Drought-tolerant Balaka wheat variety cultivation gains popularity in N dists

JOYPURHAT, Apr 16: Drought-tolerant and high-yielding Balaka wheat variety cultivation is gaining momentum across northern districts for the last few years.

The farmers are making good profit cultivating the wheat variety spending trifling capital in Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Chapainawabgaj and Natore districts of northern region.

Meanwhile, farmers of Bogura agri-zone grow over 0.1 million metric tonnes of wheat but the annual demand is approximately 0.2 million metric tonnes. On the other hand, Rajshahi agri-zone grows 0.12 metric tonnes against the demand of 0.2 million tones.

Besides, Rajshahi and Bogura regional wheat research centre have taken several initiatives including observation of field day to popularise the new varieties of wheat among the growers.

Scientists have innovated Balaka, a short-duration wheat variety that opens up a door of massive prospects for food security along with facing the adverse impact of climate change.

The farmers have been showing keen interests to cultivate this variety said sub-assistant agriculture officer Abul Hasar.

Deputy Director of Joypurhat Sudhindranath Roy said the growers are getting good profits through the high-yielding wheat variety in this region this year

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