A group of scientists of Dhaka University has invented a bio-pesticide for agricultural use and a couple of bating agents for the tannery industry from a genus of bacteria known as bacillus, raising the hope of reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers. These inventions can play a vital role in cutting the use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture as well as reducing the dependency of the tannery industry on costly import of chemicals, claimed the scientists and industry insiders.
Arafat Al Mamun, a researcher at Centre for Advance Research in Sciences of the university, and member of the team of scientists from DU’s Microbiology Department and the CARS, told the news agency that the new bio-pesticide has been developed from a bacterium, named Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Led by Mozammel Haque, the research team also includes Shakila Nargis Khan, Asaduzzaman Sishir, Md Nahinur Rahman Akand and Nusrat Khandker.
Mamun said the pesticide was tested on different vegetables, including egg-plants, cabbage and cauliflower, and gave good results. ‘The main significance of this bio-pesticide is that it can reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture and in the way can help reduce the chemical pollution in the food-chain,’ he noted.
-With UNB/New Age input
