of varieties per bigha has been 25-30 maunds depending on the area. Their cultivation should be increased.
Earlier, in response to questions from journalists, the minister said that the price of rice has been determined by calculating the cost of production of Boro rice, so that the farmers get a fair price. Compared to last year, the price of paddy has been increased by two rupees per kg this year.
The minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving agricultural machinery to farmers with 70 percent subsidy. This is a rare example in the world. Right now, about 9 thousand combine harvesters are harvesting paddy in Howar. As a result, it is possible to harvest rice quickly and the wastage of rice during harvest is also reduced.
Moulvibazar District Commissioner Urmi Binte Salam presided over the event, local MP Mohammad Zillur Rahman, Additional Secretary of Agriculture Ministry Shah Md Helal Uddin, Director General of Rice Research Institute Shahjahan Kabir, Director of Agriculture Extension Department Tajul Islam Patwari, Sylhet Region Additional Director Md Matiuzzaman, Deputy Director Samchuddin Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Manjur Rahman and others spoke.
After the ceremony, the minister distributed combine harvesters at subsidized prices among the farmers. Besides, interesting cultural programs including Dhamail, Jhumur dance are performed.
Tags: cultivation highyielding varieties rice increased rice exported Agriculture Minister
