GAU hosts hands-on workshop to combat devastating wheat blast disease
Kapasia (Gazipur) Correspondent
A day-long hands on training workshop was held at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) to advance sustainable and eco-friendly strategies for managing wheat blast, a highly destructive fungal disease on Monday.
Centered on the theme "Bacillus based biopesticide formaltion for sustaibable management of wheat blast" the event was organized by the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE) at GAU, with support from the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) and the USDA.
The workshop began at 9:30 AM at GAUs Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) seminar room.
Its main goal was to train participants in using Bacillus a beneficial bacterium as a safe and effective alternative to chemical pesticides in controlling wheat blast.
Attendees received practical laboratory training on formulating and applying Bacillus-based bio-pesticides in the field. Professor Dr. GKM Mustafizur Rahman, Vice-Chancellor of GAU, inaugurated the program as Chief Guest, while Prof Dr. Zahurul Karim, Vice President of BAS, joined as Special Guest. Dr. Tofazzal Islam, Principal Investigator of the BAS-USDA project and former IBGE Director, played a key role in organizing the event. Divided into three sessions, the workshop began with welcome remarks from IBGE Director Professor Dr. Shah Mohammad Naimul Islam.
In the technical session, Professor Dr. Latiful Bari from the University of Dhaka presented on the formulation technology of Bacillus-based bio-pesticides. Dr. Tofazzal Hossain Rony, Senior Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), elaborated on the preparation and application techniques. Participants included faculty members from various GAU departments, IBGE students, and scientists from BARI and the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
The interactive sessions allowed participants to share insights and pose questions, which Dr. Zahurul Karim addressed with in-depth explanations. In his closing remarks, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rahman highlighted the urgency of sustainable solutions Wheat blast causes significant annual crop losses. Bacillus-based biotechnology offers a safe, affordable, and eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. On the otherhand Dr. Karim said, Training farmers in biopesticide production and use could revolutionize wheat farming. Our mission is to deliver practical and accessible solutions. Attendees left with valuable hands-on experience in producing, storing, and applying Bacillus-based biopesticides, gaining field-ready expertise. Dr. Tofazzal Islam noted, This workshop is a vital step toward promoting sustainable agricultural practices, which we believe will positively impact wheat production in the near future. The workshop was moderated by Dr. Dipali Rani Gupta, Co-Principal Investigator of the project.
