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Built on deep-rooted political and cultural heritage, ‘rice security’ is the foundation of ‘food security’ in Bangladesh. The country has been in production-surplus of rice in the current decade feeding over 165 million people. This on-going ‘selfsufficiency momentum’ would require to maintain to meet increased demand from growing future population. On developmental side, Bangladesh is placed among the three of the world’s fastest growing economies in the years through to 2050. Rice sector would need to match with the pace of this growth. In addition, agriculture sector, that includes rice, is to double the productivity as the government commits to meet the SDG goal 2.3.1. This study addresses those issues through scoping increased rice production and productivity in Bangladesh, developing a plan of work (POW) on translating the scope and designing implementation plans and actions, incorporating efficiency, resilience, stability and sustainability issues, to achieve the POW. The study has used brainstorming, and rigorous analysis to achieve the objectives. The productivity has been explained in terms of yield- and labour-productivity. The developed three-winged ‘doubling rice productivity (DRP)’ framework directs yield enhancement and production accumulation in unexplored spaces (Wing-1); increased adoption of mechanization to impact on labour productivity (Wing-2), and improvements in nutritional quality and rice-based product diversity, and stabilizing the farmgate price (Wing-3). Analyses show, from the baseline figure of 35.29 MT in 2015, rice production in the country can be raised to 46.90 MT in 2030, 54.09 MT in 2040 and 60.85 MT in 2050 with combined contributions of three pillars – yield improvements by enhanced varietal potential (Pillar 1), reduction in existing yield gap (Pillar 2) and production increase by exploring unexplored spaces for rice (Pillar 3) of Wing-1 of the DRP. This production will produce a surplus of 6.50, 10.29 and 13.65 MT in 2030, 2040 and 2050, respectively, over the production target (40.40, 43.80 and 47.20 MT in 2030 and 2050, respectively). Results further reveal that through scale-appropriate mechanization backed up by estimated fair price, labour productivity in rice will be doubled by 2029, meeting the SDG 2.3.1. Good number of released varieties have been identified to have specific nutritional trait, and value adding quality. We have emphasized on much needed actions on demand-driven research for varietal development and field-adoptable management, mechanization for transplanting and harvesting operations, accommodation of rice in unexplored spaces, farmer-based speedy seed multiplication and dissemination system, establishment of commission for agricultural costs and prices, input buffer stock terminals for managing production risk, long-term storage and export of surplus production, and research-publicity-market development for rice-based products through public-private partnership. It is concluded that efficiency, resilience and sustainability around the three wings of DRP in the rice production systems to be ensured to achieve the rice production, productivity and labour use estimates. Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (2): 1-47, 2021

Using cross-sectional data obtained through carrying out a sample survey conducted during 2018, we examined the perception of farmers and millers about the paddy and rice procurement system and its feasibility. A probit model was employed to ascertain the factors influencing the likelihood of participating in the procurement system by farmers from two districts of Bangladesh. The results showed that the government procurement system has significant impacts on both the participant farmers and millers. The farmers and millers' net profit was TK 4,205 and TK 3,930 by selling a ton of paddy and cleaned rice, respectively, to the procurement center rather than in the local market. The probit regression analysis revealed nine different factors that significantly influenced farmers' participation in the paddy procurement programme. Results further implied that educated farmers had procurement cards with sufficient system knowledge, residing near the hub with improved road access, and association with political parties get preference in participating in the programme. The findings also indicate that lucrative prices, programme scheduling and good conduct of procurement employees inspire farmers to participate in the programme. The government procurement programme has several drawbacks such as anomalies in selecting farmers, taking extra paddy by the employees, corruption, unsuitable payment system, and procurement capacity. Therefore, the government would be vigilant to ensure that the procurement system will provide farmers with price support. A well-functioning procurement system is crucial for guaranteeing the country's food security by ensuring a fair price for the producers. Finally, the study proposed some policy guidelines based on the findings to establish a sound paddy and/or rice procurement system in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (1): 31-46, 2020

Northwestern part of Bangladesh plays an important role to supply rice for national food security. However, wet season (WS) rice cultivation in the area is highly vulnerable to moisture stress and severe pest infestation. Therefore, it is very much important to evaluate the adoption situation of wet season rice cultivars and their drivers and drawbacks of adoption in order to delineate the possible ways of rapid dissemination of modern rice varieties to cope with the existing vulnerability and minimize yield gap. Two important wet season rice-growing districts, namely Rangpur and Dinajpur were selected purposively for the study. Focus group discussion (FGD) and key informant interview (KII) were conducted using semi-structured questionnaire to gather qualitative and quantitative data for the study. In addition, structured questionnaire was used in the FGD for generating data on input use patterns, outputs and seasonal variability of yield and price of different rice cultivars for estimating costs and returns. The findings of the study reveal that farmers mainly adopted exotic WS rice cultivars to reduce unexpected yield loss due to abiotic and biotic stresses. Diffusion status of exotic cultivars was ranged between 76-85% of total WS rice area in the study locations. The drivers of widespread diffusion of exotic cultivars are stability in yield performance, compatibility to fit into local cropping systems, potentiality to recover from biotic and abiotic stresses and ensured market demand. However, farmers are dreaming for higher yield potential and more stress tolerant cultivars for fitting into two and three crops-based systems in the areas. Rice breeders may use the findings of this study to develop and disseminate suitable rice cultivars for the northwestern part of the country. Bangladesh Rice j. 2019, 23(1): 81-106

This study assesses the impact of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) released modern wet (Aman) season rice variety adoption on farmers‟ well-being in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) data collected by IFPRI were used for this study. The study applied difference-in-difference treatment effect and difference-in-difference quantile treatment effect models using unbalanced panel data to achieve the set objectives. Analysis revealed that BRRI released wet (Aman) season rice technology has a robust and positive effect on small farmers‟ welfare in Bangladesh as indicated by the level of increases in per capita household real income, increases in real aman rice income, and also increases in yield and decreases both in poverty gap and squared poverty gap over time. The marginal and near landless farmers have not gained significantly through adopting BRRI released modern variety over non-adopters in terms of all the indicators except aman rice yield. However, only yield of BRRI released modern wet (Aman) season rice technology has positive and significant impact on the marginal and near landless farmers. As such, BRRI variety adoption seemed to be conducive in increasing the level of yield of marginal and near-landless farms but it hardly helps them to overcome the poverty level, unless other equity-enhancing policy measures are undertaken. Overall, there was large scope for enhancing adoption of BRRI released rice variety in order to reduce the poverty level in rural areas. The current rice policy (rice self-sufficiency) appears to be supportive to help Bangladesh rice sector for achieving food security in the country. Bangladesh Rice j. 2019, 23(1): 1-11