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Friday, May 27, 2016, Jaistha 13, 1423 BS, Shaban 19, 1437 Hijri


BRRI Dhan-64 rice prevents zinc deficiency: Experts
Published :Friday, 27 May, 2016,  Time : 12:00 AM  View Count : 19

RANGPUR, May 26: Experts at a farmers' field day have stressed enhancing cultivation and optimum consumption of zinc-enriched BRRI Dhan-64 rice to prevent zinc deficiency and increase disease resistant capacity.
RDRS Bangladesh organised the event to demonstrate farming technologies and harvest zinc enriched BRRI Dhan-64 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 Dhan-64 on 105 bigha and zinc-enriched BRRI Dhan-62 on 400 bigha lands in Thakurgaon during this Boro season with assistance of RDRS under HarvestPlus Challenge Programme.
The International Centre 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 chief guest and special guest respectively.
Agricultural Research and 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 the function, among others.
With Barogaon Union Federation Chairman Rezaul Karim in the chair, 300 male and female farmers, officials of RDRS, public representatives, civil society members, journalists and local elite were present.
The officials, experts and farmers first visited exhibition plot of BRRI Dhan-64 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 Syeda Nuhera Begum narrated cultivation technologies, importance of enhancing cultivation and optimum consumption of zinc-enriched rice for meeting nutritional demand of common people.
The chief guest said 40 per cent of the under-five children are stunted while 44 per cent of the same age group children and 60 per cent women in Bangladesh are at risk of zinc deficiency.
He called upon the farmers for enhancing cultivation and optimum consumption of BRRI Dhan-64 and BRRI Dhan-62 to supplement zinc deficiency of common people in building a healthier nation.      ?BSS










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