Samir Hossain Saddam, an assistant teacher at Nakalia Sarashia Banik High School in Bera upazila, Pabna, has grown black rice for the first time. His 23 decimals in Haturia mouza have drawn the curiosity of local farmers and passers-by, Krishi Shomoy reports.
After watching videos about black rice on YouTube and online, he bought 2 kilograms of seed from Bogura for Tk 1,000 and raised a seedbed, transplanting at the end of the Bengali month of Asharh (mid-July). The crop takes about 140 days from sowing to ripening. Heavy black ears now sway in the field, and harvest is expected within 10 to 15 days.
Saddam said he planted it this time out of interest and will grow more if the yield is good. By his account, black rice paddy is selling at Tk 3,000 to 4,500 a maund, and yields of up to about 15 maunds a bigha are possible.
Besides the rice, the teacher grows local and foreign varieties of green chilli, red okra, ginger and other vegetables on about a bigha of homestead land.
Bera upazila agriculture officer Nusrat Kabir said field staff have kept in touch with him from the start and the agriculture office has given him every support, so that other farmers are encouraged to try the crop.
Reporting: Pabna correspondent, Krishi Shomoy
Photo: Koba-chan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)
Source: Krishi Shomoy
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