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Nilphamari's fine rice production opens new export vista
Our Correspondent
2/16/2006

NILPHAMARI, Feb 15: Cultivation of exportable aromatic fine rice is going on in the district with great enthusiasm among the farmers, said sources.
The district's Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has also been providing all sorts of technical support and other incentives to the farmers.
Kalijira, Katharibhog, Bashmati and other varieties of aromatic fine rice of neighbouring Dinajpur district are well known for their superb fragrance, taste and thinness all over the country. Dinajpur's flattened rice (chira) has its own reputation too.
While contacted, one DAE officer said, the project of aromatic fine rice production is a proposed export item to diversify the country's exportable goods.
The production of aromatic fine rice started in Nilphamari in the year 2004, in 12 plots of Nilphamari Sadar, Saidpur and Kishoreganj upazilas, with the target of 180 tonnes.
Agriculture experts see great prospect in the production of aromatic fine rice in the northern region districts of Dinajpur, Panchagar, Thakurgaon, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari for export.
They further added that 48,000 hectares of land would be brought under fine rice cultivation in this Boro season, with a production target of over 0.1 million tonnes.