Black rice, a nutritious, high-value variety, is being grown on a trial basis for the first time in Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi. Alongside the usual golden paddy, the new variety in the fields has raised interest and hope among farmers. Those involved believe that if yields and market prices are favourable, the crop could open new prospects for the local farm economy.
According to the upazila agriculture office, young entrepreneur Sohan of Debipur village in Durgapur municipality has grown black rice on 16 kathas of land, and farmer Abu Taleb of Pali village in Mariya union on about two and a half bighas. The local agriculture department is giving the farmers technical help and advice on caring for the crop, raising yields and marketing it.
“Black rice is completely new in our area, so given the risk I have grown it on two and a half bighas as a trial,” farmer Abu Taleb said. “If the yield is good and I get a fair price at market, I hope to make a profit. If it succeeds, other farmers nearby will also want to grow it.”
By the farmers’ initial estimate, each bigha could produce 16 to 18 maunds of paddy. At a possible price of Tk 4,000 a maund, total sales per bigha could be Tk 64,000 to 72,000. This is only an estimate of possible income; the final profit will depend on production costs, the actual yield and market prices.
According to agriculture experts, black rice gets its black or deep purple colour from anthocyanin, an antioxidant pigment. It contains dietary fibre and other nutrients, which has created demand among health-conscious consumers. But to make this high-value crop a commercial success, proper markets and effective marketing need to be built alongside production.
“Growing black rice for the first time in Durgapur is a positive step towards diversifying farming,” said Durgapur upazila agriculture officer Sahana Parveen Labony. “As well as encouraging farmers to grow new and promising crops, we are supervising the fields regularly. We will decide later whether to expand cultivation after reviewing this season’s yield, production costs and market demand.” The fields are being tended under the supervision of sub-assistant agriculture officers Firoz Ahmed of the municipality block and Muminuzzaman of the Pali block.
Those involved say that with favourable weather, a satisfactory yield and the expected market price, black rice could create new prospects for farming in Durgapur.
The Rajshahi region has traditionally grown aus and aman rice. Later, with the spread of deep tube wells and modern irrigation, boro rice cultivation also grew widely in the Barind region. The trial of black rice in Durgapur is seen as a new step in the drive to diversify farming. Its success now depends on the yield in the fields, production costs and buyers’ real demand at market.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report