Workshop highlights smart pest control to reduce rice losses

The programme focused on an innovation designed to address losses caused by insect infestation and fungal attacks during storage, says a press release. Md Selim Khan, additional secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Md Anwar Uddin, additional secretary of the ICT Ministry, attended as chief guests. Special guests included Subrata Ranjan Das, managing director of ACI Motors Ltd., and Suparna Roy, digital specialist at the World Bank South Asia Region. Speakers said Bangladesh loses around 5–10 percent of stored rice annually due to pests and fungi, affecting food security and farmers’ income. They highlighted that the country’s warm and humid climate increases the risk of such losses. The proposed ultrasonic system was presented as a chemical-free solution that can control pests while maintaining grain quality. Organisers said the technology is cost-effective and suitable for ...