Students and faculty from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have launched the "Late Aman" project to address food shortages caused by recent floods.
The initiative involves distributing free Nabiaman rice seedlings to affected farmers, aiming to recover the loss caused by devastating flash floods in the agricultural sector.
The seeds were planted on August 29 and 31 on research fields at BAU, Professor Dr. Md. Moshiur Rahman said on Sunday.
Prof. Rahman stated that sudden floods destroyed Aman rice seedlings, threatening timely cultivation and raising concerns about potential food shortages. Preparing new seedlings takes about a month, risking a missed planting season. In response, BAU students launched a project to distribute rice seeds to affected farmers, ensuring food security.
They also plan to provide agricultural tools, fertilizers, pesticides, and vegetable seeds in the future, he added.
"The students are hopeful that the rice seedlings will sprout within 18 to 20 days. After that, they will deliver these seedlings free of charge to the farmers in the flood-affected areas.", prof. added.
To ensure the success of this initiative, researchers, teachers, and students from BAU, Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Sylhet Agricultural University, seed companies, and agricultural entrepreneurs have formed the 'Agri Students' Alliance BD'.
Under the "Late Aman" project, seeds have been planted on a total of 12 acres across various locations: 5 acres at BAU, 1 acre at NSTU, 4 acres at Chittagong, and 2 acres at Lakshmipur. This effort aims to distribute seedlings to 1,000 farmers, covering at least 760 bighas of farmland.
Financial and material support for the project, Buyer Bangladesh provided 500 kilograms of Dhani Gold hybrid seeds worth BDT 265,000 and BDT 200,000 from the 'Krishibid Foundation for Humanity,' comprising BAU’s 96-97 session students.
Additionally, to make the project successful, one ton seeds of BINADHAN-17 have been collected from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Mymensingh and 150 kilograms seeds of BINADHAN-17 from the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Chapainawabganj.
Mukhlesur Rahman, Principle Scientific Officer at Soil Resource Development Institute, Netrokona, stated that seedlings will be distributed to nearly 1,000 farmers in Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur, covering about one bigha of land per farmer.
He mentioned that BAU faculty and researchers advised producing BINADHAN-17 and Dhani Gold hybrid seedlings, which can yield 70-80% even under suboptimal conditions. BINADHAN 17 can be harvested within 120 days, adaptable to various seasons.