Experts for raising fine rice production, marketing

RAJSHAHI, May 14 (BSS): Agriculturists, traders and farmers here today called for increasing fine and aromatic rice production and marketing to meet the country's growing demand for rice alongside enriching its export list.
They viewed that some parts of the region are endowed with many native fine and aromatic rice varieties, which have demands both at home and abroad.
Agriculturist Abu Muhammad Musa said the area is traditionally familiar to producing rice and high -yielding varieties to meet the gradually increasing demand of local consumers.
High price and increased demand for fine rice have created interest among the farmers about paddy cultivation, he said.
In an effort to raise production of seeds of fine and aromatic varieties, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) had implemented a three-year programme titled "Fine Rice Production and Marketing" in five districts of the region around three years back.
Project Manager ATM Rafiqul Islam said quality paddy seeds were procured from farmers and supplied among the interested ones under contract farming system during this tenure.
The project was a very successful one as the BMDA has ensured irrigation facilities for cultivation of the paddy.
As many as 9,000 farmers and 700 staff were involved in raising 390 demonstration plots through need-oriented field level training for cultivating and producing aromatic rice like Chiniatop, Kalijira, Kataribhog, Jirashail, Basmati, BRRI-34 and BRRI-50 and some other fine varieties.