Muhammad Ashraful Habib

Senior Specialist-Agriculture Research and Development at IRRI Bangladesh

[CGIAR @CGIAR]

🌾🇧🇩 Women in Bangladesh have kept seeds for generations, yet few can get a loan to grow a seed business. @IRRI on how Orange Bonds could change that 👉 https://t.co/sa80kGqCwZ

#FoodSystems

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

Seeds of Science: What if we could improve rice varieties that farmers already trust & grow, instead of always starting from scratch?

Read the full story on Rice Today to see how this approach is helping breeders develop better rice: https://t.co/lyTsCUUUOt

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

In the media: Earlier this week, IRRI convened experts for an Expert Elicitation Workshop on Food Choice Drivers in Bangladesh to examine the cultural, social, economic, & behavioral factors influencing food choices across the country.

🔗 https://t.co/QRtkAWklT0

[ICRISAT @ICRISAT]

ISSCA Webinar Convenes Global Experts to Accelerate Rice Solutions for Food Security

Jointly hosted by ICRISAT and @irri, the second ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (#ISSCA) Global Webinar on Innovation in Rice Breeding and Seed Systems brought together more than 500 participants to discuss innovations for climate-resilient rice breeding and seed systems.

Experts from IRRI, Dr. Swati Nayak, Dr. Pallavi Sinha, Dr. Uma Maheshwar Singh, Dr. Ajay Panchbhai, and Dr. M. Ashraful Habib shared valuable experiences on how cutting-edge breeding technologies, regional seed-sharing mechanisms, and demand-driven breeding strategies are accelerating the development, testing, and adoption of improved rice varieties across countries in the Global South.

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

IRRI has introduced three next-generation hybrid rice varieties designed to help farmers produce more while reducing environmental impacts.

Read here: https://t.co/STFRqTWpSR

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

SPOTLIGHT: Rice cultivation in Can Tho generates an estimated 1.09 million tons of CO₂-equivalent.

But the same rice systems that feed millions also hold enormous potential for climate change mitigation.

Read the full report: https://t.co/pWmcoX6879

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

What does it take for women-led seed enterprises to thrive?

In 🇧🇩, women transform seed systems through the Community-Based Rice Seed Entrepreneurship Model, producing, processing, & marketing quality rice seed while building livelihood opportunities.

🔗 https://t.co/kjWuvUCiQi

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

At Navigating the 2026 Monsoon: FPO Preparedness for the Kharif Season, IRRI's @nayak_swati shared lessons from the last Kharif season & emphasized climate-resilient practices, informed decisions, and proactive planning to help farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather.

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

On April 21, the IRRI Bangladesh team held a pivotal meeting with the new Honorable Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid to reinforce collaboration in advancing rice-based agri-food systems. Discussions include opportunities through ISARC & ongoing collaboration.

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

Bangladesh’s new Agriculture Minister, H.E Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, has signaled a strong push toward a more nutritious, climate-resilient rice, as he met w/ a delegation from IRRI to reinforce and expand a long-standing partnership on rice research.

🔗https://t.co/rRKYnNJwm0

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

Rice Today: In Bangladesh, demand for premium-quality rice is on the rise, drawing more farmers into high-value markets. But new research shows that smallholders face significant barriers to entry, from limited land access to weak market support systems.
🔗https://t.co/OdweaBcT8W

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

Rice Today: Is your rice brown? New research shows that pigmented rice isn’t always lower in glycemic index, but it still offers valuable nutrients.

Read more: https://t.co/vy8Jvu4joa

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

At the GCWAS2026, IRRI highlighted pathways for women’s leadership.

"True empowerment requires not only participation but also ownership & control over productive resources & access to markets," said IRRI's Swati Nayak during a technical session.

🔗https://t.co/UVi5uJWalj

[World Bank Group Climate and Environment @WBG_ClimateEnv]

By 2050, the number of urban poor exposed to dangerous heat could increase by 700%. Cities need practical tools for resilience and sustainable cooling. Start with the @WorldBankGroup Handbook on Urban Heat Management: https://t.co/fQjrnfflsM

[Agriculture Insider @Agrinsiderhq]

Some birds make tricky nests to fool predators and keep their eggs hidden deep inside to stay safe 🪺

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

IRRI, in collab w/ BADC & the PARTNER Project, held a series of regional workshops on “Seed System Gap Analysis—Insight to Implementation.”

Insights will guide the upgrade of SeedCast, a digital platform that enables demand-based seed forecasting.

🔗 https://t.co/geMsGIfLpJ

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

A new Rice Today article brings together studies reinforcing a central message: technology alone is not the answer. Achieving true climate resilience requires re-centering social equity, fairness, & justice at the core of agri transformation.

Learn more: https://t.co/xlvOckPXbe

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

Arsenic in rice isn’t just a groundwater issue. Rainfall patterns also influence arsenic levels in rice.
New insights open the door for new breeding solutions tailored to rainfed systems that focus not only on productivity, but also on food safety.
More: https://t.co/rUd8e5imf8

[IRRI 🌾 @irri]

We're delighted to share that IRRI's @nayak_swati will be facilitating a discussion on the role of women in agriculture.

🗓️ 23 October 2025
🇺🇸 Des Moines, Iowa
🌐 Outstanding in HER Field: Women Trailblazers Shaping the Future

View the agenda here 👉 https://t.co/xv5RDYze7Q

[Dr. Swati Nayak @nayak_swati]

GHG emission is not only about management practices or establishment methods. This latest paper of ours in Total Environment, (IF8) establishes the cultivars(hybrids and/or inbreds ) play a central role emission cut.

https://t.co/1TWskZZ72E