Growers of BINA Dhan-11 of the district are so much happy as they have got desired output against their crop this year creating positive impacts to other farmers.According to sources transplanted seedlings of different varieties including BR-11 are damaged every year due to flood water causing the farmers of chars and river basin areas of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Shaghata upazilas in the district incurred losses economically.To save the losses caused by inundation, RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed non government organization, took initiative to farm flood tolerant rice varieties here during the current Aman season under STRASA (Stress Tolerant Rice for Poor Farmers in Africa and South Asia) project funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of the USA.Accordingly, the field level officials of the organization motivated the farmers of chars and river basin areas of the upazilas and set up 270 demonstration plots of flood tolerant rice varieties including BINA Dhan-12, BRRI Dhan-51 and BRRI Dhan-52 this year.The organization also provided seed and other technological supports to the farmers of flood prone areas of the district from the project to make the farming a grand success, said an official.A total of 270 demonstration plots were set up in the upazilas of the district this year to inspire the farmers so that they could farm the flood tolerant varieties in next season at large scale.The crop in the demonstration plots grew well after having remained under flood water for over two weeks and the farming of the varieties have ushered in hopes to the other farmers of the district.
A field day on BINA Dhan-11 cutting in the land of farmer Shobhanal Chandra Das was held at Shankibhanga area under Shaghata upazila in the district on Sunday.Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Mir Abdur Razzak addressed the function as the chief guest and upazila agriculture officer AKM Mubinuzzaman Chowdhury was present as the special guest.With programme manager of RDRS Bangladesh Porsia Rahman in the chair, the function was also addressed, among others, by journalist Sarker Shahiduzzaman, technical officer of RDRS Bangladesh Saiful Islam, social worker M. Sakiul Islam, and farmer Shovanal Chandra Das.DD of DAE in his speeches said over 3,000 hectares of land of Aman paddy have been damaged fully due to recent flood but the farmers who cultivated the flood tolerant rice varieties on their land at flood prone areas are grown well.Terming the BINA Dhan-11 as short duration one, the DD also urged the farmers to farm it at large scale in coming seasons to earn economical benefit and achieve country’s food security. BSS, Gaibandha
