Jashore Correspondent :
Bangabandhu dhan100 one of the zinc rice variety for improving food and food system. Rice can now be naturally improved to provide higher levels of zinc. It turns this everyday food into a better source of zinc-a micronutrient that is essential for maintaining good health and strong immune systems.
The immune system is particularly sensitive to zinc status, yet the body does not store zinc, so regular intake is required. When someone is zinc-deficient, this generally manifests as poor growth and increased risk of infection. Eating zinc-biofortified rice improved the growth of Bangladeshi preschool children who ate it every day for nine months, compared to children who ate traditional rice for the same duration in a randomized, controlled study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Zinc rice provides consistent access to this micronutrient that is essential to sustaining health, optimizing immune function, and reducing the risk or severity of illnesses. COVID-19 and other viruses challenge the immune system; a good diet that includes zinc is required to optimize the body’s response to illness. In Bangladesh, newer varieties of biofortified rice contain 50 percent more zinc than standard varieties. Up to 2021, HarvestPlus Bangladesh directly reached 3.14 million households in 55 Upazilas of 25 districts in all 8 divisions and sensitized 1 million (574,029 male, 445,262 female) through meetings, workshops, field days, demand creation campaigns, etc.
Bakerganj Forum one of the program implementing partner of HarvestPlus Bangladesh organized a “Training of Trainer (ToT) on Zinc Nutrition and Biofortified Crops” where 25 Sub-assistant Agriculture Officers attended the training from the Department of Agricultural Extension of Jashore Sadar and Bagharpara upazila on 11th August 2022 at the Conference Room, Khamarbari, in Jessore at 10 am with the generous support from HarvestPlus.HarvestPlus is part of the CGIAR global agricultural research partnership and leads a global effort to improve the nutritional value of staple crops. Mr. Md. Shah Alam Hawlader, Executive Director of Bakerganj Forum presided over the training. Mr. Md. Monjurul Haque, Deputy Director, Department of Agricultural Extension was presented as the chief guest on the occasion.
Upazila Agriculture Officer of Bagharpara upazila Md Ruhul Amin was also participated. Divisional Coordinator of Harvest Plus Bangladesh Mr. Jahid Hussain were present. The chief guest specified the zinc rice to ensure food security and balanced nutrition for human body; He addressed the trainers to encourage farmers for the cultivation of zinc rice and taking zinc rice in consumers’ daily diet. He said it is possible to meet the nutritional needs through the production and commercialization of biofortified zinc rice. The presented guests assured the overall support and cooperation for extension and marketing of zinc rice Bangabandhu dhan100. They agreed to work together for the expansion and scale up biofortified zinc rice in the region.
