Prof Dr Ismail Hossain of the Department of Plant Pathology has evolved a natural pesticide to treat seeds and soil, which will protect plants from root rot disease and increase production.

He has named it BAU Bio-fungicide. It can be easily produced from a fungus trichodermawhich grows in soil and agri-waste naturally. He separates the fungus from soil and mixes it with bran of pulses. The mixture is then kept for a month. It is then ready to be mixed with all types of seed before sowing.

The treated seeds will remain unaffected with harmful fungus in soil and plants growing from those will not be attacked with root rot disease.

Dr Ismail Hossain says the bran, if sprayed on the filed, will also treat soil of harmful fungus that causes root rot diseases in plants.

Talking to this correspondent, Dr Ismail said the technology is very easy and farmers will be able to prepare the pesticide at virtually no cost. But they will need a short training on how to separate the trichoderma fungus from soil and agri-waste.

Once prepared, the pesticide can be kept at farmers' houses for about six months in natural conditions and normal temperature for use. It can be preserved for about a year in cool temperature

It is environment friendly and easy to handle and pack.

One kilogram of bio-fungicide can treat 40 kg seeds and it can also be used as an 'activator' for producing compost fertiliser, Dr. Ismail said.

There is no health hazard in production and use of the pesticide as it is purely natural.

Dr. Ismail said the formulae has been officially approved and farmers' training will soon start on the BAU compound. Private seed and pesticide companies can obtain the formula through official process, he said.