RAJSHAHI, Dec 24: An increased production of fine aromatic rice named Chini Atap using sophisticated method of cultivation has drawn attention to the farmers of Mohadevpur. During the current season, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Bayer has jointly held an exhibition of Chini Atap paddy harvesting function in the field of Raihan Ali of Kundona village under Raiga union council of Mohadevpur upazila. There was a three and a half maund of more production of paddy on one bigha of land than the average production of the same in other lands.
In 9,300 hectares of land in 10 unions of the upazila Chini Atap has been produced by using conventional method of farming where an average of 10 maunds of paddy was harvested from per bigha of land whereas by using modern method of farming 13.5 maunds of paddy produced in one bigha of land of Raihan Ali.
A function of harvesting the paddy was held recently where chief scientific officer of BRRI, Rajshahi, Dr Rafiqul Islam, Marketing Manager of Bayer, Dhaka office, Khondker Farid Uddin, Regional Business Manager of Bayer, Rajshahi, Zahidul Islam, Business Development Manager Sanjit Sarker and Senior Territory Officer of Bayer, Naogaon, Shahadat Hossain were present on the occasion.
Some 3.5 maunds of over production of same variety of paddy in a neighbouring field has created sensation among farmers and all farmers who attended the function of harvesting paddy at Raihan's field have expressed their interest to cultivate the same paddy in their field by using modern method of farming as applied in the field of Raihan from the next season.
AKM Mofidul Islam, upazila agriculture officer of Mohadevpur, said farmers can be benefited by getting more paddy through cultivating of their land using modern farming method.
Dr Rafiqul Islam, chief scientific officer of BRRI, Rajshahi, said it was encouraging for the farmers of the country that they would be able to harvest an increased production of the paddy variety from now on by using modern method of farming. He further said aromatic Chini Atap rice has a great demand in local and international markets and through exporting the paddy farmers would contribute to develop the country.
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