Rajshahi:Farmer Zaidur Rahman has embarked on an initiative to revive extinct paddy varieties in the Barind region, cultivating 145 different varieties during the current Aman season on his own land.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zaidur, a resident of Dubail village in Tanore upazila, has been inspired by the legacy of his elder brother, Yusuf Molla, who managed a significant collection of paddy seeds before his passing in 2021. Yusuf had preserved over 250 nearly extinct paddy varieties in his seed bank, noted as one of the largest farmer-managed collections in Bangladesh.
The initiative has seen several other farmers across various districts cultivate an additional 35 paddy varieties using seeds provided by Zaidur. Some of the varieties cultivated include Raghushail, Hariraj, Sagarfena, and Kalijira. Zaidur's efforts are underpinned by the support from the Department of Agricultural Extension and the private research organization BARCIK, which provides financial assistance and resources.
Since 2012, seeds from the collection have been shared with around 300 farmers nationwide and supplied to research institutions like the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Gazipur. The ongoing cultivation efforts are part of a broader goal to preserve and expand the availability of these traditional paddy varieties for future generations.