Located in Gazipur district the Oilseed Research Centre (ORC) is a
department under Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Since its
establishment, the center has been conducting research to increase the
production of edible oil in Bangladesh. Since its establishment, the center has
been researching several issues including increasing the production of edible
oil in Bangladesh. Recently, Grain Feed & Milling Magazine (GFMM) conducted
an interview with the Director of this center, Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda. The magnetic part of that interview is released for
readers of Oils and Fats Asia.
Grain Feed & Milling Magazine
(GFMM): What are the oilseeds of Bangladesh? Which oilseeds are you
researching?
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: Among the oilseeds of Bangladesh are mustard,
groundnut, sesame, soybean, sunflower, linseed, Niger, Safflower, coconut,
veranda, lemongrass, etc. But we work with 8 of these seeds. 5 of them are
major, and 3 are minor. The main 5 are mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and
sunflower.
GFMM: Briefly
describe the activities of your Oilseeds Research Centre.
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: The activities of our oilseed research center are; Genetic
enhancement of oil crops through the collection and maintaining local & exotic
germplasm, Development of high-yielding varieties suitable for existing
cropping patterns, Development of modern production technology, Development of
plant protection measures, Quality studies of different oils, Breeders seed
production and distribution, TLS production and distribution, Technology
transfer through training, block demonstration, distribution of leaflets,
booklets and through mass media.
GFMM: Tell us
about your research methodology and development area.
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: We generally carry out our research activities in two
ways. First, we collect improved germplasm from our country breeds. Then do
research on them. If our germplasm does not seem superior, then bring in
germplasm from abroad. Then we cross the country's germplasm with foreign
germplasm. We do 5/6 trials at different stages, in different mediums. Then
approve the selected variety of the highest quality. It takes about 12 years to
develop a new variety. We are trying to minimize this time. Our research and
development areas are; Variety development, Crop, and Soil management, Disease
management, Insect management, Biochemical studies, Technology transfer,
Training, Demonstration, Seed production, Seed distribution, On-farm trials,
etc.
GFMM: Bangladesh
is an agricultural country, but we have to import about 80 percent of our
edible oil needs. What is the reason behind this?
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: A good question, is that Bangladesh is an agricultural country, but we have to import about
80 percent of our edible oil needs. What is the reason behind this? The
population of Bangladesh is over sixteen and a half crore. The staple food of
these people is rice. The source of rice is paddy. So paddy production is our
main agricultural production. About 75/76% of the crop produced in the country
is paddy. There is no opportunity to reduce this production. On the other hand,
the production of edible oil in the country is only 3 percent, and mustard is
our main edible oil crop. One of the reasons for this is that after the harvest
of Aman paddy, there are only 80-85 days to start planting Boro paddy, during
which time mustard is cultivated. And at no other time is it possible to
cultivate it. Apart from that, as a result, the amount of land for mustard
cultivation is less, so the opportunity is also less. However, there is scope
for mustard cultivation in all those lands where Boro is not cultivated under
Aman paddy. We have developed mustard varieties that are suitable for
cultivation in both areas, and cultivation of these varieties at the farmer
level has also started quite early. Research on developing more early-yielding
varieties is ongoing. Hopefully, we can reduce our edible oil deficit to a
great extent in the next few years.
GFMM: The main edible oils around the world are
soybean, palm, and sunflower. What is the state of cultivation of these
oilseeds in our country?
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: Soybean and sunflower are being cultivated in our
country. Our research continues to develop more suitable varieties for our
country. Soybean has lower oil content than mustard at 16/17%, while mustard
has 18/20% depending on the variety. But soybean can tolerate some salinity and
heat, so it is being cultivated towards Noakhali, Lakshmipur region. Due to the
use of soybeans in feed preparation apart from oil, we are keen to develop
varieties suitable for cultivation in our country. Our research is continuing
to increase the production of sunflowers. Our country does not have a suitable
climate for oil palm cultivation. Palm cultivation requires a warm-humid
climate, which exists only in Indonesia, and Malaysia. Because of this, palm
cultivation is good for them. Those who tried in our country long ago, could
not succeed due to lack of required humidity or rainfall for most of the year. For
this reason, we are not doing any work with palm oilseeds.
GFMM: Rice husk or bran oil is being produced in the
country. It is very likely to be heard. Say something about this.
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: You have asked another good question. We know that. Rice bran oil is also
highly nutritious. Bangladesh is a rice-producing country, and rice production
along with rice bran oil production, can be quite profitable. If the production
of rice increases, the production of rice bran oil will also increase. No
separate land, storage, fertilizers, or pesticides are required for rice bran oil
production. This is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. We have to
take the opportunity very seriously. If adulterated with oil, it will not work.
We see great potential in rice bran oil.
GFMM: Some countries produce ethanol from corn. The
USA uses about 25% of its corn production for ethanol production. Has there
been any thought or research into the production of ethanol from corn produced
in our country?
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: Earlier wheat and maize were under our BARI. Later, a
separate institute was created with the two. The name of which is Bangladesh Wheat
and Maize Research Institute. They can talk about making ethanol from corn. But
as far as I know, our country is not doing anything like that yet. Maize
produced in our country is mainly used for feed production.
GFMM: Tell us about your significant achievements
since inception.
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: Since our inception till date, we have developed 51
improved varieties of oilseeds. Among them 20 of BARI mustard, 11 of BARI
groundnut, 7 of BARI soybean, 6 of BARI sesame, 3 of BARI sunflower, and 4
others. Our developed BARI mustard varieties cover about 60-65% of the total
cultivated land of mustard in
Bangladesh, groundnut is cultivated in 30-40% and soybeans in 90% of the land.
Our developed sunflower varieties can tolerate salinity and can be cultivated
year-round. As a result, there are many possibilities. One of the improved
varieties of mustard is BARI Mustard-20. It is developed from a cross between
SAU Mustard-1 (Shere-Bangla Agricultural University Mustard-1) and BARI
Mustard-14. Its yield is 15-20 percent higher, ranging from 2 thousand to 2.5
thousand kg per hectare. BARI-18 improved the quality of mustard oil.
GFMM: Tell us if you have any
problems/challenges/limitations with this research/working field.
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: All jobs have some difficulties/challenges, all of which
have to be worked through. However, I do not see any such
problems/challenges/limitations in our study. Our current honorable Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Md. Abdur Razzak very
agriculture-friendly. Minister of Agriculture Dr. Md. Abdur Razzaq was involved
in agricultural research. We are spontaneous in fulfilling our
responsibilities.
GFMM: Will you say about your future plan?
Dr. Md. Abdul Latif Akanda: All the varieties we have developed so far are
pollinated or composite types. In the future, we will formulate hybrid
varieties. Also in our future plans are; the development of duration high-yielding varieties of rapeseed-mustard, the development of dwarf hybrid
sunflower varieties, the development of low erucic acid and low glucosinolate
rapeseed-mustard varieties, the development of linseed varieties for edible
oil, the development of control measure against stem rot of sesame, etc.
Besides, we are trying together with BARI, DAE, and BADC to reduce our edible
oil deficit by 40% in the next three years.
GFMM: Thank you on behalf of ‘Grain Feed &
Milling Magazine’.
-Sardar Zahidul Kabir
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