Mercantile Bank Supports Agricultural Drying Innovation

Mercantile Bank PLC has financed an agricultural research initiative at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) aimed at addressing post-harvest losses in crops and fish through the development of advanced drying technology. The project, titled “Development of a Hybrid Dryer System to Reduce Crop and Fish Post-Harvest Losses,” concluded on Saturday with a dissemination workshop, according to a media release.

The initiative was funded through a contribution of Tk 1.60 crore from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme of Mercantile Bank PLC. The financial support enabled BAU researchers to design, fabricate, and test hybrid dryer systems intended to improve preservation efficiency and reduce spoilage in agricultural and fisheries products.

The closing workshop was presided over by Professor Dr Md Abdul Mojid of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology at BAU. Professor Dr A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of BAU, attended the programme as chief patron. Special guests included Md Zakir Hossain, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer of Mercantile Bank PLC; Dr Tapas Chandra Paul, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of the bank; and Professor Dr Md Monjurul Alam, Technical Specialist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangladesh.

Participants at the event included agricultural entrepreneurs, project beneficiaries, scientists, and students. The workshop presented the findings of the research and demonstrated the operational performance of the hybrid dryers developed under the project.

A total of 19 hybrid dryer units were developed during the course of the project. These systems were designed to improve drying efficiency, which is a critical factor in reducing post-harvest losses, particularly in regions where traditional drying methods are affected by humidity and weather variability.

Out of the 19 units, 10 have already been distributed free of cost to selected users across several districts, including Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali, Satkhira, Tangail, Khagrachari, and Rangamati. Six additional units are currently in the process of distribution to beneficiaries. The remaining three units have been retained by BAU for further research, refinement, and performance evaluation.

The project reflects collaboration between academic research and corporate social responsibility funding, linking technological development with field-level application. It is aimed at strengthening preservation methods for agricultural and fish products, thereby contributing to reduced post-harvest losses and improved resource efficiency.

Hybrid Dryer Deployment Summary