Lesson 3/55 min
Rice, wheat, maize, potato and improved varieties
Rice
- Main food grain and main farm product; scientific name Oryza sativa; a monocot plant
- Boro is the most produced rice
- Naogaon has the most rice mills
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): Manila, Philippines; founded 1960
- Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI): 1970; Joydebpur, Gazipur
- Salt-tolerant rice: Bina-8, Bina-9, BR 47
- Suited to the Monga area of the north: Bri-33
- Irratom, Brishail, Narika-1, Banglamati and Mala are rice varieties (Banglamati is aromatic; Narika-1 is drought-tolerant)
- First high-yielding rice still in use: IRRI-8 (11th BCS)
Watch out: The books differ on how much land grows rice (Khandokar 80%, Zubair 70%); one PSC answer is 80%. They also give Bangladesh's world rank as third or fourth. Check both numbers against a recent source before the exam. China is the top producer and Thailand the top rice exporter (Zubair).
Wheat
- A major rabi crop; scientific name Triticum aestivum
- Thakurgaon is the “bread basket” and grows the most wheat
- Improved varieties: Akbar, Kanchan, Barkat, Sonalika, Jopatika, Inia-66, Doyel, Balaka, Anondo, Agrani, Shatabdi
- Bangladesh Wheat Research Centre: set up in 1980 under BARI; Nashipur, Dinajpur
Maize
- Grown in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Chattogram and the hill areas
- Improved varieties: Barnali, Shubhra, Mohor, Khoi Bhutta, Super Corn
Potato
- Scientific name Solanum tuberosum
- Potato farming spread in Bengal on the initiative of Warren Hastings
- The potato varieties were brought from the Netherlands
- Varieties: Kumari, Kufri, Chamak, Sindure, Diamond, Cardinal, Hira, Ailsa
- Munshiganj grows the most potato (Zubair's map)
Improved varieties of other crops
| Crop | Varieties |
|---|---|
| Mango | Langra, Gopalbhog, Mahananda (BARI Mango-1), Amrapali (BARI Mango-3), Mohanbhog, Himsagar, Haribhanga, Rupali |
| Banana | Amritsagar, Mehersagar, Agnishwar, Kanaibanshi, Mohanbanshi, Bitjoba, Singapuri, Basrai, Champa, Korobi |
| Brinjal | Uttara, Tarapuri, Kajol, Noyontara |
| Chilli | Major, Chandramukhi, Sonic, Jamuna, Chatok |
| Onion | Taherpuri, Bhati, Jhitka, Koilashnagar |
| Cauliflower | White Baron, Tropical, Rakkhushi, BARI Fulkopi-1 |
| Cabbage | Golden Cross, KY Cross, Green Express, Atlas-70, Drumhead, Probhati |
| Tomato | Bahar, Manik, Ratan, Apurba, Minto, Jhumka, Sindur, Shrabani |
| Cotton | Rupali and Delfos |
| Pumpkin | Haji and Danesh |
| Watermelon | Padma, Madhubala (yellow type) |
| Oilseed | Safal, Agrani, Kirani DS-1 |
Memory trick: “Balaka” and “Doyel” are wheat varieties here, not birds. “Sonalika” and “Akbar” are wheat too. “Sindure” is a potato. “Manila” is a tobacco type. “Ilamati” is a mango.
Check yourself
Balaka and Doyel are varieties of which crop?
At a glance
- 1
Rice is the main food grain; boro is the most produced; BRRI was set up in 1970 at Joydebpur.
- 2
Thakurgaon is the “bread basket”; Balaka, Doyel, Sonalika and Akbar are wheat varieties.
- 3
Potato varieties came from the Netherlands, and Warren Hastings helped spread the crop in Bengal; Sindure and Diamond are potato varieties.
- 4
Barnali, Shubhra and Mohor are maize varieties; Ilamati, Himsagar and Langra are mango varieties.
- 5
Agnishwar, Kanaibanshi, Mohanbanshi and Bitjoba are banana varieties.