Agriculture minister pays surprise visit to BRRI
The minister was very curious to learn what BRRI scientists were doing to solve the heat wave problem in rice fields
Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque paid a surprise visit to the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) for an onsite experience of BRRI's work for the toiling rice farmers of the country.
In recent times, rice farmers throughout the country have faced a huge loss of their standing crops because of the heat wave.
The minister was very curious to learn what BRRI scientists were doing to solve the heat wave problem in rice fields. For a firsthand look at their work he showed up on a surprise visit to the BRRI research fields in Gazipur on Sunday, said a BRRI press release.
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The minister talked to BRRI Director General Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir and other senior scientists and officials.
During the visit he specially inquired about the research plots for heat wave tolerant rice, hybrid rice, rice that is resistant to diseases and insects, and black rice collected locally and from other countries.
Responding to a question, the agriculture minister said the government has undertaken an incentive package of Tk42 crores to minimise loss and damage to rice crops and to help reduce the suffering of farmers.
At the same time the government is focusing on taking some preventive measures to stop recurrence of such natural disasters, so that the country's hardworking peasants do not face such a catastrophic experience in the future.
"That is why the government is emphasising the development of high yielding rice varieties that are tolerant of high temperatures and resistant to diseases and insects," said Dr Razzaque.
