BRRI dhan75 will open doors for the early cultivation of potato, mustard, maize, wheat, and other Rabi crops across the country, especially in the northern region.
"It is a potential short-duration variety of Aman. This will also create an opportunity to increase national cropping intensity," according to an experiment conducted by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
Under the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) project funded by USAID, BRRI under the supervision of its Rice Farming Systems Department conducted the outreach experiment in the field of farmer Subash Chandra at Khiar Jumma village under Taraganj upazila of Rangpur district.
Chief Investigator of CSISA-BRRI part and Principal Scientific Officer of Department of Rice Farming Systems Amina Khatun said although the production technology of this variety is illustrated to sow seeds between July 20 and August 20, sowing seeds on 20th June and transplanting 20-day-old seedlings on 10th July yields five tonnes per hectare within just 104 days.
She also mentioned that this variety has a higher yield in advance than other high-yielding varieties produced in the region at the time of early October.
Talking to the FE, Md. Abu Sayem, Additional Deputy Director at Department of Agricultural Extension, Khamarbari, Dhaka, said due to early characteristics, it is possible to cultivate potato, mustard, maize, or other high-yielding Rabi crops very easily in the first week of October after harvesting this BRRI paddy.
"This will create an opportunity to increase national cropping intensity," he pointed out.
Mentioning the characteristics of this variety, agricultural research expert of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Bangladesh part Md. Abu Abdullah Miyaji said this variety of rice is long and slender.
Light aroma is also available after cooking, he said, adding that under this project, an initiative has been taken to brand this rice through auto-rice millers to bring it at the consumer level.
Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Md. Shahjahan Kabir said the short-life cycle of this variety would open doors for the farmers to cultivate a new variety.
Farmers will be able to plant Rabi crops easily after harvesting this variety. Due to the early harvesting of this paddy and its premium quality, the higher market price for the farmers will be ensured, he said.
He also expressed the hope that this variety of rice would bring blessings to the farmers all over the country, especially in the northern region.
