Call for expanding cultivation of zinc-enriched rice

RANGPUR, Oct 29 (BSS): Agriculturists at a crop cutting ceremony have stressed on expanded cultivation and regular consumption of zinc-enriched rice to meet nutrition for normal physical and mental growths of the people.

"Each kg of zinc-enriched BRRI Dhan72 rice contains 22.8 milligram of zinc, consumption of which meets micro-nutritional demand of the people of all ages," said deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for Nilphamari Agriculturist Abul Kashem Azad.

Azad was addressing the ceremony arranged on demonstration plot of BRRI dhan72 rice of farmer Mozammel Hossain in Pashchim Bodi village in Kishoreganj of Nilphamari on Sunday afternoon as the chief guest.

The DAE in association with HarvestPlus Bangladesh, RDRS Bangladesh and local Ranochondi Union Federation organised the ceremony to harvest zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice, a press release said today.

Kishoreganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Enamul Haque, Field Supervisor of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Abdul Mazed Mian, its Agricultural Officer Atikur Rahman, Agricultural Research and Development Officer of HarvestPlus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin Mandal addressed as special guests.

Farmer Mozammel Hossain narrated his experience of BRRI dhan72 rice cultivation this season in the ceremony presided over by President of Ranochondi Union Federation Rezaul Haque.

He got 6.10 tonnes of dry paddy yield per hectare after harvesting his cultivated zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice.

Agriculturist Abdul Mazed Mian said 475 farmers have cultivated BRRI dhan72 rice this season in Nilphamari where 6,000 farmers were brought under the zinc-enriched rice cultivation programme during both Aman and Boro seasons beginning from 2014.