Thakurgaon Correspondent:

Nutritious zinc rice seeds have been distributed free of cost among 100 farmers in Thakurgaon. Along with this, training was provided to leading farmers in the expansion of zinc rice. On Wednesday (December 17) afternoon, training and free zinc rice seeds were distributed to leading farmers at the Sikder Hat High School grounds in Auliapur Union of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila.

The program was organized by Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO) and implemented by the Reacts-In project of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Harvest Plus Program.

Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Md. Abu Abdullah Al Mujahid presided over the training and seed distribution program, while Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Auliapur Union of Sadar, Project Focal Agriculturist of ESDO Reacts-In Project Md. Ashraful Alam, Project Officer Md. Abu Talha Shishir and other ESDO officials and print and electronic media personalities spoke.

Benefits of zinc in the human body, deficiency symptoms and ways to overcome zinc deficiency, various varieties of zinc-rich rice and wheat, their production technology were discussed in detail. The participants participated in the discussion enthusiastically and expressed their determination to work towards making zinc rice and wheat available to the people and increasing awareness of the general public on this issue.

After the training, a total of 400 kg of nutrient-rich Bri Dhan-102 Zinc variety foundation rice seeds were distributed to 100 farmers free of charge, each in 4 kg.

ESDO Reacts-In Project Focal Agriculturist Md. Ashraful Alam said, the Reacts-In project is being implemented in Thakurgaon district of Bangladesh, like other three countries, through a consortium of the Government of Canada, World Vision, HarvestPlus, Nutrition International and McGill University. The HarvestPlus activities of this project are being implemented in three upazilas of Thakurgaon through ESDO.

He said, HarvestPlus also develops and promotes biofortified food grains enriched with vitamins and minerals and provides global leadership in biofortification evidence and technology, improving nutrition and public health. HarvestPlus is working on the expansion and adaptation of zinc rice, zinc wheat and zinc and iron lentils in Bangladesh.

Currently, Bri rice 72 and Bina rice 20 are widely cultivated in Bangladesh during the Aman season, and Bri rice 74, 84, 100, and 102 rice are widely cultivated during the Boro season.