International graduate student conducts research on Eco-sil and the effects it has on agriculture

“The application of Silicon in soil will increase the availability of nutrition to plant, as well as the production of crops. It will be a sustainable solution, which in turn will adversely affects crop yield. It will help to enhance the quality of production in the long run,” said Rafea about the benefits of her research.

The idea for Rafea’s research came from her upbringing. Rafea was born in a village in Bangladesh, where farming was the main source of income for many families, including her own. She wanted to study agriculture in order to find more effective ways of farming and helping others in her country.

“They are facing troubles with cultivating lands and producing crops due to the lack of advanced agricultural knowledge. They deal with soil quality degradation, low organic matter in soil, poor-quality seeds and much more. The poor condition of the Bangladeshi farmers always made me think about improving their conditions”

After Rafea completes her master’s this spring, she wants to continue her education to receive her PhD in Agriculture. Her goal is to gather more research experience and practical skills in order to find a solution for under privileged farmers in Bangladesh.