Mention a paddy field and most people picture a horizon of green or golden fields. In Chapainawabganj, however, a different sight has appeared: purple rice plants are standing in the field, and farmers and visitors are crowding in to see the unusual crop.

Rabiul Islam, a farmer from the Pirashon area of Gomastapur upazila, has grown the rice on 12 katha of land. Inspired by videos on YouTube, he brought the seed from Gaibandha district and started growing it as a hobby.

Agriculture officials say the newly introduced variety is called purple leaf rice, and that it was first grown in the country in Gaibandha. The rice is attractive and rich in nutrients. The grain husk is golden while the rice itself is purple. It is a high-yielding variety with relatively little disease and pest attack, takes 145 to 155 days from transplanting to ripening, and gives a good yield.

Rabiul Islam told Jagonews24 that the purple plot in the middle of the surrounding green paddy catches everyone's eye at first sight. Farmers and villagers are coming from far and near to see it. He has put up a banner to tell people about the rice, naming it "Dulali Sundari".

Dr Md Yasin Ali, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Chapainawabganj, said the purple variety is new to the district and has created a strong response among farmers. After harvest its nutritional qualities will be checked, and it will then be spread among farmers.

Local farmers want the seed to be distributed to everyone under the supervision of the agriculture department after the harvest.

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