Rice Varieties in Bangladesh | BINA and BRRI

The cultivation of various rice varieties invented by BINA (Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture) is now harvesting in 20 countries around the world. The scientists of this institute are working to invent more varieties whose will be tolerant for Flood, Saline and Drought etc.

By utilizing the nuclear tactics, Bangladesh has so far cultivated 60 varieties of crops. Around 8 percent of the total crop produced in Bangladesh is coming from these varieties. And in terms of quantity, it is about 4.5 million metric tons. This variety of crops is playing an important role in the livelihood of the people of rural areas and poverty reduction of the country. Also helping the farmers to dealing with some natural disasters and dangers like climate change, salinity, flood and drought etc.

A report has been published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations on 14^th February, 2019 regarding this matter. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, due to climate change, there are many types of hazards in Bangladesh. But the scientists of Bangladesh are inventing varieties of crops that can withstand these dangers and disasters, which are imitative in the world.

In addition to the traditional use of technology and hard work in agricultural sector, the BINA has been playing a major and important role in the success of agriculture sector. The chief scientific officer of Bangladesh Atomic Research Institute (BINA), Mr. Mirza Mofazzul Islam, is leading the nuclear agriculture research. He has invented 13 varieties of crop alone and seven varieties jointly. In addition to rice, there are various varieties of jute, spinach, tomato, mugdal (pulses) etc has been invented.

According to BINA, the cultivation of saline tolerant rice BINA-8, which was invented by Mirza Mofazzal Islam, is being cultivating in 20% of the coastal areas of the country. In 20 countries around the world including India, Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand, this saline tolerant rice has been taken and grown in various areas. Recently other varieties such as BINA-7, 8, 11 and 12 were taken by agricultural ministries of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka for harvesting in those countries.

Mr. Mirza Mofazzul Islam of Bangladesh is working as a consultant to set up a nuclear agricultural research center in Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone and Myanmar. In 2014, Mirza Mofazzal Islam awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in the field of nuclear research, according to the IAEA and the World Food Agency (FAO). Scientists from eight countries of the world get the award on that year. Apart from Bangladesh, Peru, China, Indonesia and Vietnam received the prize.

Discussions in various international forums are happening in the world as a species of crop capable of tackling climate change in the world. Regularly, these varieties are being wanted from different countries of the world for their cultivation in their own country.

Farmers of Bangladesh are producing crops by fighting against natural disasters from long ago. BINA scientists are giving these seeds to the farmers by inventing new varieties of tolerant plants with these unfavorable environments. Bangladesh is facing new challenges, finding more safe crops with less water. BINA and other agriculture related wings are working to solve this issue.

As per the Report of IAEA, the biggest danger of climate change is increasing of salinity in the coastal areas. As a result, around one million acres of land on this area of Bangladesh will not be capable of harvesting. Due to increased salinity, 27 million people of Bangladesh will be forced to move elsewhere by 2050. BINA invented varieties is being cultivating in these areas. The scientists of the BINA are hoping that if the cultivation of saline tolerant and hybrid rice varieties is continuing, then there will be additional 6 million tons of rice will be produce in the country.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, production of BINA-8 varieties of rice is increasing steadily in coastal areas of the country. Before inventing of the new varieties by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), the BRRI-47, BRRI-61 and BRRI-67 were cultivated. In recent years the popularity of the BINA-7 and 8 are becoming popular day by day. Especially in Faridpur, Gopalganj, Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat districts these varieties is cultivating.

The flood was the biggest danger of the country's cropping in the flood season. If most of the rice was drowning even for three to five days under the water then crop would have been damaged and the yield would decrease. Without the BINA-7 and BINA-12 invented in 2018, the crop is protected from the dangers of floods. The maximum tolerable days in under water for these varieties is 24 days which is really a surprise for the farmers. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), these varieties are very popular for farmers in the central and northern regions of Bangladesh.

The popular Aman variety of the country produces only three to four tons per acre of land. The BINA-17 variety is producing around seven tons per acre. It has been seen as an extension of the production of aman in the country as it is being played as an important role in the development of agriculture.

In 2011, a drought tolerant rice variety from Uganda called NERICA was brought to Bangladesh for cultivation and further research. This variety was not very popular in Uganda due to various reasons. BINA scientists started researching the NERICA-10 species and in the last year of August 2016, they invented BINA-21 variety from Nerica. This variety can be cultivated in water by 40 percent less. At the same time it consumes 30 percent less urea fertilizers.

The chief of Plant Breeding and Genetics Department of the joint nuclear research department of IAEA and FAO, Ljupcho Jankuloski commented on the dangers of climate change that have come to Bangladesh, these varieties may be considered as weapons of Bangladesh.

BINA conducts its research activities in ten different areas. These are: Crop improvement through induced mutation, Biotechnology, Soil management and bio-fertilizer, Irrigation and water management, Pest management, Physiological aspects of crop productivity, Crop management, Improvement of horticultural crops, Technology transfer & impact assessment, and Socio-economic research.

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