The workshop emphasized continued efforts in developing cold-tolerant, high-yield rice varieties to enhance food security and resilience in Haor areas.
Gazipur, Bangladesh (5 November 2024) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), and the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) came together to review and plan on advancing cold-tolerant, short-duration rice varieties for the Haor region to enhance resilience to cold stress and improve food security in the region. This collaboration aims to tackle climate-related challenges in rice production by developing varieties that can thrive under the Haor region’s climatic conditions.
Around 70 participants reviewed significant progress from year 4 and outlined future steps to ensure stable, high-yield rice crops for vulnerable communities in Haor areas for year 5.
The workshop took place on October 3, 2024, at the VIP Training Complex, BRRI-Gazipur, and was organized by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), and the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF).
Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Senior Scientist, and Project Lead from IRRI part presented the “Project Overview and Key Achievements” and briefly described the overview of the last four years of activities. Dr. Partha Sarothi Biswas, CSO and Project Lead at BRRI elaborated on the significant achievements of year 4 (Boro 2023-2024DS) and the important tasks completed during the project period.
Dr. Humnath Bhandari, Country Representative of IRRI Bangladesh, remarked, “The collaborative efforts in developing cold-tolerant rice varieties are crucial for transforming the socio-economic landscape of the Haor basin. If successful, this research will not only enhance food security but also improve the livelihoods of communities facing climatic challenges.”
Dr. Mohammad Khalequzzaman, Director General of BRRI, stated, “Our goal is to create varieties that are not only high-yielding but also capable of withstanding the unique challenges posed by the Haor environment.”
Haor basin, a unique wetland ecosystem in northeastern Bangladesh, faces recurring challenges due to early-season flash flooding. This causes massive losses for farmers and threatens the people's food security and livelihood.
Rice is a staple crop and a critical component of the region's agri-food system. Yet, in recent years, adverse weather conditions, particularly during the Boro season, often reduce yields and destabilize local economies. To address these challenges, IRRI and BRRI have prioritized research on short-duration, cold-tolerant rice varieties that can withstand these environmental stresses, aiming to improve resilience and sustainability in this high-risk area. By focusing on developing resilient crop varieties, the project aims to equip local farmers with the tools necessary to adapt to shifting environmental conditions and ensure stable crop production.
Following the workshop, BRRI will continue research activities focused on cold tolerance and crop resilience, with trials planned across multiple Haor locations. Emphasis will be placed on purifying parental lines, advancing segregating populations, and conducting extensive PVT evaluations in farmers' fields. Recommendations from the event focused on the need for continuous collaboration to ensure future rice varieties are well-adapted to the region’s unique environmental stresses.
Recommendations from Participants:
- Focus on Dual Tolerance: IRRI-BRRI should prioritize developing rice varieties with heat and cold tolerance to ensure stable crop production under varying climatic conditions.
- Resilient Crop Varieties: Monowar Karim from KGF highlighted the importance of heat and cold tolerance for resilient crop development.
- Selection Criteria for Cold Tolerance: Dr. KM Iftekharuddaula, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Plant Breeding at BRRI, recommended that selection criteria for new rice varieties should prioritize grain yield performance under cold stress conditions.
- Prioritize Cold Tolerance at the Vegetative Stage: Dr. Md. Abdul Kader, Chief Scientific Officer, Plant Breeding Division, advised focusing on cold tolerance at the vegetative stage to maintain growth duration, rather than concentrating on the reproductive stage.
- Germplasm Generation: IRRI provided F5 germplasms to BRRI to conduct the Observation Yield Trial (OYT), supporting the development of cold-tolerant rice varieties.
- Prioritize Lodging Tolerance: Dr. Md. Akkas Ali, Director (Crops and Natural Resources) at KGF, highlighted the need for advanced lines or rice varieties with improved lodging tolerance to ensure crop stability and increased yield.
- Continuation of Cold Tolerance Program: Dr. Nathu Ram Sarker, Executive Director of KGF, stressed that efforts to develop cold-tolerant varieties should continue beyond the SDCTR project to ensure the successful release of new varieties.
- Tailored Varieties for Haor Areas: Chief guest Dr. Mohammad Khalequzzaman, Director General of BRRI, emphasized the development of rice varieties for Haor regions, focusing on cold tolerance, high yield, acceptable plant height, lodging tolerance, and resistance to pre-harvest sprouting.
- New Product Profiles for Specific Environments: Dr. Md. Abdul Latif, Director of Administration and Common Services at BRRI, called for creating new product profiles for Haor regions, both upstream and downstream, to guide the release of rice varieties tailored to these unique environments.
Dr. Md. Abu Syed, SSO, BRRI, and Dr. Muhiuddin Faruquee, Assistant Scientist, IRRI-BD, acted as rapporteurs for this workshop.
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