[🇧🇩] Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

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Source : https://brri.gov.bd/site/page/cc5dff4f-c4f4-444e-8be9-dd569a7fcafd/-

Introduction​

BRRI is a major component of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of Bangladesh, dealing with research and development in relation to rice production, the staple food for our people. The institute was established on October 1, 1970 as the East Pakistan Rice Research Institute (EPRRI) at Joydebpur, a small township 36 km north of the capital city Dhaka. After the independence in 1971, the institute was renamed as the 'Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)' through the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Act-1973 (Act X of 1973). Presently, in accordance with the provisions of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (Amendment) Act-1996 (Act V of 1996) and BRRI Act-2017, a Board of Management holds full responsibility to determine the policies and undertakings of the institute within the framework of policy directives issued by the Government of Bangladesh. The Director General, who is, ex officio, the Chairman of the Board of Management is the executive head of the institute. The institute operates with 19 research division, 17 regional station, 06 ‍Satellite channel, 3 support service division and 8 section, with a total manpower of 786, of them, 308 are scientists/agriculture engineer/ officer. About one third of the scientists are highly trained professionals with MS and PhD degrees.

The rice-growing environments in Bangladesh are very diverse, varying from the drought-prone high lands in the north-west through the flood-affected central region to the coastal saline zone in the south. This diversity is indicated by the thirty major agroecological zones (AEZ) into which the country has been divided on the basis of land, soil, hydrology and climate. This diversity in the rice-growing environments makes the task of BRRI scientists all the more challenging.

Research for the development of new rice varieties and production other technologies for the diverse ecosystems existing in Bangladesh are conducted at the BRRI main station at Gazipur and eleven regional stations situated in Cumilla, Habiganj, Sonagazi of Feni, Bhanga of Faridpur, Barisal, Rajshahi , Kushtia, Satkhira, Sirajganj, Gopalganj, Dinajpur, Netrokona, Tangail, Sunamganj, Coxbazar and Khagrachari districts.

The institute is equipped with modern research facilities that include laboratories, greenhouses and experimental fields. BRRI has a modern germplasm bank, twenty major laboratories, ten greenhouses, ten net houses and a 76.83-ha experimental farm at its headquarter at Gazipur. Besides, nine of the eleven regional stations also have reasonably good research facilities, particularly at field Levels Research facilities at the two newly established regional stations at Sirajganj and Gopalganj districts.

BRRI breeders deviated from the original IRRI concept of dwarfism for high yield and restructured the IR8 plant type to suit local agro-ecology and socio-economic production environment. The new intermediate-height plant gives equally high yield and, at the same time, grows in uncontrolled water better than the semi-dwarf varieties. Bangladeshi farmers also prefer tall plants to produce cattle feed and roofing materials.

VISION
Development of modern, high-yielding rice varieties and superior, safe and profitable production technologies through advanced research for sustaining food security.

MISSION

• development of farmer friendly, sustainable technologies,
• sustaining biodiversity through proper management of resources for current and future generations,
• development and perfection of rice varieties and production technologies suitable to meet the future challenges of dwindling natural resources
• and climate change adversities, speedy technology dissemination and uptake.

 

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https://brri.gov.bd/site/page/e42f5243-f9c9-456b-9642-9354680c25da/-/BRRI's-Contribution

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BRRI's Contribution​

Since its establishment in 1970, BRRI has been serving the nation through development of high-yielding rice varieties and improved production practices, BRRI has been developed and released 113 (105 inbreeds and 8 hybrids) high yielding modern rice variety. which have been instrumental almost in tripling the annual rice production within the last 50 years. For this, BRRI has earned a very high reputation in Bangladesh as well as in the world rice community.

The high-yielding modern varieties (MVs) develope by BRRI presently covers 82% of the Boro (winter rice), 36% of the Aus (summer rice), and 47% of the T-Aman (wet season rice) areas of Bangladesh. The overall adoption MVs in Bangladesh is 79.55%. These varieties account for about 85% of the total annual rice production in the country. The BRRI MVs and technology packages played the key role in boosting annual rice production in Bangladesh from 9.77 million metric tons in 1970-71 to 38135.21 thousand metric tons in 2022-23. Without BRRI MVs, rice production would have increased at the rate of 1% annually, almost half the rate at which the population grew during this period.

BRRI MVs and production technologies benefited the nation in the form of low cost of living particularly, of huge population living in rural areas and urban slums. But, there were indirect additional benefits to the society too. The government saved huge amount of foreign exchange which, if there were no BRRI MVs, could be spent for food grain imports to feed the country’s growing population. It has been estimated that the rate of return per taka investment in rice research and development is Tk 46. Additional production from BRRI MVs also kept the domestic rice price relatively stable and within the reach of the common people. In fact, since early 1980s the import of food grains declined steadily and the country approached self-sufficiency by 1990s.

BRRI technologies also contributed to income generation and employment in rural Bangladesh over the last 50 years. In areas where the MV technology has been introduced, the proportion of population living below the poverty line is 51% compared with 78% for areas without such technological progress. The net return per agricultural holding using MV technology is about 50% higher than a similar holding using traditional varieties. The expansion of modern irrigation facilities, with the expansion of MV rice acreage, has also led to increased employment opportunities in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, with a rise in the income of the rural population. MV adoption also created indirect employment opportunity such as in fertilizer trade and in the maintenance of pumps and other equipments, for example.

As recognition of its outstanding contribution in the field of rice research and development, BRRI has been honoured with the following prestigious national and international awards:

01.	Bangabandhu Award	1974
02.	President’s Gold Medal	1977
03.	Independence Day Gold Medal	1978
04.	President’s Gold Medal	1980
05.	FAO Bronze Plaque	1980
06.	President’s Gold Medal	1984
07.	Begum Zebunnesa and Kazi Mahbubullah Gold Medal	1986
08.	Muniruzzaman Foundation Gold Medal	1991
09.	Independence Day Gold Medal	1992
10.	Independence Day Gold Medal	1997
11.	IRRI Plaque of Honour	2004
12.	Senadhira Award (IRRI)	2006
13.	6th Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad	2008
14.	Honoured by Bangladesh Manobadhikar Council, Gazipur	2008
15.	National Environmental Award	2009
16.	Mercantile Bank Limited Award	2013
17.	Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Award	2014
18.	KIB Agriculture Award-2015	2015
19.	Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award- 1420	2016
20.	National Information & Communication Technology (National ICT) Award-2016	2016
21.	Standard Charted Bank Agro Award 2017	2017
22.	Bangladesh Academy of Agriculture (BAAG) 2018	2018
23.	Senadhira Rice Research Award 2018	2018
24.	RTV Krishi Padak 2021	2021
25.	Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award	2021

 

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Citizenships on sale in the land of El Dorado

This is the fifth call a man in his late 60s receive within a couple of hours. He is at his wit's end why his friends and colleagues ask him the same question. After the first two calls, he was in trepidation before receiving the third call and before receiving the fourth and fifth calls he literal

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Modernising rice breeding
A policy roadmap for food security in 21st-century Bangladesh
MD KAMAL HOSSAIN
Published :
Mar 16, 2025 21:16
Updated :
Mar 16, 2025 21:16

In the face of mounting challenges like population growth, climate change, and shrinking arable land, Bangladesh must urgently reform its approach to rice production. As the backbone of the country's food security, rice constitutes 97 per cent of grain production and supplies over half of the nation's caloric and protein needs.

However, rice yields have reached a critical stagnation point, with genetic improvements contributing less than 1 per cent annual growth over the past five decades. To meet the projected demand of an additional 44.6 million tons of rice by 2050, modernising breeding strategies is no longer optional-it must become a national priority.

THE URGENCY OF FOOD SECURITY: Rice is more than just a staple food in Bangladesh-it is a lifeline for over 166.5 million people, with annual per capita consumption averaging 213.5 kilograms. With the population expected to surpass 215 million by 2050, the pressure on rice production will intensify. Without substantial improvements in productivity, Bangladesh risks facing crises akin to the 2007-08 rice shortages, which destabilised food systems and markets.

Despite advancements in mechanisation, irrigation, and fertilizer use, genetic gains in rice productivity have lagged far behind. Inbred varieties have shown annual gains of just 0.28 per cent in Boro and 0.18 per cent in Aman rice-figures insufficient to meet future food security demands. For policymakers, the question is not whether to modernise rice breeding, but how quickly and effectively this transformation can be realised.

BREAKING THE YIELD STAGNATION: Rice yield growth in Bangladesh has plateaued due to a persistent reliance on traditional breeding methods, primarily pedigree selection. While these techniques have historically been effective, they are no longer capable of overcoming the complex challenges of the modern agricultural landscape. Genetic improvements in yield have been marginal, with non-genetic factors like irrigation and inputs driving most productivity gains. To break this entrenched yield ceiling, Bangladesh must transition to science-driven, advanced breeding strategies.

A promising solution lies in recurrent selection, a method that enhances desirable traits by continuously selecting and interbreeding superior genotypes underpins continuous population improvement. When integrated with innovations such as genomic selection and rapid generation advancement (RGA), this approach can revolutionize rice breeding. Genomic selection, in particular, allows breeders to predict a plant's breeding value using its genetic data, enabling more precise selection and faster improvements of complex traits like yield. By accelerating the breeding cycle, this method can deliver high-performing varieties to farmers more quickly, significantly boosting productivity.

The Breeder's Equation, first introduced by J.L. Lush in 1937, remains a foundational concept for modern breeding strategies. It highlights the critical role of heritability and selection differential in driving genetic improvements, emphasising the careful selection and inter-mating of optimal parental lines to achieve maximum gains. In the current context, this approach is enhanced by pre-breeding techniques that focus on incorporating traits like climate resilience, disease resistance, and higher yields-essential for adapting to increasingly challenging environmental conditions.

LEVERAGING THE TRB APPROACH FOR SUSTAINED GAINS: To address yield stagnation, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has launched the "Transforming Rice Breeding" (TRB) initiative, which integrates genomic selection, recurrent selection, and RGA to achieve consistent genetic gains in rice yield. Through the OneRice Breeding Strategy-a unified framework for rice breeding within the CGIAR system-Bangladesh has access to a global pool of genetic resources and cutting-edge innovations. This international collaboration offers an unprecedented opportunity to leverage breeding technologies that have been successful in other regions.

However, the effectiveness of these strategies depends on the commitment of national policymakers to invest in breeding infrastructure and long-term research. Without sustained funding and support, the potential of these advanced breeding methods cannot be fully realised.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND CHARTING A PATH FORWARD: Despite the promise of modern breeding techniques, several challenges remain. A major concern is the potential loss of genetic diversity within breeding populations, a common outcome of recurrent selection. This narrowing of the gene pool could limit future opportunities for improvement, especially as climate change intensifies. To counter this, breeders must access global gene banks and incorporate elite exotic lines into their programs, maintaining the genetic diversity needed for long-term resilience.

Furthermore, expanding collaboration between the public and private sectors is crucial. Strong partnerships will ensure that farmers have access to high-quality seeds, advanced extension services, and market conditions that incentivize the adoption of high-yielding varieties. National breeding programs must also tap into global expertise, strengthening Bangladesh's position in the international research community.

Substantial investment is also needed in human capital and infrastructure. Breeders, researchers, and extension workers must be equipped with the latest tools and training to effectively implement these advanced techniques. To ensure progress, national policies should prioritize agricultural research and align with international best practices.

THE ROLE OF POLICY AND INVESTMENT: Unlocking the full potential of modern rice breeding requires a comprehensive policy framework that supports long-term innovation and research. This begins with increased funding for key institutions like the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and IRRI, empowering them to drive continuous improvements in rice productivity.

Strengthening extension services is equally important to ensure that farmers can access new varieties and technologies. Extension workers must be trained to support farmers in adopting modern practices that enhance yield potential while minimizing environmental impacts. Additionally, ensuring profitable market prices for rice farmers will create the economic incentives necessary to drive widespread adoption of new, high-yielding varieties.

Policymakers must also take into account the looming impacts of climate change and shrinking arable land. Breeding programs must prioritise the development of climate-resilient rice varieties that can withstand extreme weather events such as droughts, heats and floods. Investing in sustainable rice production systems will be essential to safeguard food security in the face of increasingly unpredictable environmental conditions.

CONCLUSION: For Bangladesh, modernising rice breeding is not merely a choice-it is an urgent necessity. As the population grows and environmental challenges become more severe, the country must embrace innovative breeding strategies to secure its food future. By adopting cutting-edge technologies such as recurrent genomic selection, CRISPR-CAS, and bioinformatics, and committing to sustained investment in research and infrastructure, Bangladesh can break the yield ceiling and ensure food security for generations to come.

To achieve this, policymakers must prioritise the development of a national rice breeding policy, enhance extension services, and ensure that farmers have access to high-quality seeds and profitable markets. The stakes are high, but with the right strategies and investments, Bangladesh can maintain its position as a global rice producer and a model for food security in the 21st century.

Dr Md Kamal Hossain is a Senior Associate Scientist at the International Rice Research Institute's (IRRI) Bangladesh office in Dhaka.​