Bangladesh

The seed sector in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) is the largest seed producer and supplier in the country, mandated to produce large quantities of seed. Agricultural research institutes (ARIs) are responsible for developing improved varieties of crops. Most of the plant breeding and seed production activities take place in the public domain.

The National Seed Policy (NSP), passed in 1993, played an imported role in involving private companies in the rice and maize seed business. However, there is an increasing need to create a favorable enabling environment in order to encourage seed companies to invest in R&D.

In terms of GM crop cultivation, Bt eggplant is cultivated in Bangladesh. Nearly 27,000 smallholder farmers planted insect-resistant (Bt) eggplant in 2017, 4% of the country’s eggplant area. The number of smallholder farmers adopting Bt eggplant is rising significantly.

Observations

Twenty-three  index companies are present in Bangladesh, with many of the companies having testing locations. The Bangladeshi companies BRAC Seed and Agro Enterprise and Lal Teer Seed have complete seed value chains in the country, from breeding to extension. The former’s extension services are carried out by the company’s other business unit, Agriculture and Food Security Program.

Advanta has breeding, seed production and extension activities; Bayer has seed production and extension activities. Eight companies test varieties in the country.

Smallholder farmers are involved in more than 90% of seed production activities by Advanta and Bayer, whereas only 40% of smallholder farmers are involved in seed production activities for Lal Teer Seed.

The development of more breeding stations, processing centers to ensure quality seed and the provision of extension services are all areas of improvement.