Gopalganj witnesses bumper Binakheshari-1 lentil yield

Gopalganj has produced bumper Binakheshari-1 yield, an experimental variety of lentil developed by Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (Bina).

The yield of the said variety was 1,600 kilograms per hectare, according to statistics from Bina Gopalganj substation office.

Deputy Director of Gopalganj Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) was present as chief guest at a field day held at Sardarpara village of Patgati in Tungipara upazila of the district on Thursday.

Assistant Professor of Agriculture Department Nazmul Haque Shaheen, District Seed Certification Officer Hasan Md Warisul Kabir, and others were also present at the event.

Farmer Baka Sheikh said the saplings were sown after sowing in the field. Cyclone Bulbul had ravaged the plantation but could not affect the saplings.

"Later I sought advice regarding use of fertilizer and maintenance, which helped me in producing a bumper yield of Binakheshari-1," he added.

Rahmat Ali, another farmer from the same village, said that tolerance to adversity gave a good yield to Binakheshari-1.

Gopalganj Bina sub-center scientific officer Md Morshedul Islam said that the experimental variety contains only 0.25% of harmful neurotoxins.

"Therefore consumption of this lentil would not cause Lathyrism, as it is immune to such diseases. Its life expectancy is 115-125 days, and yields about twice as much as the local varieties. Expanding the cultivation of this variety will increase the production of pulses in the country," he added.

Ramesh Chandra Brahma, deputy director of Gopalganj Agricultural Extension, said that every non-cultivated crop variety is highly productive and its seeds could also be preserved for next year's cultivation. Weed crop varieties are tolerant to natural adversities. Therefore, the farmers of Gopalganj are changing their socio-economic condition by planting Bina's crops.