How Did a Food-Deficit Country Achieve Surplus Production?

How did a country once struggling with food shortages achieve surplus production? In Bangladesh, food security is virtually synonymous with rice security. For a nation that eats rice two or three times a day, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has played a central role in ensuring this staple supply.

Today, October 1, BRRI enters its 57th year. Established in 1970 as the East Pakistan Rice Research Institute, it was renamed under a parliamentary act in 1973. Its greatest achievement has been increasing rice production more than fourfold-from 9.77 million tonnes in 1971-72 to about 40.63 million tonnes in 2024-25, even as population nearly tripled and cultivated land declined. Boro contributes 53 per cent, Aman 40 per cent and Aus 7 per cent of production. BRRI varieties cover 73.31 per cent of Aus, 58.43 per cent of Aman and 57.29 per cent of Boro acreage, delivering about 40 per cent higher yields and over 85 per cent higher incomes for farmers.

BRRI has developed 127 varieties-117 inbred and 10 hybrids-including 40 climate-resilient, 30 nutrient-enriched, 14 aromatic and premium-quality, seven zinc-enriched, four low-GI and two disease-resistant varieties. Twenty-three are cultivated in 14 countries. Major varieties such as BR3, BRRI dhan11, 49, 87, 103, 28, 29, 88, 89, 92, 102 and 108, and Hybrid dhan8, have transformed Aman and Boro production. BRRI dhan33 helps address seasonal hunger, while newer varieties include blast-resistant dhan114, vitamin E- and antioxidant-rich dhan115, high-yielding dhan116, salt-tolerant dhan117, and early, cold-tolerant dhan118 for haor areas. BRRI Hybrid dhan8 yields 10.5-11 tonnes per hectare and salt-tolerant Hybrid dhan10 yields 9.7-10.7 tonnes under favourable conditions. Early floods this year damaged an estimated 1.4-1.5 million tonnes of Boro rice, highlighting the importance of resilient varieties.

BRRI has reduced its breeding cycle by 3.5-4 years through advanced technologies and developed 32 Target Product Profiles. Whole-genome fingerprinting covers around 4,000 genotypes, while over 400,000 fixed lines form a reservoir for future varieties. Direct-seeded rice can reduce methane emissions by 34 per cent; granular urea applicators save 30-35 per cent fertiliser, raise yields by 5-12 per cent and reduce greenhouse gases by up to 7 per cent. Sensor-based irrigation and automated AWD systems also cut costs. BRRI has developed 54 machines, including a locally manufactured power seed sower costing about Tk80,000.

Its digital services include AI-based pest and disease monitoring, a rice-variety profiling app and the Bangladesh Rice Knowledge Bank. During June-July 2026, its Agromet service and call centre received 1,657 calls. In 2024-25, BRRI conserved nucleus seeds of 130 varieties and produced 232 tonnes of breeder seed, with about 200 tonnes distributed annually among 1,125 Seed Net partners. Over five years, it trained 51,420 stakeholders, including 42,204 farmers. Since its establishment, it has received 29 awards and medals. Five investment studies found returns of Tk26-54 for every taka invested in rice research.

Yet challenges remain. Population is growing by 1.12 per cent annually, cultivated land is declining by 0.24 per cent and temperature is rising by about 0.2°C per decade. By 2050, BRRI aims to protect at least 6.29 million hectares of net cultivated land and increase genetic gain by at least 44kg per hectare annually. It projects an additional 1.06 million tonnes of rice from 1.38 million hectares of fallow land and another 4.04 million tonnes through improved cropping patterns on 4.49 million hectares.

Future priorities include speed breeding, genomic prediction, haplotype-based breeding, healthier varieties, climate resilience, mechanisation, digital technologies, C4 rice, genome editing for salinity and blast resistance, two-line hybrids, and value-added products and inclusive rice value chains. BRRI now has 19 research divisions and 11 regional offices, with six more regional offices and six satellite stations planned in Dinajpur, Tangail, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar, Netrakona and Sunamganj. However, inadequate manpower, promotion and service-tenure complications and insufficient research funding remain constraints. Given the returns from rice research, greater investment in research and human resources would be farsighted.

Fifty-six years after a small group of scientists began BRRI’s journey, the institution remains a major force behind Bangladesh’s rice security. In an era of climate change and shrinking farmland, expectations will only grow. Meeting them will require timely and sustained state support.