Narail Farmer Finds Success Cultivating High-Value 'Black Rice'

Rahmat Ali a farmer from Joka village in Kalia Upazila, has become a local sensation after successfully cultivating "Black Rice." Inspired by a YouTube video, Rahmat took the initiative to experiment with the high-value crop which is now yielding significant profits.

Rahmat started by collecting one kilogram of black rice seeds online and planting them on 10 decimals of land. Remarkably the cultivation cost roughly 4,000 to 4,500 BDT was identical to that of ordinary rice varieties.

According to Upazila Agricultural Extension Officer Md. Jahangir Alam, the 10-decimal plot is expected to produce 5 to 5.5 maunds of rice. With black rice currently trading at 4,500 to 5,500 BDT per maund nearly four to five times the price of conventional rice Rahmat’s experimental venture has proven highly lucrative.

The success has drawn crowds of curious farmers from neighboring areas, many of whom are now eager to switch to black rice. The Upazila Agriculture Department plans to collect seeds from Rahmat’s harvest to expand cultivation throughout the region.