Dinajpur:Harvesting and threshing of the early-maturing Aman rice variety BRRI-75 officially commenced in the district today, sparking optimism among farmers about completing the harvest ahead of the traditional Nabanna season and preparing fields for winter crops.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the BRRI-75 variety, developed through modern agricultural research, is noted for its high yield and relatively short growing period. Last year, it was cultivated experimentally in Dinajpur, yielding positive results that led to expanded cultivation this year. Selected farmers across the district's 13 upazilas received a limited quantity of seeds for planting these early-maturing varieties.
The inaugural harvesting ceremony of BRRI-75 was held at Jharbari village in Birganj upazila, where farmer Md Rashidul Islam began the harvest. Concurrently, harvesting started at Prembazar village under Nijpara Union on farmer Jyotish Roy's field.
Agricultural officials highlight that these short-duration, high-yielding rice varieties are opening new avenues for farmers. Birganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Shariful Islam noted that approximately 10.5 hectares have been dedicated to early-maturing hybrid paddy, including BINA-17, BRRI-75, and BRRI-87. These can generally be harvested within 110 to 112 days after planting, producing around 5.24 to 5.5 metric tonnes per hectare.
The early harvest is particularly significant as it allows for timely land preparation for the winter Rabi season, enabling cultivation of crops such as potato, mustard, maize, and wheat. This development raises the potential of obtaining three crops annually from land traditionally supporting two, demonstrating how improved varieties can enhance crop cycles and land-use efficiency.