Experts at the farmers training and field day programme on Wednesday expressed satisfaction about the expansion of farming Banglamati, a modern rice variety. Cultivation of this variety will increase rice production and ensure food security under adverse climatic conditions, they opined.
Farmers, civil society members, elected local representatives of the government, representatives from various government organisations and NGOs and journalists of both print and electronic media participated in the Wednesday’s Field Day programme in Kulphadanga village in Jhenaidah sadar upazila.
Funded by USAID, the International Rice Research Institute has been implementing the project “Cereal system initiatives for South Asia-Bangladesh” through the NGO Unnayan Dhara in Jhenaidah.
Farmers are switching to Banglamati cultivation due to its production capability in adverse climatic conditions. This year, Banglamati has been cultivated on around 5,145 hectares of land, whereas only 700 hectares of land were used for Banglamati cultivation last year.
Upazila agriculture officer MA Majid Joarder, IRRI Senior Specialist Mozibar Rahman, principal Aminur Rahman Tuku, farmers Sonia Khatun, Shyamapada Biswas, Fazlur Rahman and Unnayan Dhara representative Haider Ali were among those who spoke at the programme.
