Bangladesh-born Australian genetic scientist Dr. Abed Chaudhury has made a significant contribution to rice cultivation through his invention of Panchabrihi, a new type of paddy farming method.
Despite successful cultivation at his village in Moulvibazar, Dr. Abed faces a major challenge to expand the cultivation of this high-yielding rice variety across the country.
In an exclusive interview with Bangladesh Post on Thursday, Dr. Abed Chaudhury said, “I want to
spread my innovation across our country as this is a promising variety of paddy that can help address food crisis in future.”
“Although more than two years have passed since my successful research, the government has not taken any initiative to expand its cultivation at field level,” he added.
He further said, “I have not invented this variety for family purposes. It is for my country and its people.”
Panchabrihi paddy, a new Boro variety, can be cultivated five times a year. It significantly reduces cultivation costs as land needs to be cultivated once and seedbed to be prepared once. Fertiliser is applied at the time of initial land preparation during the Boro season and then as needed before and after each subsequent crop.
Dr. Abed said, “If anyone wants to collect rice seedling, they should first get an idea about its cultivation. This rice seedling has to be planted once. And if you don’t know the method, you can’t get desired yield.”
He also urged all to help him in distributing rice seedlings, highlighting the significant role of expatriates in Bangladesh's development.
“I believe that expatriates, who play a significant role in Bangladesh’s development, can come forward to help distribute rice seedlings throughout the country,” he added.
Panchabrihi rice matures within a short period, offering high production at low cost. Although subsequent crop yield is slightly less than the first, overall production is almost five times higher. Moreover, this environmental-friendly variety reduces methane and carbon dioxide emissions, contributing positively to climate change mitigation.
In Panchabrihi paddy cultivation, the first yield comes after 110 days, with subsequent crops every 45 days. The variety yields Boro once, Aus twice, and Aman twice, initially producing four tonnes per hectare with seedlings planted 25 cm apart.
Dr. Abed started conducting research in 2010 on 20 varieties of rice on 25 square metres of land at Kanaihati village under Hajipur union in Kulaura upazila. After three years, he saw Panchabrihi variety can yield five times from the same plant. This high-yielding variety was developed by hybridizing local rice varieties with high quality seeds.
