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Leaflets
BRRI at a glance
Background
Rice is the staple food of our people. Presently, it accounts for
about 92% of the total food grains produced in country. It is the main
source of energy for our people. Seventy five percent of necessary
calories and 66% of protein are met from rice in the average daily
diet. It shares 76% to the total crop value and rice is the source of
cash income for many farmers. Moreover, rice production employs 55-60%
of our labour forces. It also ensures political stability for the
country and provides a sense of food security to the people.
Rice research started in this part of the sub-continent in 1910.
However, the modern era of rice research and development started in
the mid sixties.
The demand for rice will be increasing in future because of increasing
population size. Realizing
the importance of
rice in the socio-economy and politics, an autonomous organization in
the name of East Pakistan Rice research Institute (EPRRI) was
established on 1 October 1970 with an 76.82 hectare of land at
Joydebpur, Gazipur; 36 km away to the north of the capital city Dhaka.
After liberation in 1971, it was renamed as the Bangladesh Rice
Research Institute (BRRI) through the Parliamentary Act, 1973 (Act X
of 1973). In order to bring dynamism in the management system, an
amendment was made by a parliamentary act, 1996 (Act V of 1996).
The institute
operates with 18 research divisions and 9 regional stations for
research, 3 support service divisions and 5 sections. Total manpower
of the Institute is 662, of which 228 are scientists. Most of them are
highly trained professionals with MS and PhD degrees.
Mandate
-
Conduct
research on all aspects of rice improvement and production;
- Establish research
centers and substations in different regions of Bangladesh for
conducting research on different problems of rice;
- Establish project
areas for demonstration of new varieties of rice developed by the
institute and organize training of framers for the cultivation of
these rice varieties;
- Train agricultural
extension personnel and progressive farmers on modern techniques of
rice production;
- Publish annual
reports, monographs, bulletins and such other documents relating to
research activities of the institute;
- Advise the Government
on rice related policy issues.
Governance
BRRI is an autonomous organization under
the Ministry of Agriculture. A 13 member Board of Management (BOM)
headed by the Director General determines and executes the polices and
undertakings of the Institute.
Research Programme
and Management
Eighteen research divisions
at BRRI HQ and 9 regional stations across the country execute the
research and technology development programmme of BRRI.
Multi-disciplinary, problem orientated annual research programs are
developed and executed by involving all level of scientists. Research
at BRRI is organized in seven program areas. Each program area is
composed of one or more research divisions called the program
performing units (PPU).
The program areas,
component research divisions and regional stations are:
Program
Area Component Divisions/PPU
Varietal Development
Plant Breeding
Biotechnology
Genetic Resources and Seed
Grain Quality and Nutrition
Crop-Soil-Water Management Agronomy
Soil Science
Irrigation and Water
Management
Plant Physiology
Pest Management
Entomology
Plant Pathology
Rice Farming Systems
Rice Farming Systems
Farm Mechanization
Farm Machinery and Post Harvest Technology
Workshop Machinery and
Maintenance
Socioeconomic and Policy
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Statistics
Farm Management
Technology Transfer
Adaptive Research
Training
BRRI regional stations:
Sl
Name Year of Main
research area
establishment
1 BRRI Regional Station, Barisal 1970 Tidal
non-saline ecosystem
2 BRRI Regional Station, Habiganj 1970 Deep water
ecosystem and boro
3 BRRI Regional Station, Comilla 1970 Favourable
ecosystem
4 BRRI Regional Station, Sonagazi 1977 Coastal
ecosystem
5 BRRI Regional Station, Rajshahi 1978 Drought
prone ecosystem
6 BRRI Regional Station, Bhanga 1986 Deep water
ecosystem and boro
7 BRRI Regional Station, Rangpur 1991 Cold and
upland ecosystem
8 BRRI Regional Station, Khustia 1996 Upland
ecosystem of gangetic flood plain
9 BRRI Regional Station, Satkhira 1999 Saline
ecosystem
Annual research programmme
is developed and finalized in three steps: a) Intra divisional
meeting; b) Program area meeting and c) Program committee meeting.
Annual research plans are prepared based on priority areas and
implemented under different ecosystem:
1. Irrigated
lowland Transplant Boro
2. Rainfed
lowland Transplant Aman
3. Rainfed
upland Broadcast/dibbling Aus
4. Tidal
wetlands Rainfed Aus and T Aman
(saline/non-saline)
5.
Deepwater Broadcast Aman
(floodprone)
After finalization, the
research programme is executed by the program performing units at HQ
and as well as at Regional Stations and at the farmers' field. The
concern heads of the research division monitor the programme approved
for execution. In addition, Director (Research) and the Director
General supervised the overall research activities of the Institute.
Thereafter, results of the executed programmme are presented in the
Annual Internal Review meeting, where all the scientist of the
institute and also expert members from other institutions take part as
a final evaluation process. Director research is the chief coordinator
of all research activities of the institute assisted by a Coordinator
for Advance Studies and Research (CASR).
Major Achievement
Since its establishment in 1970, BRRI has made out-standing
contribution to the national development through the release of high
yielding varieties of rice and improved packages of production
technologies. The major achievements are:
-
Released 41 high yielding rice varieties having 2-3 times higher
yield potential than traditional rice, 40 are inbred and 1 hybrid
rice (Table 1).
-
Developed more than 50 improved technologies on soil, water,
fertilizer and cultural practices of rice.
-
Developed 31 profitable rice-based cropping patterns for different
AEZs.
-
Developed and improved 19 agricultural machinery for farm
mechanization.
-
Identified 31 rice diseases (10 major) and 175 species of rice
insect pests (20 major), and developed control measures for the
major insects and diseases including IPM.
-
Preserved more than 8,000 germplasms of rice in the BRRI Gene Bank
collected from home and abroad.
-
Trained 10,100 scientists, progressive farmers and extension
personnel from GOs and NGOs, and about 10,000 farmers through a
day-long rice school programme.
-
Published 170 books, booklets, folders and extension materials for
technology dissemination.
Impact
The country has achieved almost self-sufficiency in rice due to the
development of modern rice varieties and improved rice production
technologies by BRRI, extension of these technologies to the farmers'
fields, and above all appropriate policy of the Government and
tireless efforts of the farming community. The impact of BRRI's
research are as follows:
-
During the last three decades, rice production has doubled
synchronizing with the increase of population.
-
In 1970, population of our country was 71.21 million and yield of
clean rice was 1.05 t/ha. The population has increased to about 130
million and yield of clean rice reached to about 2.28 t/ha in 2002.
-
In 1970, total rice area was 10.31 million ha and clean rice
production at that time was 10.82 million ton (MT). In 2001-2002,
total rice area decreased to about 10.66 million ha but production
of clean rice increased to about 24.30 MT.
-
Presently, BRRI varieties cover more than 64% of rice area and
account for about 78% of the total annual rice production of the
country.
-
Rate of return per one taka investment in rice research and
development is Tk. 38.
-
A good number of BRRI rice varieties are cultivated in different
countries of the world.
Table 1. BRRI released rice varieties
from 1970 to 2001
Rice variety
Growing Plant Growth Average Releasing
season height duration yield year
(cm)
(days) (t/ha)
BR1 (Chandina)
Aus
88
120
4.0
1970
Boro
88
150
5.5
BR2 (Mala)
Aus
120
125
4.0
1971
Boro
120
160
5.0
BR3 (Biplob)
Aus
100
130
4.0
1973
T. Aman
100
145
4.0
Boro
95
170
6.5
BR4 (Brrisail)
T. Aman
125
145
5.0
1975
BR5 (Dulabhog)
T. Aman
120
150
3.0
1976
BR6 (IR28)
Aus
113
110
3.5
1977
Boro
100
140
4.5
BR7 (Brribalam)
Aus
125
130
4.5
1977
Boro
125
155
4.5
BR8 (Asha)
Aus
125
125
5.0
1978
Boro
125
160
6.0
BR9 (Sufala)
Aus
125
120
5.0
1978
Boro
125
155
6.0
BR10 (Progati)
Aman
115
150
6.5
1980
BR11 (Mukta)
Aman
115
145
6.5
1980
BR12 (Moyna)
Aus
105
130
4.5
1983
Boro
105
170
5.5
BR14 (Gazi)
Aus
120
120
5.0
1983
Boro
120
160
6.0
BR15 (Mohini)
Aus
100
125
5.0
1983
Boro
90
165
5.5
BR16 (Shahiblam)
Aus
110
130
5.0
1983
Boro
90
165
6.0
BR17 (Hashi)
Boro
125
155
6.0
1985
(for haor area only)
BR18 (Shahjalal)
Boro
115
170
6.0
1985
(for haor area only)
BR19 (Mongol)
Boro
110
170
6.0
1985
(for haor area only)
BR20 (Nizami)
B. Aus
120
115
3.5
1986
BR21 (Niamat)
Aus
100
110
3.0
1986
BR22 (Kiron)
T.Aman
125
150
5.0
1988
BR23 (Dishari)
T. Aman
120
150
5.5
1988
BR24 (Rahmat)
B. Aus
105
105
3.5
1992
BR25 (Naya Pajam)
T. Aman
138
135
4.5
1992
BR26 (Sraboni)
Aus
115
115
4.0
1993
BRRIdhan27
B. Aus
140
115
4.0
1994
BRRIdhan28
Boro
90
140
5.0
1994
BRRIdhan29
Boro
95
160
7.5
1994
BRRIdhan30
T. Aman
120
145
5.0
1994
BRRIdhan31
T. Aman
115
140
5.0
1994
BRRIdhan32
T. Aman
120
130
5.0
1994
BRRIdhan33
T. Aman
100
118
4.5
1997
BRRIdhan34
T. Aman
117
135
3.5
1997
BRRIdhan35
Boro
105
155
5.0
1998
BRRIdhan36
Boro
90
140
5.0
1998
BRRIdhan37
T. Aman
125
140
3.5
1998
BRRIdhan38
T. Aman
125
140
3.5
1998
BRRIdhan39
T. Aman
106
122
4.5
1999
BRRIdhan40
T. Aman
110
145
4.5
2001
BRRIdhan41
T. Aman
115
148
4.5
2001
BRRI hybrid dhan1
Boro
110
155
9.0
2001
Recognition
BRRI is honoured with the following prestigious national and
international awards for its outstanding contribution to the science
and technology.
-
Bangabandhu Award in 1974
-
President's Gold Medal in 1977
-
Independence Day Gold Medal in 1978
-
President's Gold Medal in 1980
-
FAO Bronze Plaque in 1980
-
President's Gold Medal in 1984
-
Begum Zebunnessa and Kazi Mahbubullah Trust Gold Medal in 1986
-
Dr Maniruzzaman Foundation Gold Medal in 1991
-
Independence Day Gold Medal in 1992
-
Independence Day Gold Medal in 1997
Future Strategy
If
the present population growth rate continues, total population will be
about 170 million by 2025 and demand for rice will be 25% higher than
that of the present production level. BRRI is committed to meet-up
this demand to save the nation from hunger and has taken the following
strategies to fulfill this commitment.
-
Development of super high yielding rice varieties having 12-14 t/ha
yield potential.
-
Development of hybrid rice and its seed production technologies.
·
Development of transgenic rice.
·
Development of rice varieties for
unfavourable ecosystem and tolerant to cold, drought, submergence and
salinity and resistant to insect, pests and diseases.
·
Development of vitamin and iron dense rice
to fight against malnutrition.
-
Development of export quality fine grain and aromatic rice.
-
Development and refinement
of crop, soil, water and pest management technologies for high yield
targets.
-
Development, improvement
and extension of low cost appropriate farm machineries for farm
mechanization.
-
Strengthening of
technology transfer processes to achieve national rice production
target.
-
Strengthening of
socio-economic and policy issues for poverty elimination by ensuring
profits from rice cultivation for small and marginal farmers.
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