Dinajpur:A team of researchers from Haji Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) is working to develop rice varieties that are resistant to the destructive blast disease while also being high-yielding and suitable for cultivation in char areas.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the research is being conducted at the Jute Research Institute field in Dinajpur. The initiative is under the joint supervision of professors from HSTU, including Prof Mamunur Rashid from the Department of Plant Pathology, Prof Mominur Rahman from the Department of Agronomy, and Prof Arifuzzaman from the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding.
Three postgraduate students are involved in separate projects. Mosammat Aziza Khatun is investigating six nearly extinct indigenous rice varieties that have demonstrated complete resistance to blast disease. Shamsul Alam Manik is exploring ways to boost Aman rice yields in char environments with minimal irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer. Masum Reza is working on developing advanced lines of the sixth generation of rice using conventional breeding techniques and focusing on high-nutritional 'Fine Black Rice.'
The ongoing research was recently inspected by HSTU Treasurer Prof Masudul Hasan Khan, Dinajpur District Seed Certification Officer Jafar Iqbal, and Dr. Syed Zahid Hasan from the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute's Dinajpur Regional Office. Jafar Iqbal remarked that the initiative is commendable for its aim to enrich genetic resources and increase productivity.