BSS, Rangpur :
Tender plants of indigenous variety Parija rice have been growing excellent amid favourable climatic condition predicting bumper production as an additional Aus crop in Rangpur division during this off-season.
RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, has taken an extensive programme for cultivation of the eco-friendly, short duration and indigenous variety parija rice on 1,260 bigha lands in all eight districts under Rangpur division this year.
Earlier, the farmers completed transplantation of Parija rice seedling by first week of this month and the plants are growing excellent everywhere without supplementary irrigation using seasonal rainfalls.
The NGO distributed 6,300 kg Parija rice seed among 1,260 new beneficiary farmers under its Core and Krishi Gobeshona Foundation-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University (KGF-BSMRAU) supported crop intensification projects.
The European Union and Dan Church Aid have been extending financial assistance in implementing the project under the Improving Food Security Governance Project.
Talking to BSS, Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the farmers are taking care of growing tender plants of Parija rice adopting latest technologies and agronomical management methods.
Under the programme, 900 farmers are cultivating the rice adopting the early Aman rice-mustard /potato-mungbean-parija cropping pattern evolved by RDRS Bangladesh while 360 others using Aman-wheat/tobacco/rabi maize-parija cropping pattern this time.
“We have taken an expanded programme for Parija rice farming as Aus crop during pre-monsoon off-season period to adapt with climate change through keeping agri-productions increasing,” Mamunur said.
Knowledge Management and Communication Specialist of Climate Resilient Agriculture and Food Security Project of World Bank Dr MG Neogi predicted brighter prospect for expanded cultivation of Parija rice to increase rice production for food security.
“Parija rice can be cultivated during the off season between late May and mid-August when fields remain fallow after Boro harvest and before plantation of T-Aman seedling and its farming requires no supplementary irrigation,” he added.
Professor Md Moynul Haque of the Department of Agronomy of BSMRAU said there are 35 lakh hectares suitable land in country for farming Parija rice to produce additional 90 lakh tonne rice annually in ensuring national food security amid changing climate.
“Parija rice can be harvested in only 75 days with 3.5 tonnes average yield rate per hectare by mid-August without facing floods to transplant Aman seedling timely for enhancing rice production on the same land,” he said.
Tender plants of indigenous variety Parija rice have been growing excellent amid favourable climatic condition predicting bumper production as an additional Aus crop in Rangpur division during this off-season.
RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, has taken an extensive programme for cultivation of the eco-friendly, short duration and indigenous variety parija rice on 1,260 bigha lands in all eight districts under Rangpur division this year.
Earlier, the farmers completed transplantation of Parija rice seedling by first week of this month and the plants are growing excellent everywhere without supplementary irrigation using seasonal rainfalls.
The NGO distributed 6,300 kg Parija rice seed among 1,260 new beneficiary farmers under its Core and Krishi Gobeshona Foundation-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University (KGF-BSMRAU) supported crop intensification projects.
The European Union and Dan Church Aid have been extending financial assistance in implementing the project under the Improving Food Security Governance Project.
Talking to BSS, Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the farmers are taking care of growing tender plants of Parija rice adopting latest technologies and agronomical management methods.
Under the programme, 900 farmers are cultivating the rice adopting the early Aman rice-mustard /potato-mungbean-parija cropping pattern evolved by RDRS Bangladesh while 360 others using Aman-wheat/tobacco/rabi maize-parija cropping pattern this time.
“We have taken an expanded programme for Parija rice farming as Aus crop during pre-monsoon off-season period to adapt with climate change through keeping agri-productions increasing,” Mamunur said.
Knowledge Management and Communication Specialist of Climate Resilient Agriculture and Food Security Project of World Bank Dr MG Neogi predicted brighter prospect for expanded cultivation of Parija rice to increase rice production for food security.
“Parija rice can be cultivated during the off season between late May and mid-August when fields remain fallow after Boro harvest and before plantation of T-Aman seedling and its farming requires no supplementary irrigation,” he added.
Professor Md Moynul Haque of the Department of Agronomy of BSMRAU said there are 35 lakh hectares suitable land in country for farming Parija rice to produce additional 90 lakh tonne rice annually in ensuring national food security amid changing climate.
“Parija rice can be harvested in only 75 days with 3.5 tonnes average yield rate per hectare by mid-August without facing floods to transplant Aman seedling timely for enhancing rice production on the same land,” he said.
