Modern equipment for BINA to boost crop production

The Agriculture Ministry is going to implement a project in order to expedite the research of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA).

Under the project, styled ‘Strengthening Research Activities of BINA’, a number of modern equipment will be added to BINA’s laboratory, with an aim to introduce 25 environment friendly high yield crop varieties and 15 technologies to boost the crops production in the country.

The ministry has already sent a project proposal to the Planning Commission for approval, a senior official of the Planning Ministry told The Business Post, adding that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is likely to approve the project, along with seven others, on Tuesday.

The ECNEC meeting is scheduled to be held at National Economic Council (NEC) conference room with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

According to the project proposal, the laboratory of BINA’s head office will get modern equipment to accelerate its research. Besides, advanced greenhouses and Rapid Generation Advance (RGA) facilities will be established

under the project which also aims to enhance and develop gene bank facilities.

The project also aims to accelerate the use of nuclear, molecular and modern techniques in agriculture and popularise innovative varieties, technologies and good agricultural practices among farmers, the project proposal said.

The estimated cost of the project is Tk 164 crore which will come from the government exchequer. The project, scheduled to end by December 2026, will be implemented through 15 centres of BINA across the country, the official said.

The main components of the project are production, purchase, storage and distribution of 3500 metric tonnes of breeding and quality seeds at the farmer level and establishment of 14 ‘BINA Krishi Villages’ in various agricultural regions of the country.

A number of 742 adaptive trials and 25,000 exhibitions on variety of crops will be organised at field level through the project.

Under the project, necessary research infrastructure including 500 square metres RGA facility, 240 square metres modern greenhouse, 210 square metres rain out shelter and 50 square meter growth chamber, will be constructed at BINA’s head office.

A number of 2000 field level agricultural officers, 1500 assistant agricultural officers and 15,000 farmers will get training under the project.

Moreover, 15 scientists will obtain their PhD degree in the country while 60 scientists will get overseas training and 150 scientists and 280 officers will get local training under the project.