One of the world's most popular health foods that have its roots in South America, quinoa is now being grown in Bangladesh for the domestic market. High in protein, dietary fiber, and amino acids, quinoa is often referred to as the mother of all grains. It is basically a herbaceous annual plant grown as a crop primarily for its edible seeds. Its cultivation has already spread to 70 countries, including the US. Also read: Provide digital cards to farmers: Speakers And in Bangladesh too, after five years of research at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, the cultivation of the rainfed crop has begun in isolated pockets in the districts of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Patuakhali. However, its farming is still at a nascent stage. "Following my application, the Ministry of Agriculture approved the cultivation of quinoa in Bangladesh in September 2020,” Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University's agronomy Prof Parimal Kanti Biswas told UNB. "After five years of research, I have started cultivating quinoa at the field level. The results are expected," he added. Read Manirampur farmers making money by broccoli farming

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Saturday said that the curriculum of all the agricultural universities needs to be up to the minute, modern and practical, in order to meet challenges in the agricultural sector.