BINA AT A GLANCE

   Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) became functioning as a small radio-tracer laboratory during 1961, today stands on a solid infrastructure. It is now prepared to face current and future challenges in crop production sector using nuclear and other advanced techniques. Using radiation technique, the institute has already developed 42 improved mutant varieties of different crops have been released by the National Seed Board of Bangladesh for large-scale cultivation in the farmers' field. Some of the mutant varieties, e.g., Iratom-24, Binadhan-7 and Binasail of rice, Binamoog-2 and Binamoog-7 of mungbean, Binasarisha-3, Binasarisha-4 and Binasarisha-5 of rapeseed, Binachinabadam-2 and Binachnabadam-4 of groundnut have created economic impact. Further, nuclear techniques have been successfully used to identify seven rhizobial inoculants capable of fixing higher biological nitrogen, and thereby, increasing grain yield of lentil, chickpea, mungbean, cowpea, groundnut and soybean. Moreover, nuclear techniques are being successfully used in pest, soil and water management studies, nutrient uptake researches, organic matter and crop residues study to avoid degeredation and preserve the environment.

   However, scientists are facing challenge to transfer the results of research from the laboratory to the field. Useful lessons can be derived from the successful implementation of "Lab to Land" programme of our New Agricultural Extension Policies. Farmers, both men and women, are essentially required to be involved in the use of new technologies. For, it is only with their active participation that we can achieve our goal of sustainable agricultural development. To this effect BINA has a technology transfer programme. New technologies of this institute are made popular to the farmers through on-farm demonstrations all over the country. This massive task is being accomplished through joint collaboration of BINA with Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and NGOs. BINA has also training programmes for scientists, extension personnel, farmers (both men and women) on the improved technologies developed at the institute for higher productivity.

   For the outstanding contribution in the field of agriculture, the institute has been awarded "President Gold Medal" in 1979-80. Many of its scientists have received prestigeous medals and certificates, such as "President Medal", and also from various societies like "Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science," "Women Scientists Society", "Kazi Mahbubullah Trust", etc.