RANGPUR: Experts at a farmers’ training course have stressed on popularising cultivation and optimum consumption of zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice to cut malnourishment of the common people of all ages, reports BSS.

“Consumption of zinc-enriched rice prevents deficiency of zinc, iron and vitamin-A of children, pregnant women and common people,” said Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for Nilphamari Golam Mohammad Idris at a farmers’ training course held at Nilphamari recently. Golam Mohammad Idris was addressing the training course jointly organised by the DAE and RDRS Bangladesh on ‘Zinc Rice Varieties and Benefits of Zinc.’ The training course was arranged with assistance of the HarvestPlus Programme being coordinated by International Center for Tropical Agriculture and International Food Policy Research Institute.

Twenty-five male and female farmers of Sadar and Kishoreganj upazilas participated in the event for enriching their knowledge on cultivation of high zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice adopting latest technologies.

With Programme Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh for Nilphamari KM Rashedul Arefeen in the chair, Additional Deputy Director (Crop) of DAE Karamot Ali, Senior Assistant Director of BADC Shahidul Islam, addressed the event as resource persons.

Additional Agriculture Officer Saiful Alam, Agricultural Research and Development Officer of HarvestPlus Bangladesh Ruhul Amin Mandal, also spoke.

Rashedul Arefeen said cultivation of zinc-enriched rice varieties is being expanded since 2014 and 6,000 farmers are now cultivating the rice varieties in the district during both Boro and Aman seasons. “During this Aman season, 900 farmers of Sadar and Kishoreganj upazilas have got seed and technical assistance for cultivating BRRI dhan62 and BRRI dhan72 rice on one bigha land each in Nilphamari district alone,” he said.

Agriculturist Karamot Ali said cultivation of zinc-enriched rice is becoming popular in the northern districts and suggested farmers for ensuring quality seed production, processing and storing of high zinc-enriched BRRI dhan72 rice seed.