A field study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2022-2023 at the Spices Research Centre, BARI, Shibganj, Bogura, Bangladesh (geographic coordinates 25.0167° N, 89.3167° E) to evaluate the efficacy of various management strategies against thrips in onion. BARI Piaz-4 was the test crop. Treatments included: T₁= White sticky trap at 40 trap/ha; T₂= White sticky trap at 40 trap/ha + spraying of Spirotetramet (Movento 150OD) at 1ml/L of water; T₃= Alternate spraying of Azadirachtin (Bioneem plus 1EC) at 1ml/l of water and Spirotetramet (Movento 150OD) at 1ml/L of water; T₄= Alternate spraying of Spinosad (Success 2.5SC) at 1.2ml/L of water and Spirotetramet (Movento 150OD) at 1ml/L of water and T₅= Untreated control. The greatest reduction in thrips population (90.33%, 91.6%, 89.09% and 77.8%) was observed in T₃ (Alternate spraying of Azadirachtin and Spirotetramet) followed by T₄ (Alternate spraying of Spinosad and Spirotetramet) after 42, 52, 62, and 72 days after treatment (DAT), respectively. These two treatments were statistically similar after all sprays. The highest bulb yield (18.74t/ha) and the highest marginal benefit-cost ratio (MBCR) (11.26) was also obtained from T₄ followed by T₃ with a yield of 16.56 t/ha and MBCR of 10.07.

The promotion of raw foods over processed goods found in shopping malls is facilitated by agricultural product marketing strategies, which are maintaining household food security and good nutrition. This study, therefore, analysed the marketing of agricultural products through a gender lens in Kwara State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents; identify the types of agricultural products marketed; assess the market channels used by respondents; examine the factors that influence the choice of marketing agricultural products and determine the benefits derived from marketing agricultural products in Kwara state, Nigeria. The objectives were analysed using descriptive statistics, T-test and multiple regression. The results revealed that male respondents had more access to extension services and farm land for crop cultivation while female respondents had more market experience and realized more income in their agricultural market. Open markets are common market channel for both genders. Major factors that influence the choice of marketing among both genders are products quality, market demand and consumers preference. The results revealed that farm ownership, income, frequency of extension contact were significant to the level of marketing of agricultural products at 5% level. T-Test results indicate a significant difference between male and female respondents with a mean difference of 0.72044. These results imply that marketing agricultural products is a profitable venture and gender-based in the study area. It is therefore recommended that policies and programs that addressing marketing of agricultural products should be more inclusive.

The field experiment was conducted from November 2022 to March 2023 at the research farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka- 1207 and BARI, Gazipur-1701 to explore the diversity of pollinators in sunflower and their influence on seed yield. The experiment was designed using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five replications. It comprised four distinct treatments : T₁: Open flower, T₂: Netting flower at night, T₃: Netting flower the day and T₄: All time netted. The insect pollinator population consisted of eleven species from seven families and four insect orders. Among them one species of Lepidoptera, six species of Hymenoptera, two species of Diptera and two species of Coleoptera were identified visiting sunflower floral heads. The relative abundance of four Apis species, i.e. A. mellifera L., A. dorsata, A. cerana and A. florea varied on an hourly basis. A. mellifera L. was the most frequent visitor in open field (14.46) and had the highest pollination efficiency index. These insects also made a considerable contribution to the increase in thd total number of seeds per head, seed weight, oil content, and seed germination percentage compared to self-pollination. The most frequently observed pollinator was the honey bee with a higher number observed in the open field (6.75). Germination percentage was higher in the open field (91.67) and the maximum oil content of the seed was also found in the open field (39.55%). The highest yield was found in the open field (855.00 g) and the lowest was found in completely netted (439.60 g). From the study, it may be concluded that, the intrinsic value of sunflower seeds depends on the condition of pollinators and beekeeping is essential for ensuring the high-quality production of sunflower seeds.

Beekeeping in Bangladesh is at a pivotal moment, presenting both remarkable opportunities and significant challenges. This review examines the growing hazards and possibilities within the apiculture industry, focusing specifically on the impact of pesticides, honey production, and pollination services. The bee’s population is seriously threatened by the extensive application of chemical pesticides in agricultural environments, which disrupt ecosystems and reduce the effectiveness of pollination techniques. This paper complies current research on the consequences of pesticide exposure on bee health, colony collapse, and the subsequent reduction in honey output. Additionally, it highlights the potential of ecologically friendly beekeeping methods, including organic farming, the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, and the concurrent promotion of habitats suitable for pollinators. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the financial and environmental importance of bee in terms of their capacity to boost crop yields through pollination, thereby contributing to Bangladesh’s food security. This study aims to provide legislators, researchers, and beekeepers with practical knowledge to help mitigate risks and seize opportunities for a sustainable apiculture future. By analyzing the interactions among pesticide use, honey production, and pollination services, this research offers a comprehensive overview of beekeeping in Bangladesh.

In this study, the objective was to effectively utilize untreated purified water sludge, which is currently underutilized in resource recycling. To achieve this goal, high-value microorganisms were introduced into the purified water sludge, resulting in the development of stabilized materials. By blending this newly developed material with commercially available soil, a novel agricultural material enriched with various functions was created and incorporated into the base soil. In this paper, as part of a preliminary experiment, an environment conducive to maintaining microorganisms with high cellulose decomposition capabilities within purified water sludge over an extended period was initially established. Subsequently, this was applied as a supplementary high-performance material to farm soil developed by Oishi Bussan, and the effectiveness of the applied functional microorganisms in addressing challenges related to plant growth and consecutive cropping was evaluated.

Isolates of Fusarium spp. are widely distributed in the environment and are capable of infecting a wide range of plants. They are considered one of the most economically important groups of plant pathogens, causing significant losses in agricultural production worldwide. This species are known to cause a variety of plant diseases, including root rot, wilt, and blight, which can result in reduced crop yields and plant death. Accurate identification and characterization of Fusarium spp. is important for understanding their biology and for developing effective management strategies. In the past, the morphological characteristics of isolates of Fusarium spp. have been used as the primary method for species identification. However, the Fusarium genus is complex, and morphological differences may be difficult to observe, making it challenging to accurately identify different species. Therefore, DNA analysis, such as PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, has become a widely used method for accurately identifying and characterizing their isolates of Fusarium spp.

This study evaluated the growth performance, water quality dynamics, and physiological responses of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) cultured in a locally engineered freshwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) over a 15-month production cycle at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh. Juvenile seabass (initial weight: 5.67 ± 0.17 g) were stocked in 10-meter cube tanks and reared under controlled conditions. Fish were fed a diet formulated with 42% crude protein (CP) from locally available ingredients. At harvest, seabass reached an average final weight of 1227.0 ± 15.34 g, corresponding to a mean weight gain of 1221.33 ± 15.34 g, a specific growth rate (SGR) of 1.20 ± 0.01% per day, and an average daily gain (ADG) of 2.71 ± 0.03 g per day. Key water quality parameters, including temperature (29–30.5 °C), pH (7.2–7.5), total dissolved solids (750–850 ppm), ammonia (0.015–0.018 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (6.5–6.8 mg/L), nitrate (<45 mg/L), and nitrite (<0.1 mg/L), remained within optimal ranges for seabass culture. The formulated diet contained 40.53% CP, 11.87% crude lipid, 7.65% ash, and an energy content of 15.80 MJ/kg. Histopathological examination of spleen tissue revealed no major abnormalities, while hematological indices (WBC: 20.00 K/µL; lymphocytes: 80%; neutrophils: 15%) were within normal physiological ranges, indicating a healthy stock. Overall, the finding demonstrates the feasibility and biological suitability of culturing L. calcarifer in a locally engineered freshwater RAS, highlighting its potential as a sustainable, high-yield option for inland aquaculture diversification in Bangladesh.