Hybrid rice now covers 15% of Bangladesh's total rice area as farmers shift from traditional varieties seeking higher yields and better profits.
Bangladesh has recorded a significant increase in hybrid rice cultivation over the past five years, with hybrid varieties now occupying 15 percent of the country's total rice cultivation area of 2.83 crore acres in fiscal year 2024-25, according to the Bangladesh Seed Association.
Farmers are increasingly moving away from traditional inbred and local rice varieties towards hybrid rice, attracted by yields that are 15-20 percent higher than conventional High-Yielding Varieties (HYV). Mohammad Masum, president of the Bangladesh Seed Association, noted that hybrids are replacing HYV rice in fields while the total rice cultivation area remains relatively unchanged.
Bangladesh now requires 20,000-21,000 tonnes of hybrid rice seeds annually, with up to 80 percent of these seeds produced domestically by importing parental lines from abroad. FH Ansarey, director of ACI Ltd, one of the country's leading seed sellers, explained that better quality and significantly higher yields are driving the popularity of hybrid varieties among farmers.
The shift towards hybrid rice is part of Bangladesh's ongoing effort to ensure food security and improve agricultural productivity. For farmers in northern districts like Naogaon, where agriculture forms the backbone of the local economy, the adoption of hybrid varieties offers an opportunity to increase income and improve livelihoods during the crucial Aman and Boro seasons.