Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has introduced BRRI dhan118, a new short-duration, cold-tolerant Boro rice variety designed to address the challenges faced by farmers in the country's flood-prone haor region. This innovative variety aims to reduce crop losses and enhance national food security.
Developed for Haor Ecosystem
BRRI dhan118 has been specifically developed for the haor ecosystem, combining short growth duration with tolerance to low temperatures during the reproductive stage. This allows farmers to harvest before flash floods while minimizing cold-induced spikelet sterility.
According to BRRI, the variety can tolerate average temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius for seven to ten consecutive days during the critical reproductive stage, a period when conventional rice varieties often suffer from spikelet sterility, resulting in empty grains and substantial yield losses.
Promising Yields and Early Adoption
BRRI dhan118 matures within 145 to 150 days under normal cultivation and can be harvested by early April when sown during the first week of November. This timing allows farmers to avoid the annual flash floods that frequently inundate haor areas.
The variety has demonstrated an average yield of approximately 6.8 tonnes per hectare, around 1.1 tonnes higher than BRRI dhan28, one of Bangladesh's most widely cultivated Boro varieties. Under favorable management practices, yields may reach 8.5 tonnes per hectare.
To accelerate adoption, BRRI plans to establish around 5,000 demonstration plots across 50 upazilas in the haor region during the upcoming Boro season. This initiative aims to ensure rapid dissemination of the new technology and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable farming households.
