SAU teacher develops new crop variety ‘SAU Quinoa-1’

A new variety of superfood called ‘SAU-Quinoa-1’ has been released by Parimal Kanti Biswas, a professor and researcher of the Department of Agronomy of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.

The researcher said that this superfood has repleted with sugar, protein, vitamin and mineral which is very benignant especially for diabetes patients.

Under the unregistered crop variety registration, national seed board (NSB) has already registered by name of ‘SAU-Quinoa-1’. The registration number is 05(46).

Parimal Kanti Biswas also told this correspondent that he was the first to produce the Quinoa-1 species experimentally in Bangladesh. Quinoa-1 is a cereal belonging to the Amaranthaceae family.

He also said that these grains contain all the essential amino acids for the human body. Besides, it has 14-18 percent protein, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, phosphorus, potassium and manganese.

He added that it would not be possible to supply seeds for commercial cultivation at the marginal level yet. It takes some time. He also said that it is possible to cultivate this crop in rabi season all over the country including saline and dry areas of coastal areas.