Within the framework of the Reverse Linkage Project between Bangladesh and Türkiye on “Enhancing Capacity in Cotton Varieties Development”, SESRIC, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Nazilli Cotton Research Institute (CRI) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, organised a training course on “Biotechnological Tools and Techniques for Cotton - Sample Collection Activities” on 14-20 May 2023 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The training course was provided by competent trainers from the Nazilli Cotton Research Institute (CRI) and Field Crops Central Research Institute (CRIFC) of Türkiye for the benefit of experts from the Cotton Development Board (CDB) under the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh. The training course covered both theoretical and practical aspects of the topic, and it included technical visits to Bangladesh’s relevant agriculture research institutions, namely; Cotton Research, Training and Seed Multiplication Farm in Sreepur, Gazipur, as well as Sreepur Agriculture Research Center and Farmers Field at Pakutia and Laohati units under the Dhaka Zone.

The course mainly focused on relevant technical subjects such as advanced Research and Development (R&D) technologies used in developing cotton genotypes, molecular characterization methods in breeding new varieties in cotton genotypes, speed breeding in cotton as well as embryo rescue techniques and their applications. The activities organised within the scope of the Reverse Linkage Project between Bangladesh and Türkiye on “Enhancing Capacity in Cotton Varieties Development” aim to contribute to the efforts of the CDB of Bangladesh to increase local cotton production, particularly in less productive agricultural land.

Reverse Linkage is a technical cooperation mechanism introduced by IsDB in 2013 to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and expertise, as well as sharing of best practices amongst partnering OIC Member States. In an effort to develop the capacities in the OIC Member States and devise solutions for their autonomous development, Reverse Linkage is considered a valuable peer-to-peer south-south cooperation modality. Within the framework of this modality, SESRIC involves and contributes to the implementation of the relevant Reverse Linkage projects with a view to addressing the capacity building needs at the human and institutional levels.

Photos