BRRI`s Century in Breeding; High zinc rich rice has launched

Zinc-rich rice is coming to the field to meet the demand for zinc, one of the nutrients of the body through the rice. The National Seed Board has approved this new variety invented by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute-Brie. The variety called Bri-100 is the 100th rice variety of the research institute. 

The new variety of paddy was approved at a meeting of the National Seed Board held at the conference room of the agriculture ministry on Tuesday afternoon. 

According to Brie, the average yield of zinc in Bridhan 100, which is suitable for cultivation in the Boro season, is 25.60 mg per kg and 6.69 MT per hectare. The life span of the variety is 146 days. The results were obtained by trial in 10 places in the country, the research institute said. 

Md. Mesbahul Islam, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and President, National Seed Board, said, “It is a great pleasure for Mujib to be able to release the high zinc-rich 'Bridhan 100'. It will be a mega variety. Most of the calories, proteins, and minerals in the nutrition of the poor people of the country come from rice. Rice is readily available to them. The invention of this zinc-rich variety will meet the demand of people for zinc, ”said the Agriculture Secretary. 

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Director-General. Md. Shahjahan Kabir said, “This variety is high in zinc. The yield is more than Brie Paddy 29 and the lifespan is like Bridhan 28, which is a reflection of our long aspirations. Our plan is to make this variety very popular among the farmers and increase the production on the one hand and provide the nutrition on the other hand. ”

Besides this variety of zinc-rich rice, a new variety of jute has also been approved by the Seed Board. The BJRI Desi Jute-10 variety invented by Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) will be salinity tolerant. Another feature is that when the age of the tree is 105-115 days, cut and transplanted Aman paddy can be planted. And rabi crop can be cultivated by cutting Aman. In 05 trials in Khulna and Barisal, the yield of fiber was found to be 2.57 tons per hectare and the yield of jute stick was found to be 6.21 metric tons.

In order to facilitate the registration and renewal of seed dealers at the meeting, the registration of seed dealers was increased from 1 year to 5 years.