Mokbul and Rajvhog gained widespread popularity among farmers in Manikganj
Sonjita Kirtuniya and Ananna Ahmed from Manikgonj
Manikganj district grapples with agricultural challenges, notably in rice cultivation, especially during the monsoon season. The region’s susceptibility to floods and excessive rainfall leads to recurrent waterlogging, particularly in low-lying areas. This water stagnation in post-Boro rice (Irrigated) harvest hampers Aman (rain-fed) rice cultivation. The need for a suitable rice variety becomes paramount during this period. Despite the historical abundance of rice landraces, their existence is now threatened, primarily due to seed unavailability, posing a significant risk to genetic diversity.
To address this issue, BARCIK, in collaboration with PAN AP, initiated a farmer-led on-farm participatory applied agricultural research, known as Participatory Rice Variety Selection trial, since 2022. The objective is to explore and promote adaptive native crop landraces that thrive in the local context. Two case studies featured the critical importance of preserving native rice landraces in this challenging agricultural landscape which are depicted here.
Case-1: “Shorter Lifecycle of Mokbul rice landraces facilitates mustard cultivation “
Md. Lablu Miyan, a 45-year-old farmer from Mojlishpur village in Manikganj, Bangladesh, has been involved in agriculture since childhood. Despite facing financial challenges and relying on a small piece of rented land, Lablu, as the sole breadwinner for his family, struggled to meet his food needs. With limited resources, he was unable to invest significantly in farming.
Seeking a solution with low production costs and minimal risks, Lablu became interested in cultivating rice landraces. This interest was heightened when his village faced a widespread infestation of steam borers during the last (2022) Boro rice season. During the Aman season in 2022, Lablu witnessed an on-farm participatory applied agricultural research initiative in a neighboring village, Noyabari. The local farmers’ committee conducted the research, evaluating 11 rice landraces.
Among them, Lablu noticed that the Mokbul variety exhibited unique characteristics, displaying resistance to steam borers, Blast disease and sting bugs. Impressed by these traits, he became eager to cultivate Mokbul. Acquiring seeds at a farmers’ field day, he successfully cultivated Mokbul on his 20 decimal rented lands in 2023.
Lablu shared that Mokbul rice landraces have a shorter lifecycle (119 days), a higher number of tillers (23), good grain quality and a yield of 7.37 tons per hectare. Notably, Mokbul can be cultivated without the use of pesticides and is also suitable for the Boro rice season. The shorter lifecycle also allows for mustard seeds to be sown 15 days ahead of Mokbul rice harvest. This year, Lablu distributed 20 kg of seeds to 18 farmers from his home seed preservation.
The popularity of Mokbul rice landraces has grown among local farmers due to these favorable characteristics. Farmers in the region of Manikganj find Mokbul to be a suitable and resilient landraces for cultivation, further establishing its popularity.
Case-2 “Minoti Rani’s questing for rice landraces for cattle’s fodder beyond consumption.”
At Aktaria village of Bayra Union, Singair Upazila in Manikganj, Bangladesh, resides the smallholder woman farmer, Minoti Rani (38), was looking for a rice landraces not only catering to human consumption but also serving as premium fodder for cattle. Striving for exceptional quality straw and finer-grained rice suitable for the Aman season, Minoti faced a scarcity of such varieties of rice in her village and locality.
Minoti’s journey led her to an exposure visit to the Community Seed Bank (CSB) in Burundi, Sadar Upazila, Manikganj, where she participated in enlightening insightful discussions on the adaptability of landraces arranged by the CSB. Observed in the diverse seeds preserved in the CSB, Minoti grasped the opportunity to acquire rice landraces that aligned with her need. This led her to Rajvhog, a distinctive rice landraces she cultivated on 40 decimal of her rented lands in 2023.
Applying agro-ecological practices acquired through training at the Majlishpur Agro-Ecological Learning Center, Minoti observed the remarkable resistance of Rajvhog rice landraces. It exhibited resistance to pests and insects, demanded minimal irrigation, and larger panicles (2.6 cm). The harvest yielded 33 kg of rice, with Minoti selling 10 kg as seeds at a rate of 100 BDT per kg. Demonstrating her commitment to disseminate the landraces, she distributed 5 kg as seeds among seven neighboring farmers keen on cultivating it in the following year.
Minoti emphasized the economic viability of Rajvhog compared to other varieties, attributing its higher market price and adaptability to the local climate. In the agricultural landscape of the area, Rajvhog emerges as the preferred choice among farmers, showcasing not only its agronomic proficiency but also its contribution to sustainable cattle farming.
Locally adapted landraces offer consistent yields, enhancing food security for rural subsistence farming communities. The genetic diversity they bring is crucial for crop genetic diversity and future crop development. The utilization of these landraces is ingrained in the traditions and cultures of rural communities, emphasizing their ongoing significance. The preservation and continued utilization of locally adapted landraces represent a harmonious blend of science and tradition. These crops serve as resilient protectors of food security, embodying the wisdom of generations past while holding the key to sustainable agriculture in the years to come.
Translated by ABM Touhidul Alam
