Call for expanding BRRI Dhan-52 farming

NETRAKONA, Apr 10 (BSS): Crop specialists here on Tuesday laid emphasis on cultivating a new submergence tolerant rice variety to face the climate change impacts and ensure food security in Bangladesh.

They called upon the farmers to cultivate BRRI Dhan-52, a new stress tolerant rice variety, as it has significant positive impacts on the rice yield when fields remain submerged for up to 20 days with no yield penalty.

Crops specialists of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Bangladesh and Bangladesh Agriculture university, Mymensingh were speaking at a training programme for farmers held at the conference room of Agricultural Extension Department (DAE), Netrakona.

The training programme was organised under the auspices of IRRI Bangladesh and DAE.

"The unique characteristic of the newer rice variety BRRI Dhan 52 is that it can withstand and survive even after remaining under standing water for a period up to 20 days" the crop specialists added.

Deputy Director of DAE Netrakona Bilash Chandra Paul addressed the opening session of the training programme as the chief guest with country coordinator of the IRRI, Bangladesh professor Dr. Lutful Hasan in the chair.