Climate-resilient rice varieties to boost agricultural production: Minister
Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today said the government is attaching importance to research-based agricultural development to develop new rice varieties in order to address the risk of declining agricultural production caused by climate change.
“BRRI Dhan-118 will be released for the haor region in the next season. The cold-tolerant variety will allow early transplantation and early harvesting. As a result, farmers will be able to bring their crops home before flash floods, significantly reducing losses,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a views-exchange meeting with officials of all departments and agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock in Cumilla district at Cumilla Circuit House.
He said a new salt-tolerant rice variety will be released next year. Scientists at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) are working relentlessly to develop crop varieties suitable for addressing the adverse impacts of climate change, he added.
Replying to a question about fish exports, the minister said the possibility of exporting fish through Cumilla land port is also being considered with due importance. Necessary initiatives will be taken after discussions with the commerce minister, he added.
Amin Ur Rashid said a feasibility assessment will be conducted to determine whether there is a need to establish a fish landing station in Cumilla. A decision on setting up the landing station will be taken if suitable government land is available, he added.
He said consumers in the country generally prefer to buy freshwater fish in fresh condition.
Therefore, alongside preservation facilities, the government is also giving importance to developing modern marketing infrastructure, he added.
On vaccine production for livestock, the minister said a major project is being undertaken to expand the existing vaccine production centre.
Once implemented, the project will make it possible to produce vaccines for poultry as well as livestock on a larger scale. This will reduce import dependence and further strengthen the livestock sector.
Regarding the canal re-excavation programme, he said canal re-excavation activities being implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture and the relevant departments are progressing within the stipulated timeframe.
on recovering the losses of recent flood, the minister said seeds and necessary agricultural inputs have been distributed among affected farmers. In addition, free vaccination programmes have been conducted in flood-affected upazilas to protect the livestock from diseases.
Joint Secretary of the agriculture ministry Khorshed Alam and local government officials were present.
