BRRI: contributing to five years of food security in Bangladesh

Oru Leonard

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), which is situated in Joydebpur, Gazipur was established in October, 1970, and has developed not less than 67 high yielding rice varieties, including four hybrid ones over the years. These varieties are cultivated in about 80 percent of the total rice areas and contribute almost 91 percent of total rice production of the country.

BRRI is a major component of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of Bangladesh, dealing with research and development in relation to rice production.

BRRI’s mission is improvement of rice and development of rice production technologies for sustainable food security.

The vision is to:

1. Develop high yielding and quality rice at lower cost through genetic improvement;

2. Develop biotic and abiotic stress tolerant variety for stress prone areas of Bangladesh;

3. Conserve biodiversity through managing disease, insects, fertilizer, water and land for the current and future generations;

4. Improve institutional capacity and linkage for advanced research; and Develop technologies for the reduction of poverty and hunger in the country.

The mandate of the institute is to:

1. Conduct research on all aspects of rice improvement and production;

2. Establish research centers and regional stations in different regions of Bangladesh for conducting research on different aspects of rice;

3. Establish project areas for demonstration of new rice varieties developed by the institute and organize framers’ training for the cultivation of these varieties;

4. Train agricultural extension personnel and progressive farmers on modern rice production techniques;

5. Publish annual reports, monographs, bulletins, scientific papers and such other documents relating to research activities of the institute; and

6. Advise the government on rice related policy issues.

BRRI has 19 research divisions and nine regional stations, three support service divisions and eight sections with administrative and technical service which include: Plant, Breeding, Biotechnology Genetic Resources and Seed,Grain Quality and Nutrition, Hybrid Rice, Agronomy, Soil Science, Irrigation and Water Management, Plant Physiology, Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Others are, Rice Farming Systems, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Statistics, Farm Management, Farm Machinery and Post harvest Technology,Workshop Machinery and Maintenance, Adaptive Research and Training.

BRRI has contributed immensely to the food security of Bangladesh which has been food self sufficient for more than five years.