Zinc-enriched paddy cultivation on in Nilphamari

NILPHAMARI, May 20: Cultivation of zinc-enriched paddy has started in Nilphamari district. A total of 50 farmers cultivated the paddy in their respective demonstration plots in No-3 Nitya Nanda ward of Tupamari Union Parishad of sader upazila.
On the 19th of this month a get-together was arranged in the demonstration plot area of Abdul Gofur, a grower of the paddy. Presided over by Chairman of Tupamari UP Musharat Ali Shah Fakir the get-together meeting was attended among others by chief guest DDDAE Nilphamari S.M. Sirajul Islam, project coordinator of RDRS Rashedul Abedin, ecology coordinator Mamunur Rashid, scientific officer of BRRI Alamgir Hossain and others.
It was discussed there that 40 per cent children below five years of age in the country are suffering from malnutrition, 44 per cent of whom are in zinc deficiency. It was cited there that 66 per cent female are also suffering from zinc deficiency.