Most Bangladeshis do not get sufficient nutrients from their daily diets, leaving their bodies’ needs often unmet. As a result, “hidden hunger” caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies is on the rise. Experts say women and children are the most affected due to food insecurity and malnutrition. According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index, 11.9 percent of Bangladesh’s population suffers from malnutrition, putting 11 percent of children under five at risk of death and leaving 23.6 percent with stunted physical and mental growth compared with their age.
Researchers at the University of Rajshahi (RU) have offered a glimmer of hope. They have developed a new method to enrich grains with minerals using a process called “plasma treatment.” In this technique, grains are exposed to a type of plasma (ionized gas) combined with micronutrients, which increases the mineral content of the grains.
The findings were recently validated in research conducted at RU’s Plasma Science and Technology Lab under the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department. PhD researcher Md Mamunur Rashid from the Institute of Biological Sciences was a key member of the study, supervised by Dr. Md Mamunur Rashid Talukdar of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department.
The study showed that plasma treatment can increase zinc content by 59 percent in rice, 204 percent in potatoes, and 88 percent in eggplant compared with normal levels. The technology also reduces the rice production cycle by 15 to 20 days. Beyond rice, plasma treatment could be applied to wheat, maize, and vegetables as well.
The research has recently been published in international journals, including the Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (Springer), Heliyon (Elsevier), and Plasma Medicine. The researchers claim that the technology could offer a revolutionary solution to nutrient deficiencies and “hidden hunger” in developing countries such as Bangladesh.
Researcher Md Mamunur Rashid told Bonik Barta, “In the laboratory, various types of plasma sources are created for agricultural applications, including gliding arc discharge plasma, dielectric barrier discharge plasma, and glow discharge plasma. Using these sources for seed treatment and plasma-activated water, we have been able to increase seed germination rates, boost crop yields, shorten production cycles, and control pests and diseases.”
Regarding the development of the plasma technology application, Dr. Mamunur Rashid Talukdar said, “The first successful application of plasma technology in agricultural research under a single supervision came in 2015. This time, for the first time, plasma has been applied for micronutrient fortification in food, increasing both crop yields and nutrient content. The research will only be successful once the results are extended to the farmer level.”
However, he expressed concern, saying, “We are not receiving the budget needed to scale this technology to farmers. We had hoped for support under the HEAT project, but we did not receive it. If the university administration, the UGC, or the government approves the necessary equipment and budget to extend this technology to farmers, it could become a sustainable solution for food security and nutritional improvement in Bangladesh.”