Guest Author: Dr. M Abdul Momin, Senior Liaison Officer, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
26 April 2025, New Delhi: Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Additionally, it is also renowned globally as an agricultural economy. The country is surrounded by at least 68,000 agrarian villages. About 80 percent of the country’s population and approx. 37 percent of the workforce are still engaged in agriculture. Thus, when it comes to hunger-free Bangladesh, rural development comes first. And for this, we need development of agriculture, development of agro-based industries, trade, and services. Because, rural transformation is a process of change in rural areas, which depends on many factors and dynamics; the challenges and opportunities of rural transformation derive from rural-urban linkages and depend on many sectors inside and outside of agriculture.
Dr. M Abdul Momin, Senior Liaison Officer, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
As agriculture is the most important sector in the country the main occupation of the larger rural population of the country is agriculture and most of the people depend on agriculture for their livelihood and employment. Therefore, adequate investment and incentives in agro-based industries can play an active role in our rural agricultural economies as well as building a hunger-free world, one of the goals set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Bangladesh is ranked 84th out of 127 countries. The country’s score is 19.4, placing it in the “moderate hunger” category. This represents a slight increase in score compared to the previous year and a drop in ranking. According to the World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hunger usually refers to a lack of food, malnutrition, and a diet that provides less energy than the number of calories a person needs to perform their normal physical activities properly. Calorie intake may vary by geographical area.
Rice is the staple food in the daily diet of the people of Bangladesh. It is an integral part of our heritage, culture, and civilization. Like other part of Asia and the Pacific “Food security” is synonymous to “Rice security” in Bangladesh. Since its birth in 1970, BRRI worked hard to develop high yielding rice varieties and finally has made the country self-reliant. Bangladesh is now 3rd in rice production in the world and 1st in producing average yield in South Asia. During 2023-24, Bangladesh has produced about 40.30 MT of clean rice meeting the requirements of 170 million people. Without this success, millions of our people would have become food refugees and would have created a global crisis. But, in reality, Bangladesh has shown the courage of sheltering and feeding 1.2 million Rohingyas. The per capita demand for rice in the country is 134-139 kg per year. Besides, there are various types of foods made from rice that meet the daily caloric requirement of the rural peoples of Bangladesh. So, it can be said without hesitation that Rice is life in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is a key contributor in terms poverty reduction and livelihood improvement by developing modern rice varieties along with production technologies for food self-sufficiency and nutritional security.
The institute has so far developed and released 115 MVs (107 inbred and 8 hybrids) of which 53 for Boro, 26 for Aus (Broadcast and Transplanted), 47 for T. Aman, 12 for Boro and Aus, 1 for Boro, Aus & T. Aman and 1 for B. Aman seasons. For combating climate vulnerabilities, BRRI has so far developed 34 stress-tolerant rice varieties of which 12 are saline tolerant, 4 submergences tolerant, 4 tidal submergences tolerant, 4 drought-tolerant, 4 cold-tolerant, 1 semi-deep water, 1 dual (Salinity and Submergence) tolerant and 1 stagnant water tolerant rice varieties.
So far, BRRI has released and disseminated seven nutritionally (Zn, Fe and Protein) enriched and 12 Premium and export quality rice varieties have been developed having export quality, anti-oxidant potential, 4 low glycemic index varieties (for diabetic patient) to ensure nutritional security of the nation. Pro-vitamin-A enriched golden rice with high yield potential breeding lines have also been developed to address vitamin A deficiency which is now in approval process.
At present, about 35% of the salinity prone areas are covered by the BRRI released salt-tolerant varieties, which contributed to 12 percent of the total rice production. Similarly, about 12% of the drought area comes under rice cultivation, which provides 10 percent in the total production. The BRRI released submergence tolerant varieties are grown in 33 percent submerged areas, which contribute 10 percent of the total production. About 5,700 hectares of land are now under rice cultivation using the BRRI released both salinity and submergence tolerant variety BRRI dhan78 in stress-prone fallow coastal areas. Noticeably, stress-tolerant varieties contribute to around 1,525 million USD yearly. Importantly, salt tolerant rice variety BRRI dhan67 has created huge impact in the cyclone-affected coastal saline belt through bringing uncultivated (around 5000 ha) fallow saline area under cultivation. As a result, in the last 54 years despite decreasing arable land gradually rice production increased from 10 million tons to 40.30 million tons from 1970-71 to 2023-24 through disseminating BRRI released varieties, production packages, and technologies to the farmer’s level.
Innovations for food security and livelihood improvement
Innovation of modern rice varieties with stress tolerance and nutritional qualities along with production technologies have contributed tremendously in the improvement of livelihood particularly through the development of farmers’ organization-based youth entrepreneurship (Livelihood Field School, IPM Club, ICM Club, etc.) and employment generation. The innovative technology developed by BRRI has become a driver of technological application in addressing continuously increased rice production not only in favorable but also in stressed ecosystems. Comparing to the scenario of 1970-71, the total rice production of Bangladesh has become around quadrupled through population has become doubled in 2023-24 (BBS, 2024). Again, average clean rice yield of the country (>4/0 t/ha) is also following the international trend.
Among the seven zinc (Zn) enriched varieties two are (i.e. BRRI dhan62 and BRRI dhan72) short duration with 20 and 22.8 ppm Zn, respectively have been developed for T. Aman season. Five Zinc enriched varieties i.e. BRRI dhan64, BRRI dhan74, BRRI dhan84, BRRI dhan100 and BRRI dhan102 with 25.5, 24.2, 27.6, 25.5 and 25.7 ppm Zn, respectively developed for Boro season. Moreover, BRRI dhan84 has additional 10.0 ppm iron. BRRI dhan34, BRRI dhan37, BRRI dhan66, BRRI dhan81, BRRI dhan86, BRRI dhan90, BRRI dhan91, BRRI dhan96 and BRRI dhan107 have been developed with >10.0% protein.
For transplanted Aus ecosystem, BR26, BRRI dhan48, BRRI dhan82, BRRI dhan83, BRRI dhan85, BRRI dhan98, BRRI dhan106 and BRRI hybrid dhan7 have been developed. Now, BRRI dhan98 is the most popular short duration T. Aus variety with about 5.8 t/ha grain yield potential. Newly released BRRI hybrid dhan7 can produce 6.0-6.5 ton per hectare grain yield with 112 days growth duration.
For rainfed lowland rice ecosystem, BR22, BR23 and BRRI dhan46 with strong photoperiod sensitivity have been developed for late transplanting after the recession of the flood water. BRRI dhan33, BRRI dhan39, BRRI dhan75, BRRI dhan87 and BRRI dhan103 are the short to medium duration rice varieties. BRRI dhan75 is a high yielding, short duration, aromatic T. Aman rice variety with 5.5-6.0 t/ha yield potential. BRRI dhan49 is a popular T. Aman variety 5.5 t/ha average grain yield potential. BRRI dhan103 is the highest yielding T. Aman rice variety having 133 days growth duration and 6.5-7.0 t/ha yield potential. BRRI dhan70 and BRRI dhan80 are the long slender aromatic rice varieties for T. Aman season with medium duration (130 days) and 5.0 t/ha grain yield potential. BRRI dhan90 is a high yielding premium quality T. Aman variety with small grain, 5.0 t/ha yield potential and 122 days growth duration.
BRRI dhan50 popularly known as Banglamati (Basmati type) and BRRI dhan63 (slender balam type) are the high yielding Boro varieties with premium quality for favourable ecosystem. Recently, BRRI has developed and released BRRI dhan104 in the replacement of popular Indian and Pakistani Basmati rice with strong and acute aroma which has maximum yield potential 7.3 ton/ha.
BRRI dhan58 is the first variety developed through tissue culture process from BRRI dhan29 which is 7-10 earlier than BRRI dhan29 with more or less similar yield potential. BRRI dhan89 and BRRI dhan92 have been developed as the replacement varieties for BRRI dhan29 having similar growth duration but around 1.0 t/ha higher yield potential. BRRI dhan81 is a premium quality boro variety with long slender grain, 140-145 days growth duration, 8.0 t/ha yield potential. The growth duration of BRRI dhan88 is 140-143 days and grain yield potential 7.0 t/ha.
BRRI has developed several hybrid rice varieties aimed at increasing yield potential beyond conventional inbred varieties. Hybrid rice typically offers 15–20% higher yield and is a promising option to ensure food security in the face of growing population and climate challenges.
Aromatic and Premium quality rice
In the evolution of time, the traditional native aromatic varieties have been replaced by high-yielding fragrant rice varieties. Now, aromatic rice is not only being cultivated to fulfill family needs but also for business purposes. However, cultivating aromatic rice is more profitable than traditional or local rice varieties as it requires the same input cost to cultivate. Moreover, the price of aromatic rice is much higher than any other rice. For example, where the price of one kg of ordinary rice is 60-65 Taka, the price of one kg of loose aromatic rice is about 120 Taka. If it is properly packaged price could be 130-150 taka/Kg. Deshi aromatic rice has such a good demand in the local and abroad market.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed some aromatic rice varieties, premium in quality, and have improved nutrition and medicinal quality. A profitable farm system can also be developed by investing in the production and marketing of these rice varieties. For example- BRRI Invented BR5, BRRI dhan34, BRRI dhan50, BRRI dhan57, BRRI dhan63, BRRI dhan70, BRRI dhan75, BRRI dhan80, and BRRI dhan90 are premium quality varieties. BR16, BRRI dhan46, BRRI dhan69 and BRRI dhan105 are low-glycemic-index (low-GI) rice varieties that are safe for diabetic patients. Therefore, the production and marketing of these varieties in rice-based farm format can be one of the means of employment. If we invest in this sector at an increased rate, it is possible to bring back the invested capital with profit.
Seed to Seed Production Packages and Machineries
Not only rice varieties, >300 production technologies have been developed by BRRI. The noticeable technologies are- BRRI Whole feed and head feed combine harvester, BRRI rice transplanter-cum-mixed fertilizer applicator, prilled urea applicator, alternate wetting and drying for irrigation water application, multipurpose use of portable solar panel driven surface water irrigation system, bio-organic fertilizer, sustainable farming system innovations for increasing productivity and income of the poor farmers, healthy tray seedling raising (TSR) technology for rice transplanter, eco-engineering as an eco-friendly and sustainable technology to control harmful insects of rice, BRRI-pheromone trap as an alternative of insecticide to control rice leafroller, Eco-friendly BRRI solar light trap to monitor and control insects, integrated rice disease management, etc.
With the development and application of innovative varieties and production technologies, BRRI, the nominee, has been the direct major player in realizing a dream into reality by turning the country from deficient to rice exporter.
However, BRRI is producing around 200.0 tons of breeder seed of highly demanding varieties each year which are being distributed among around 1000 BRRI-developed seed-net partners for the supply of 60% of quality rice seed to the farmers and entrepreneurs. BRRI has been conducting around 500 adaptive and thousands of demonstration trials for creating demand and for popularizing and disseminating BRRI-developed technologies among the end-users. BRRI is also providing more than 45000 trainings in the last five years to farmers, GO and NGO extension workers and scientists for rice-based knowledge improvement. Women entrepreneurs are the important stakeholders of these initiatives.
From famine to full of food basket
Immediate after the independence of Bangladesh in early 1970s, the then US Foreign Secretary Henry Kissinger termed the country as “bottomless food basket case”. Forty years later, a leading newspaper of the same country reports- “Bangladesh has transformed into something of a food basket and a model for hunger reduction for the rest of the world” (The Christian Science Monitor, 17 June 2015).
From famine to food basket- BRRI, claims a big share of this unprecedented achievement of the country. As a recent ActionAid International report rightly points out “high yielding rice” as one of the major reasons for this success (Curtis, 2011, page 11). BRRI is the supreme leader in the development of the major “high yielding rice” varieties in Bangladesh. BRRI varieties are covering about 80% rice producing area in Bangladesh and contributing to 91% of the total rice production in the country (http://ricepedia.org/bangladesh).
Ever-improved livelihood and economy
The livelihood of the people of Bangladesh has been significantly improved in the recent years. People under the social safety net of the country now enjoy improved amenities such as television, mobile phone and internet. Beating the hunger through ever-increased rice production has indirectly played a significant role in this regard, where BRRI has a major share. At present, the country does not need to import food; thus, the saved money has been contributing to country’s development activities and raise foreign currency reserve which currently stands as about 45 billion US dollar (The Financial express, 4th May 2021). In a study of BRRI, one taka investment in rice research and development has returned 56 takas for the period 1990 to 2020 (BRRI Annual Report 2020, Uttam and Mustafi 1999).
Rice-based farm system to build a hunger-free nation
There is no alternative to rice-based agriculture to achieve food self-sufficiency by creating massive employment across the country. If we can increase the spread and use of modern varieties and technologies in rice cultivation in tandem with the outside world, we can earn more than them. Due to multi-faceted government incentives including seed supply, fertilizer-irrigation subsidy, rice cultivation is now more profitable than ever before. One maund of rice is now being sold in the country’s market for 800 to 1000 Taka. At present, the price of one kg of coarse-grained rice is 40-50 Taka. Fine rice is being sold at Tk 90 to 100 per kg. As a result, rice cultivation is no longer unprofitable here in Bangladesh. Where earlier the average production of rice per hectare was 2 to 2.5 tons, now it stands at 3.5 to 6.0 tons due to new varieties and technologies.
Multiple varieties and profitable crops of high-yielding rice have been developed based on different regions and environments of the country. For example, BRRI scientists have developed a more profitable cropping system by inventing short-lived drought-tolerant BRRI dhan56, drought-tolerant BRRI dhan57, and zinc-enrich BRRI dhan62. These rice varieties can be cultivated like the gram and lentils which grow without irrigation in the rain-fed greater Rajshahi region. It is also possible to increase the productivity of the land by 18-32 percent by adopting this cropping pattern (RFS Division, BRRI). In the same way, farmers can become self-sufficient by cultivating various timely improved rice varieties invented by BRRI in different parts of the country and also ensure the employment of many people by creating a rice-based farm system.
Disaster-repellent rice and grain order
In some northern districts like Rangpur and Dinajpur the month of Ashwin-Kartik was known as monga which means, no sufficient food to eat and agricultural workers become jobless. Thousands of workers live without food due to a lack of work. At this time the needy people rush to different districts of the country in search of work for their livelihood. Some people are forced to sell their domestic poultry, cows, goats, and trees just to live.
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) for the Rangpur region developed short-term BRRI dhan33, BRRI dhan62, BRRI dhan48 for more profitable rice-based farming techniques among the farmers to create employment in the month of Ashwin-Kartik. This rice becomes harvest-ready within 100-110 days after planting. Whereas, other rice varieties take 140-150 days to become harvest-ready.
The farmers of the rural areas have named it Disaster-repellent rice as it ripens in a short time. After harvesting this short-term rice in advance, potatoes and maize can be cultivated in that land in advance. This saves the people from disaster. Similarly, it is possible to benefit by making potatoes in advance. So now the farmers are inclined to cultivate these rice varieties. Apart from this, when the crop is harvested in the month of Ashwin-Kartik, employment is created. Farmers get a fair price for the crop and the demand for cow feed is met.
The use of agricultural technology will increase employment
Scientists at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute have so far invented and developed 36 types of machinery suitable for the country’s farmers and are distributing at the farmer level at 60 percent subsidy announced by the government to address the labor crisis. From transplanting seedlings, weeding to cutting and threshing paddy, technology has reached everywhere. Rice Transplanter or combine harvester bought with a 60 percent subsidy announced by the government could be one of the ways to become self-employed. Other types of machinery that farmers can benefit from today are power tillers, tractors, seedling implants or transplanters, rotary tillers, rice-wheat harvesting machines, rice-wheat threshing machines, combine harvesters, and weed control machines or weeders. Farmers can benefit by using these machines themselves as well as renting them out on a commercial basis to provide these services to others.
Also, every farmer by using local seeds and technology can increase their crop and seed production efficiency as well as reduce production costs. Farmers will have their improved varieties of local seeds so they do not have to depend on others for seeds or technology. Thus, in the agriculture of Bangladesh, collective or cooperative-based agricultural farms will be created, in place of single or small group cultivation.
They will jointly play a role in the control and development of agriculture in an area and they will own the ownership. They will be able to produce their crop seeds, improved minnow, and fish, and sell the rest after meeting their demand. The money earned will be used to generate more profit and employment by investing in poultry, dairy, or dairy farms. As a result, on the one hand, it will meet the nutritional needs and on the other hand, it will be able to earn foreign revenue through export.
Farmers by using locally made power-tiller, rice threshing machine or grain crop threshing machine, weeder machine, seed sowing machine, harvester, and classification machine, crop lifting machine, various advanced irrigation machines, and by using advanced technology of crop conservation and processing will be able to reduce both the demand and cost of agricultural labor. At the same time, agro-based industries will be developed in the country to employ many people and the goal of building a hunger-free Bangladesh will be achieved.
Opportunity for self-employment in seed business investment
The main input in crop production is good seeds. In a word, good seed yields well. Our farmers are often deceived by the lack of quality seeds. So far, only 46 percent of farmers can use quality seeds. The remaining 54 percent are dependent on relatively low-quality seeds. The seasonal figure is 20-23 percent in Aman, 16 percent in Aus, and 80 percent in Boro. With this in mind, BRRI is producing more than 200 tons of breeder seeds every year and delivering them to the doorsteps of farmers through various government and non-government organizations. By investing a small amount of capital in the seed business to procure breeder seeds, base seeds, and TLS (truthfully labeled seed) from BRRI, self-employment opportunities can be created through seed production and supply which can be an alternative to immigration.
In addition to preparation and processing of various rice-based foods (e.g. Chira, Mudi, Khoi, Rice Cake, Rice Powdered cakes), less shredded or Dheki shredded rice (highly nutritious), various fish and animal food preparation and processing initiatives self-employment opportunities can be created by investing a little capital in the seed business as well. If a quarter of the migration expenditure can be invested at the farmer level in providing quality seeds, fertilizers, irrigation and marketing systems, agricultural machinery and production of improved nutritious and medicinal rice, food preparation and processing and marketing of rice, just as it will create risk-free and sustainable employment, it will also be able to play an effective role in building a hunger-free Bangladesh.
BRRI has so far received 27 national and international prestigious awards for its remarkable contribution to country’s food security. According to ‘2020 Global Go to Think Tank Index report’ by University of Pennsylvania, USA, BRRI has ranked as the best (1st position) 2020 Top Food Security Think Tanks’ in South Asia. Bangladesh’s remarkable journey from a rice-deficient to a rice-secure nation owes much to the research and innovation spearheaded by BRRI. As the country braces for future challenges—from population growth to climate shocks—BRRI’s continued leadership in rice science will remain vital. Rice is, and will continue to be, the beating heart of Bangladesh. And BRRI is the brain that keeps it strong and steady.
📢 Reach Farmers, Share Your Story, and Grow Your Brand! Got news to share? A company story to highlight? Looking to launch an impactful advertising campaign? Connect with us at info@krishakjagat.org or nimishgangrade@krishakjagat.org and make your mark!
📢 Connect with 100+ Million Farmers! India’s leading farmers rely on Krishak Jagat’s Hindi website for trusted agriculture news, advisory and insights.Click here to explore!
