Feature: Battling "monga" -- Chinese rice hybrids filling Bangladeshi bellies

Farmers work in a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

NILPHAMARI, Bangladesh, May 31 (Xinhua) -- "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers.

Joynal Abedin, a farmer in Nilphamari district, some 360 km northwest of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, has been living under the shadow of monga for more than 50 years.

"I've planted National AgriCare hybrid Dhan-4. It gives me an excellent return and I'll be sticking with it until something better comes along. I'm very happy," Abedin told Xinhua recently. "We've come a long way since we started using Chinese seed."

Another farmer, Alhaj Rafiqul Islam also plants Dhan-4. "I've planted this strain on 3 hectares, with outstanding results," he said. "Other farmers are coming to see my crop and I've advised all my neighbors and relatives use Dhan-4."

Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. Sanjay Kumar Kundu is a seed merchant. He gets his seed from China's Chongqing Zhong Yi Seed.

"Last year I sold Dhan-4. It has been very well received by my customers," he said. He has already sold 30 tonnes of the variety this year.

"The results are very nice, very good and I'm satisfied. Because of this, my business is growing," he said. "The farmers do not want to plant anything other than Dhan-4 now."

Chinese agriculturists work directly with farmers in their fields. They understand the needs of the particular crop and have knowledge of current trends in rice cultivation that Bangladeshi farmers can only dream of.

Mohammad Azmol Hossain is the sales manager of National AgriCare Hybrid Seeds in northern Bangladesh districts. "I would like to remember and thank Professor Yuan Longping, 'the father of hybrid rice in China,'" he said.

Most Bangladeshis eat rice three times a day, every day. "Demand is huge," Hossain said. "Without Chinese hybrids, we would certainly suffer food shortages. I feel there is a significant role of Chinese seed in the Bangladeshi economy and food demand."

"From a business point of view, I'm delighted. We started out dealing only 200 tonnes. Today we handle about 1,300 tonnes. It is far superior to existing local varieties."

The Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture and Chongqing Zhong Yi Seed distribute eight hybrid strains. National AgriCare Group entered the seed business in 2010. Chongqing Zhong Yi is a frequent participant in China's aid and technical collaborations, leading rice technology cooperation in Bangladesh as part of the Belt-and-Road project.

Ling Jiahu of Chongqing Zhong Yi said the company works in seed marketing, processing, production, research and technology.

"We are lucky enough to have a world-class research team, seen as the backbone of China's seed industry," he said. "We export 2,600 tonnes to Asia and Africa each year."

Of those 2,600 tonnes, around 1,500 tonnes go to Bangladesh where the 'Janakraj' strain is the most popular with its high yield, high resistance to pests, and high quality. According to Ling, yields can reach 11 tonnes per hectare, 30 percent higher than local varieties.

Today, the monga cycle is not entirely broken, but the hardships of agrarian communities in northern Bangladesh have been greatly alleviated by high-yielding Chinese rice varieties.

Md Abu Bakkar Siddique of the Bangladesh department of agricultural extension said hybrid rice is a winter crop in just over half of the country's paddies, playing an important role in food production.

"AgriCare hybrid seed from China sold here is very satisfactory," he said. "Chinese companies are crucial to our agricultural development, and we are very grateful for their support." 

A farmer harvests rice in a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

A farmer threshes rice near a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

A farmer shows newly harvested rice in a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

A farmer carries bundles of harvested rice in a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

Farmers thresh rice near a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

A farmer shows bundles of newly harvested rice in a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

Farmers load bundles of rice straws into a van-rickshaw near a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

Farmers harvest rice in a paddy field in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

A farmer carries newly harvested rice paddy in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 17, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)

Farmers process newly harvested rice paddy in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, on May 16, 2022. "Monga" is a Bengali term farmers use for the eternal annual cycle of poverty and plenty. When the season is right, there is plenty for all. When things are tough, everyone suffers. Chinese seed is vital to Bangladesh's ambition to be self-sufficient in rice production. (Xinhua)