| Summary: | On 10 May 2025 in Noakhali, Bangladesh, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) jointly organized a Crop Cafeteria Field Day at the BADC Subarnachar farm to accelerate the adoption of high-performing rice varieties through participatory evaluation. Building on similar initiatives conducted nationwide since 2019, the event provided a scientific yet farmer-centric platform to assess varietal suitability based on appearance, taste, yield potential, and market demand. Fourteen rice varieties, including newly released lines, benchmark, and local checks, were evaluated through field observation, stakeholder discussions, and structured questionnaires. Results showed that BRRI dhan102, BRRI dhan99, and BRRI dhan97 were most preferred by farmers and seed stakeholders, while millers favored BRRI dhan74 for its consistency and supply chain suitability. The event brought together farmers, millers, seed producers, researchers, and policymakers, reinforcing crop cafeteria field days as an effective tool for evidence-based varietal selection, quality seed awareness, and inclusive decision-making across agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh.
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