Rangpur
Enhance zinc-enriched rice farming to ensure nutrition: Experts
BSS
Enhanced cultivation of zinc-enriched rice can ensure nutrition security through preventing deficiency of zinc, iron and vitamin-A for normal growth of children and increasing disease resistant capacity, reports BSS.
Agriculture experts said this at a farmers field day organised by RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, in village Paschim Belpukur under Syedpur upazila in Nilphamari to demonstrate cultivation of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan64 rice on Wednesday afternoon.
The NGO has been expanding farming technology, seed production, processing and storing of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan64 and BRRI dhan62 rice at 525 exhibition plots in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Panchagarh districts during this Boro season under The HarvestPlus Challenge Programme.
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) have been coordinating the technology dissemination process for ensuring seed production, processing and storing of the high zinc-enriched rice.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture for Nilphamari Golam Mohammad Idris attended the ceremony as chief guest with Syedpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Humaira Mandal in the chair.
Agricultural Research Development Officer of HarvestPlus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin Mandal and Agriculture Officer of RDRS Bangladesh for Nilphamari Sharifa Pasha also addressed the occasion.
Programme Coordinator for Nilphamari unit of RDRS Bangladesh KM Rashedul Arefin delivered welcome speech narrating importance of cultivation and optimum consumption of zinc-enriched rice.
