Rice is a staple food in South Asia and a key source of livelihood for millions of farmers and families across the region. As climate change affects agriculture, scientists and institutions are developing improved rice varieties that are more productive, resilient, and suited to changing environments and market needs.
This Seed Systems Product Diary presents new rice varieties developed by Bangladesh’s leading rice research institutions, namely the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). The goal of this product diary is to identify new varieties that can outperform older or commonly used ones under existing environments, from delivering better yields, stronger resilience, and greater income and food security.
These varieties were evaluated through on-farm and adaptive trials led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and partners from national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES). Trials took place across several divisions of Bangladesh which represent different growing conditions and challenges, including drought, salinity, or flood-prone lands. Most importantly, these trials were completely managed by farmers, ensuring that the performance data reflects real-time field conditions.
Each entry in this diary is a short profile of a top-performing rice product, tailored to a specific ecosystem or market segment. It is intended for key stakeholders involved in getting quality seeds for farmers: seed producers, extension agents, agri-entrepreneurs, and institutional stakeholders in the seed business and varietal promotion. It also serves as an easy-to-understand guide to help make informed decisions about which varieties to multiply, promote, and scale up—ensuring farmers have access to seeds that perform best in their fields.
