Farmers urged to grow zinc rice

GAIBANDHA, May 18 (BSS): Agri experts at a function urged the farmers to farm zinc enriched rice BRRI Dhan 64 in large scale to meet the necessary requirement of micronutrient for a human body and increase disease resistant capacity of children and mothers.
"Zinc is one of the most vital micronutrients. Deficiency of zinc hampers normal growth of children and it also decreases the disease prevention capacity of the poor and vulnerable people including children and pregnant women", they said.
The agri-experts made the comments while addressing a field day on the cutting of zinc enriched BRRI Dhan 64 at Madhupur village under Ballamjhar union of Sadar upazila on Sunday afternoon.
RDRS Bangladesh, a non-governmental organisation, which is expanding the technology for farming the variety in cooperation with DAE as a local implementing partner of the Harvest Plus Bangladesh organised the function.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) M. Ehsan-e-Elahi attended the function as the chief guest and deputy director of DAE Ruhul Amin, deputy general manager of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank SM Rafiqul Islam, and district training officer M. Aminul Islam were present as the special guests.
With local UP chairman Emarul Islam Sabin in the chair, the function was also addressed, among others, by acting programme manager of RDRS Bangladesh Abdur Rashid, assistant coordinator Syeda Nuhara Begum, agriculture and research development officer of Harvest Plus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin, farmer Golam Mostafa and journalist Sarker M. Shahiduzzaman.