Agro experts urged farmers to cultivate flood-tolerant paddy in flood prone areas to benefit economically as well as wade the way towards achieving food security in the country on Saturday.
The farmers would not incur loss anymore and gain benefit if they cultivated flood tolerant varieties like BRRIDHAN 51, BRRIDHAN 52 and BINA 11, they observed.
These seedlings are tolerant to water. They can survive under water for up to 15 days, noted the experts at a crop cutting function on flood tolerant variety BRRI DHAN 52, organised by Gobindaganj upazila agriculture office at Chalk Singhadanga village under Gaibandha district.
To save the seedlings from floods, agro officials should motivate the farmers to cultivate flood tolerant paddy in low lands that frequently go under floodwater, they noted.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Mir Abdur Razzak addressed the function as the chief guest while Vice-President of Gaibandha Press Club Sarker M Shahiduzzaman attended as the special guest.
Razzak said as many as 2,605 hectares of land were brought under flood tolerant paddy farming during the current Aman season through the initiative of DAE and non-government organisation RDRS Bangladesh.
Besides, over 100 demonstration plots have been set up in the district this season to inspire the farmers to cultivate the varieties in the upcoming seasons to get desired yield, he added.
He emphasised on farming flood tolerant varieties in low lands to get desired production against the high value crops and to attain food security.
He sought cooperation from journalists to disseminate the information to farmers through publishing. That would help them earn profit overcoming the risk of inundation and down pour.
After cutting paddy, the farmers expressed satisfaction over production. 5.04 metric tons of paddies were produced from one hectare of land, they said.
