Popularising Bangla Moti rice

Bangladesh has a long history of growing aromatic rice. But the problem is most of our farmers are reluctant to grow fragrant rice varieties as they have low-yield potential 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 the Indian and Pakistani Basmati rice varieties. 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. And the result has been very encouraging. Despite all these positive aspects, this rice has not yet been cultivated across the country largely because 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 more, even the poor would be able to buy it. It is unfortunate that we are failing to utilise our scientists' success in innovating a high-yield rice variety. And the responsibility goes to the authorities concerned as they could not popularise it among our farmers. If it is widely grown, we will have an aromatic rice of our own at an affordable price but also one that we can export. So, we urge the authorities to do the needful to popularise Bangla Moti rice.

Md Ashraf Hossain,

120, Middle Bashabo, Dhaka-1214,

mah120cb@yahoo.com