Seeing is believing: Farmers evaluate hybrid rice varieties in Bangladesh Field Days

Field observations and farmer-driven insights from 100+ farmers during two field days help shape the scaling and distribution of two promising hybrid rice varieties in Bangladesh.

BHALUKA and PIRGANJ, Bangladesh (May 2025) — Two IRRI-supported field days placed farmers at the heart of hybrid rice evaluation, showcasing high-performing varieties and generating real-world insights for seed system development and scaling.

Held on May 08 and 10, 2025, the field days were organized in collaboration with Lal Teer Seed Ltd. (LTSL) and ISPAHANI Agro Ltd. (IAL) and facilitated under IRRI Bangladesh’s Seed System Initiative. The two field days showcased two promising hybrids—Lal Teer Hybrid dhan3 and ISPAHANI Hybrid dhan9—through on-farm demonstrations and participatory discussions.

More than 100 farmers, seed dealers, and stakeholders evaluated varietal traits such as grain quality, pannicle density, yield potential, and resilience to pests. The “Seeing is Believing” model enabled farmers to observe and vote on varietal performance in real field conditions, strengthening IRRI’s approach to inclusive, evidence-based decision-making.

“Putting farmers at the center of varietal selection ensures better adoption, higher returns, and local relevance,” said Dr. Md. Sirajul Islam, Chief of Party, IRRI Bangladesh. “Both hybrids performed strongly, and farmers’ feedback is critical for refining and scaling these technologies.”

In Bhaluka, Mymensingh District, farmers observed Lal Teer Hybrid dhan3’s attractive medium fine grain, uniform pannicle structure (18–24 cm), and spikelet number (180–210). Dr. Md. Alamgir Hossai, LTSL General Manager for Rice, remarked that, “Our partnership with IRRI is validating our pipeline with real-time farmer feedback. The Bhaluka event will guide our next distribution strategy.”