The graduates and researchers from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have a vital and pioneering role in food security through the development of modern technologies, techniques and crop varieties.
Professor Dr Arif Hasan Khan Robin, a dedicated researcher and plant breeder of the Department of Genetics and Plant Bleeding of BAU is working to overcome that challenge to ensure food security of the people of the country.
He has been working on high-yielding mustard and sweet potato for a long time. Now he has started a new research program on high-yielding varieties of rice, wheat and tomatoes. His undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students are working with him.
Professor Robin said: “My research on sweet potato is currently ongoing in three locations including one in the char area of the Brahmaputra River. Here we are growing 23 selected sweet potato genotypes in 10 square meters of replicated research plots. These are the selections from large number 540 genotypes obtained from the headquarters of CIP (International Potato Centre, Peru).”
He further said: “A tuber of BAU sweet potato-5, developed by his research group, weighs generally 300-400gm. The tubers are pinkish-red in colour and very attractive. The tubers have around 30% dry matter and are nutritious.”
He added that in his selected genotypes there are orange-flesh, purple-flesh and white-flesh variants. More importantly, these selected genotypes can be harvested within 90 days. Farmers will be able to produce more in less time. Besides, the farmers can also grow another crop quickly. This will increase the cropping intensity.
Farmers living in char areas are very interested in cultivating sweetpotato as the production cost is low. Besides, this crop can meet the nutritional deficiency of the farming families as we give importance to anthocyanin and carotene-rich varieties.
Fabiha Haque, a doctoral student researching sweetpotato said: "In our research, we are focusing on short duration, nutrition such as carotene or anthocyanin and higher yield.”
“Next to the sweetpotato I saw a plot of mustard and tomato. Professor Robin informed us that he is trying to develop larger tomato varieties that will be nutritionally improved as well. Then I went to the mustard research field. Bees are working to collect honey from mustard flowers. I saw several students working in the field,” he added.
Athkia Abida, an MS research student, said: "I am doing hybridization among genotypes as per instructions of my research supervisor. I am looking at whether there is any change in this way or if any new features are available.”
Professor Robin said: “A total of 10 varieties of mustard have been developed so far from the Department of Genetics and Plant Bleeding of BAU. These are Sampad, Sambal and BAU Sarisha-1 to BAU Sarisha-8. The mustard research at BAU was initially led by Professor Dr Lutfur Rahman and Professor Abdul Quddus. BAU Sarisha-1,2,3 are the three salt-tolerant varieties developed by BAU and that research was led by Professor Dr Lutful Hassan. I was also on the research team.”
“Recently my research team released five high-yielding varieties of BAU Sarisha -4,5,6,7,8 which are very less infected by the Alternaria blight. Due to their high production, we are getting more than two tons of yields of BAU Sarisha -5 in the farmer's field. These varieties yielded between 2.0 tons and 2.5 tons per hectare in the Jessore and Khulna regions last year. BAU Sarisha -5 has received a huge response among the farmers. Through the Department of Agricultural Extension, we have spread the varieties in different districts of the country including Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Comilla, Khulna, Satkhira, Barisal, Jessore, Bogra and Naogaon. The oil content and fatty acids in these varieties are balanced,” he added.
“Currently, we are trying to develop short-duration mustard varieties that can fit between aman and boro crops. Our goal is to provide several choices to the farmers so that farmers can choose the right variety for a particular crop in a changing climate. Our effort, our research dream to ensure food security in Bangladesh,” he further said.
