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The government is stepping up efforts to develop and introduce climate-resilient rice varieties to safeguard Bangladesh’s food security against the growing impacts of climate change, said Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Adviser Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid.
Speaking to reporters after an exchange of views with officials of the agriculture, fisheries and livestock departments at the Cumilla Circuit House on Saturday, the adviser said research and innovation would remain at the centre of the government’s strategy to maintain crop production despite increasingly unpredictable weather.
He announced that the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) will release BRRI Dhan-118, a cold-tolerant rice variety, for cultivation in the country’s haor regions during the upcoming planting season.
The new variety has been developed to address one of the biggest challenges faced by farmers in northeastern wetlands, where premature flash floods frequently destroy crops before harvest. According to the adviser, BRRI Dhan-118 can be transplanted and harvested earlier than conventional varieties, allowing farmers to bring in their crops before flash floods inundate the fields.
“This variety will help farmers reduce crop losses and improve production in vulnerable haor areas,” he said.
The adviser also revealed that BRRI is set to release a salinity-tolerant rice variety next year, which is expected to benefit farmers in Bangladesh’s coastal districts where rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion are increasingly affecting agricultural land.
He praised BRRI scientists for their continued efforts to develop climate-adaptive crop varieties capable of withstanding floods, droughts, salinity and temperature extremes.
Bangladesh, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, has made the development of stress-tolerant rice varieties a national priority. Over the past decade, BRRI has released several flood-, drought- and saline-resistant rice varieties that have helped farmers maintain production under adverse climatic conditions.
Responding to a question on fisheries, Amin Ur Rashid said the government is actively considering the possibility of exporting fish through the Cumilla land port. The proposal will be discussed with the Ministry of Commerce before a final decision is taken.
He also said the government will examine the feasibility of establishing a fish landing station in Cumilla if suitable government land is available. Modernising fish marketing infrastructure, including cold storage facilities, is essential to reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring consumers have access to fresh fish, he added.
On livestock development, the adviser said the government is expanding existing vaccine production facilities to enable large-scale domestic production of vaccines for livestock and poultry. The initiative is expected to reduce dependence on imports while strengthening disease prevention and improving productivity in the sector.
He also said canal re-excavation projects under the Ministry of Agriculture are progressing according to schedule and expressed optimism that all targets would be achieved next year, improving irrigation and water management for farmers.
Referring to recent flood recovery efforts, Amin Ur Rashid said the government has already distributed seeds and other agricultural inputs among affected farmers. Free vaccination campaigns have also been carried out for livestock in flood-hit upazilas to prevent disease outbreaks during the post-flood period.
The meeting was attended by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Md Khorshed Alam, Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Rosy Akter, Department of Agricultural Extension Director Md Obaidur Rahman Mondal, Chattogram Divisional Fisheries Director Md Anwar Hossain, senior government officials and local political leaders.