Paddy fields stretch to the horizon, and in the middle, on a small plot, the green gives way to a dark-coloured crop. Ali Hasan has caused a stir in the area by growing "black rice" for the first time. The paddy in Chakalma field of Bhatgram union, Nandigram upazila, Bogura, has caught everyone's eye.

Locals say black rice plants are green at first but start turning black as they ripen, and the rice itself is black. The rice is expensive and rich in nutrients. People are very curious about black rice, and Ali Hasan is delighted to have grown it.

On a visit, black paddy stood in the middle of green fields all around, with local people crowding in to see it. They could not quite believe it. After handling the plants, many were trying to find out which country the paddy came from, how it is grown, how long it takes to harvest, where the rice is sold and what colour it turns after cooking.

Farmer Ali Hasan said: "I grew black rice on 10 decimals out of personal interest, as a trial. If I get good results I am thinking of growing it on a larger scale. Growing black rice is like growing other modern paddy. It needs no extra fertiliser or water, and no special care." He hopes the yield will be good.

Nandigram upazila agriculture officer Adnan Babu said black rice is grown in scattered places across the country, but this is the first time in this upazila. Farmer Ali Hasan is growing it on 10 decimals as a trial, and the yield is expected to be good, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.