Farmers successful in cultivating high-yielding BRI paddy in Fakirhat

Bagerhat Correspondent :

Farmers have succeeded in cultivating high-yielding BRI paddy-102 commercially for the first time in Fakirhat Upazila under Bagerhat district this year.
Farmers have benefited a lot by cultivating this paddy along with other paddies. The Agriculture Department disclosed to the newsmenn, this new variety of paddy will ensure the country’s food security. All kinds of advice and assistance were provided to these farmers.
It is learnt from the Upazila Agricultural Extension Department that 50 farmers cultivated the high-yielding variety of Bri paddy-102 commercially for the first time in the Upazila along with other paddies. This paddy was cultivated on a total of 45 hectares of lands in the Upazila.
The new paddy variety of high-yielding and nutrient-rich Bri paddy-102, developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, will revolutionize agriculture in addition to increasing food production. In the meantime, success was already achieved in the commercial cultivation of this paddy. Naeem Sheikh, a farmer from Maskata block told, I was benefited by cultivating Bri-102 paddy commercially on one acre of land. The yield was much higher than other paddies. The Agriculture Department provided all kinds of advice and support. He cultivated Bri-102 paddy on one acre of land along with farmers Haider Ali and Mozaff Sheikh. After harvesting the paddy, they sold it as high-yielding seeds in the markets.
They were benefited a lot financially from this. Nabanita Jordar, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Betaga Maskata block, said that this year, farmers have cultivated Bri-102 paddy under the Programe on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship and Resilience in Bangladesh (Partner) project. These farmers were provided with seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other financial assistance. In addition, they (farmers) were provided with all kinds of suggestions.
The Agriculture Department took care of them round the clock. Meanwhile, on Wednesday around (April 23) 5 pm, the field of Maskata farmer Naeem Sheikh was visited by Krishibid Md. Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Khulna Region. At that time, he was accompanied by Dhaka BCRL consultant Dr. Khondakar Mahfuzul Haque, Deputy Director of the Khulna Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Nazrul Islam, Deputy Director of the Bagerhat Khamarbari Department of Agricultural Extension Md. Motahar Hossain, Senior Scientific Officer of the BRI Gopalganj Office Dr. Romel Biswas, Upazila Agriculture Officer Sheikh Sakhawat Hossain, Additional Agriculture Officer Nusrat Jahan and other officials. They expressed satisfaction with the yield of BRI paddy-102.
Meanwhile, the Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension collected samples of this paddy today. It was seen that farmer Naeem Sheikh produced 17 kg of paddy in 20 square meters. Accordingly, 7.05 tons of paddy were produced in one hectare. On the other hand, Farmer Aziz Sheikh hails from Kathaltal has produced 17 kg of paddy in 20 square meters, which equates to 8.95 tons of paddy per hectare.
Agriculturist Sheikh Sathawat Hossain, Upazila Agricuture Officer told, Bri paddy-102 has all the characteristics of modern Ufshi rice. The size and shape of the plant in the vegetative state is almost like Bri Dhan (Paddy)-29. Its rice is long, thin and white. The amount of zinc in each kg of paddy is 25.5 mg. This year, 50 farmers cultivated this paddy. Many farmers already expressed interest to cultivate this variety paddy in future and some other farmers will cultivate this on more lands. This time, all the farmers who cultivated this variety of paddy were financially supported with seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. In addition, various suggestions and training have been given to these farmers. The paddy yield was good. Farmers will be able to sell this paddy seed at a high price. He also told, harvesting and threshing of different varieties of paddy has already started. This year, the paddy yield was very good due to favorable weather conditions. This year, the official is expecting more than the target for the production of Boro paddy.