Child scientist' Mustafa develops technique to protect crops from bacteria

Thirteen-year-old Mustafa Ahmed from Assam has won a 'child scientist' award at the 23rd National Children Science Congress (NCSC) at the Chandigarh University for his project to protect crops from bacteria.

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A student of Jorhat's Cinnamora Higher Secondary School, Ahmad bagged the award for his innovative project titled 'Scientific Seed Storage Device'.

He has become the first student from a government-run-school in Jorhat to win a national level competition in the innovative projects category.

"For the first time I'm participating in the National Children Science Congress (NCSC). I'm really happy to participate in the event. It was a great opportunity for me and a learning experience," said Ahmed.

Altogether, 600 child scientists from various states took part in the national-level competition for innovative projects. Ahmed's project was selected from among 16 highly innovative projects from across the country. His project is specially designed to protect grains from bacterial and pest attack during the storage period.

He undertook his project under the guidance of Bhaghavan Baruah, an employee of Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat.

"I have seen 25 per cent of grains being destroyed by bacteria. Farmers put in a lot of effort to grow grain, but I feel very bad when I see their grains getting destroyed. So, I introduced this project to protect grains from bacterial and pest attack while storing," he added.

Ahmed's success has made his family and school proud of him.

"I feel very proud of my son. It a great moment and I'm very happy for my son and for his achievement and I'm unable to express my feelings," said Moinuddin Ahmed, Mustafa's father.

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The Department of Science and Technology of the Central Government has promised to provide facilities for further research and development to Mustafa and 15 other child-scientists at the prestigious institutes like the IITs.