A team from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) appreciated the premium quality rice (PQR) value chain process in northern Bangladesh. They appreciated this while visiting Bengal Auto Rice Mills at Pulhat, Dinajpur and exchanged views on PQR production, milling and marketing with mill owners, PQR growers, Local Service Providers (LSPs) and traders.
Dr. came from Washington. Zachary P. Stewart, who is a production systems specialist at the Bureau of Agriculture-Led Development, Sustainability, Environment and Food Security. He and his team conducted research in the northern region of Bangladesh during a three-day trip under his leadership.
They were joined by John Laborde and Muhammad Nuruzzaman, from USAID’s Bangladesh Mission, and Program Director of Sustainable Agri-Food Management at CIMMYT, Mexico. Siglinde Snape and CIMMYT Country Representative for Bangladesh Dr. Timothy J. Krupnik.
The Crop Management Initiative for South Asia CSISA-III project, funded by USAID and implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the International Maize and Wheat Development Center (CIMMYT), expanded the PQR value chain in Khulna Division since 2016 and in Rangpur Division since 2019. And actively involved in development.
Jahangir Alam, owner of Bengal Auto Rice Mills, said he used to procure BRRI dhan50 (Banglamati) from the southern part of Bangladesh. However, since 2019, he has been buying 30% to 40% of the annual demand for BRRI dhan50 locally from CSISA-beneficiary PQR farmers’ groups and others, after establishing ties with CSISA.
