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The government on Thursday released two new varieties of rice aiming to boost production of the main staple in a changing climatic condition.
The National Seed Board (NSB) at a meeting gave the go-ahead to the rice varieties- BRRI dhan 105 and 106-, developed by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
With the development, the number of BRRI developed rice varieties is now 113.
Beneficial for diabetic patients upon being on a low glycemic index (GI) of 55, BRRI dhan 105 has been developed for Boro season, says a BRRI press release.
BRRI dhan 106 which is a submergence-tolerant Aus variety has been developed for the non-saline tidal areas of Barishal division, it was revealed at the NSB meeting presided over by Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter.
Director General of BRRI Dr Shahjahan Kabir said average production of BRRI dhan 105 is 7.6 tonnes per hectare (paddy form) and it would take 148 days to harvest.
He added BRRI dhan 106 would take only 117 days to grow while its production is 4.79 tonnes per hectare which is nearly 17.4 per cent higher than that of its traditional alternative BRRI dhan 27.
Both the varieties are medium slender grains.
However, despite development of 113 varieties by the BRRI, only a few are dominating farmlands in the country, creating a market imbalance, said experts.
BRRI dhan 28 and 29, developed in 1993, dominate above 50 per cent land in Boro season and BRRI dhan 11, 22, 49 and trans-boundary variety Swarna capture above 80 per cent land in Aman season.
The government has highly been emphasising popularising the new varieties for a changing climate as well as to boost production of the staple grain.