BRRI dhan64 rice prevents zinc deficiency: Experts

Experts at a farmers' field day have stressed on enhancing cultivation and optimum consumption of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan64 rice to prevent zinc deficiency and increase disease resistant capacity. 

RDRS Bangladesh organised the event to demonstrate farming technologies and harvest zinc enriched BRRI dhan64 rice in village Merdhapara under Barogaon union of Sadar upazila in Thakurgaon on Tuesday afternoon. 

A total of 505 farmers have cultivated zinc-enriched BRRI dhan64 on 105 bigha and zinc-enriched BRRI dhan62 on 400 bigha lands in Thakurgaon during this Boro season with assistance of RDRS Bangladesh under HarvestPlus Challenge Programme. 

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture and International Food Policy Research Institute have been coordinating the technology dissemination process for ensuring seed production, processing and storing of the high zinc rice.

Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Mukesh Chandra Biswas and Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Anisur Rahman attended the programme as the chief and special guest respectively.

Agricultural Research & Development Officer of HarvestPlus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin Mandal, Project Manager of the Food Security Governance Project of RDRS Bangladesh Mahfuz Alam and its Agriculture Officer Rabiul Alam addressed, among others. 

With Barogaon Union Federation Chairman Rezaul Karim in the chair, 300 male and female farmers, officials of RDRS Bangladesh, public representatives, civil society members, journalists and local elite were present. 

The officials, experts and farmers first visited exhibition plot of BRRI dhan64 cultivated on 25 decimals land by farmer Debendra Barman who got 8.10 tonne paddy yield per hectare after harvesting the crop. 

Assistant Coordinator (Agriculture) of RDRS Bangladesh Syeda Nuhera Begum narrated cultivation technologies, importance of enhancing cultivation and optimum consumption of zinc-enriched rice for meeting nutritional demand of common people. 

"Each kilogram of BRRI dhan64 rice contains 24 milligram of zinc, consumption of which can meet micro- nutritional demands of the children, women and people of all ages for building a healthier nation," she added. The chief guest said 40 percent of the under-five children are stunted while 44 percent of the same age group children and 60 percent women in Bangladesh are at risk of zinc deficiency and they require supplementation of these micro-nutrients. 

He called upon the farmers for enhancing cultivation and optimum consumption of BRRI dhan64 and BRRI dhan62 to supplement zinc deficiency of common people in building a healthier nation.

Source: BSS.