Popularizing zinc-enriched rice cultivation emphasized -The Asian Age

Agriculture experts have stressed on popularizing cultivation and consumption of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice to increase disease resistant capacity, prevent malnourishment and deficiency of vital micro-nutrients. They came up with the opinion at a function organized by RDRS Bangladesh, an NGO, for distribution of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice seed among 250 male and female farmers at Joyrampur Anwar village under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur on Thursday, reports BSS.

The NGO has been expanding farming technology of zinc-enriched rice varieties during the Boro and Aman seasons in the northern region since 2013 as a local implementing partner of The HarvestPlus Challenge Program.  Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension SM Ashraf Ali attended the occasion as the chief guest with Agriculture Officer of RDRS Bangladesh for Rangpur Shamim Ahmed in the chair.

Agricultural Research and Development Officer of HarvestPlus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin Mandal attended the event as the special guest. Shamim Ahmed discussed about cultivation technologies, importance of enhancing cultivation, benefits and optimum consumption of zinc-enriched rice for meeting nutritional demand of the people.

He narrated about technologies and methods of preparing lands, drainage of additional water, quantity of fertilisers and agronomical managements for farming BRRI dhan72 rice during Aman season.  "Each kilogram of this zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice contains 22.8 milligram of zinc, consumption of which can meet micro-nutritional demands.

-AA Countrywide Desk