Making Bangla Moti popular

Bangladesh has been growing scented rice for a long time. But the problem is that most of our farmers are reluctant to grow these rice varieties as they have low-yield potentiality than other varieties. To resolve this, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) invented Bangla Moti (BRRI Dhan-50) in 2008. This aromatic rice is suitable for Boro season. According to scientists, the size and fragrance of the variety is better than those of the Indian and Pakistani Basmati rice. It is a high-yielding variety with double yields and double profits for the rice growers. Experimentally developed, Bangla Moti rice has been cultivated in different regions of Bangladesh. The result has been very encouraging. Despite all these positive aspects, this rice has not yet been cultivated widely across the country since most of the farmers do not even know about this variety.

Common people cannot afford imported fragrant rice, which is available in almost every super shop in our country. If Bangla Moti becomes popular and it is grown widely, even the poor would be able to buy it. It is unfortunate that we are failing to reap our scientists' success of inventing a high-yield rice variety. Its responsibility should go to the authorities concerned as they could not popularise it among our farmers. If it is widely grown, we will not just have an aromatic rice of our own at an affordable price but also can export it abroad. So, we urge the authorities to do the needful to promote Bangla Moti rice.

Md Ashraf Hossain,

120, Middle Bashabo, Dhaka-1214,

mah120cb@yahoo.com