Md. Zahidur Rahman, Assistant Director of the Dinajpur Regional Agricultural Extension Department, said that this variety of paddy, BARI-103, developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BARI), is gaining popularity in the northern districts of the country. Especially in several upazilas of Dinajpur district, farmers are leaning towards cultivating this paddy. The agriculture department is providing all kinds of assistance to spread the cultivation of this new variety among the farmers.
He said that according to information from the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, the pedigree line of 'BARI Dhan-103' is BR (BIO) 8961-AC26-16. This paddy was initially crossbred with BARI Dhan-29 and FL-378. Subsequently, homozygous plants were created using the anther culture method (biotechnology) in the F generation. After selecting homozygous pedigree lines in the research field of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, yield trials were conducted for 3 years. Later, in the Aman season of 2018, the yield of this pedigree line was tested in farmers' fields in different areas of Bangladesh. At one stage, as the yield of the pedigree line was higher than BARI Dhan-49, it was selected as a proposed variety. Subsequently, the field evaluation team of the National Seed Board completed the yield trial of the proposed variety in farmers' fields with BARI Dhan-87 (check variety) in the Aman season of 2021. As the yield in farmers' fields was satisfactory, it was finally selected as a variety for the Aman season. The National Seed Board released the variety for cultivation by farmers in 2022.
The Rice Research Institute says that the life cycle of BARI Dhan-103 is almost the same as that of BARI Dhan-87. The plant stem is strong, the flag leaf is erect, long, and wide. The panicle is long, and the panicle remains above the flag leaf during grain ripening. The grain is long, and the rice is straight. As the grain size and shape are long and slender, farmers will get a higher price for the paddy. The rice is exportable. The average life cycle of this variety, from seedling transplantation to harvesting, requires 128 to 133 days. The yield of this variety is up to 6.2 tons per hectare. Agricultural researchers who developed the variety believe that with proper care, the variety is capable of yielding up to 8 tons per hectare.
In the Roba Aman season of the 2023-24 fiscal year, as a demonstration of BARI Dhan-103, the seeds of this paddy were distributed among 3 farmers in Baigram village of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur. Along with this, 10 drums were distributed among these 3 farmers to preserve the produced paddy as seeds. These farmers are keeping these seeds to sow themselves in the upcoming Aman season and to distribute them among other farmers.
Shahinur Rahman (32), a farmer from Baigram village in Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur district, said, "I cultivated the new paddy variety 'BARI Dhan-103' received from the agriculture office on 40 decimals of land. The variety of this paddy is good, and the seeds were also good. The incidence of pest infestation was comparatively much lower in the cultivation of this variety. For this reason, I did not have to spray much insecticide. The yield of paddy was also quite good."
He added, "I have preserved the harvested paddy as seeds. I will cultivate this improved variety of paddy in the land during the next Aman season. I plan to cultivate this paddy on more land in the future. I will spread the seeds of this improved variety of BARI-103 paddy among other farmers for cultivation."
Rehena Akhtar (30), a female farmer from the same village, said that the local agriculture office had given her seeds of a new variety of paddy called BARI Dhan-103. She cultivated those seeds. This paddy has fewer diseases and pests. Besides, the rate of lodging due to storms is also very low. As it is slender paddy, a good price is obtained. The yield per bigha is 25 maunds. Compared to other paddies, this paddy matures a bit earlier, so it can be harvested quickly. This makes it possible to cultivate Rabi crops like potatoes and mustard in the same land after harvesting this paddy.
She said, "The agriculture office gave us seeds of BARI Dhan-103 to spread them among other farmers through us. Accordingly, we have preserved the paddy seeds in drums provided by the agriculture office. In the coming days, I will not only cultivate more myself but also spread the seeds of this improved variety of paddy among other farmers for cultivation."
Another farmer, Sharifuzzaman (35), said that they received seeds of a new variety of paddy called BARI Dhan-103 from the local agriculture office. They, along with 3 other farmers, cultivated this paddy on 6 bighas of land. This farmer hopes that the cultivation of this paddy will increase further in the future.
Arzena Begum, the Agriculture Officer of Hakimpur Upazila in Dinajpur district, said that a demonstration of BARI Dhan-103 was given in the Roba Aman season of the 2023-24 fiscal year. This variety of paddy is a very good variety for the Roba Aman season. This Roba Aman variety, developed by BARI, is resistant to diseases and pests. At the same time, it maintains the balance of the environment and has fewer weeds. For this reason, it is also easier for farmers to take care of the fields. We have received very good results at the field level. The yield of this variety of paddy has been about 25 maunds per bigha.
She added, "Since we want to increase the cultivation of Rabi crops, especially mustard and potatoes, cultivating BARI Dhan-103 takes less time, so the paddy can be harvested earlier. This allows farmers to easily cultivate Rabi crops in that land."
The Agriculture Officer of Hakimpur Upazila in Dinajpur district said that any research or innovative variety takes a little longer to expand at the field level. "We have arranged to produce seeds at the farmer level through farmers and then distribute those seeds again among the farmers for preservation. Farmers in Hakimpur Upazila of the district have preserved the seeds of BARI Dhan-103 variety. We hope that the production of this variety of paddy will be widely expanded through the distribution of the preserved seeds among the farmers."
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