President Md Abdul Hamid has called on all concerned to spread the innovations of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) to the grassroots.

In a message on Thursday (23 February) marking BRRI's golden jubilee, he expressed hope that farmers, agricultural scientists, extension workers and others involved would keep up their tireless efforts to modernise rice research and to develop and spread new stress-tolerant, nutrient-rich, high-yielding varieties and technologies, so that agriculture's run of success continues.

"On the occasion of the golden jubilee of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the institute's scientists, officers, staff and all concerned," the president said.

Abdul Hamid said rice cultivation makes up a large part of agriculture, one of the main drivers of the economy. Rice, the staple food, is closely tied to the daily lives and livelihoods of Bengalis as well as to their culture, so increasing rice production is essentially the overall development of the country's agriculture. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for a green revolution to achieve food self-sufficiency in post-independence Bangladesh, and by following his path through the government's farmer-friendly measures, Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in food. The government is giving farmers financial support to buy farm machinery and ensuring timely supply of fertiliser and seed. As a result, Bangladesh is now third in the world in rice production.

He said that despite great success in rice production, ensuring food and nutrition security for a huge population is a major challenge because of population growth, shrinking farmland and various effects of climate change, and BRRI has an important role in meeting it. Through the tireless research of BRRI scientists, a total of 111 high-yielding rice varieties, including eight hybrids, tolerant of flood, drought, submergence, salinity, cold and other stresses, and technologies have been developed so far, which deserves praise.

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