More zinc-enriched rice cultivation stressed

NARSINGDI, Feb 11 (BSS): Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has taken a plan for enhancing the cultivation of zinc enriched rice BRRI dhan-64 to meet the necessary requirement of micro-nutrients for a human body and increase disease resistant capacity of children.
Deputy Director of DAE Subash Chandra Gayan said zinc is one of the vital micro-nutrient. Deficiency of zinc hampers normal growth of children and it also decreases the disease prevention capacity of poor and vulnerable people and the pregnant women.
The DAE organized training to inspire the farmers to farm the new devised zinc enriched BRRI dhan-64 during the current Boro season.
The department put special emphasis on enhancing cultivation of the zinc rice, a short duration rice variety which can be harvested 100 days after plantation and this variety may give yield up to 5.5 to 6 tonnes per hectare.
DAE has taken 4 demonstration plots on 4 bighas of land at Belabo upazila of the district during the current Boro season and collected 40- kg seeds of the new variety from Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.
The whole production of the paddy will be preserved as seeds for enhance cultivation of zinc enriched rice in the district for next year.