Prospects of Seed Industry in Bangladesh

The issue of agricultural development is globally important and especially crucial to satisfying the needs of the ever-growing population in a developing country like Bangladesh. Agriculture has been the mainstay of Bangladesh civilization. Even today, it is the fulcrum of Bangladesh economy, accounting for over 25 percent of the GDP and involving about 66 percent of over 140 million populations. In Bangladesh, an increasing population with an improved standard of living and continuously declining arable land continue to increase the pressure on natural resources.

In spite of the significant gains from the green revolution (1960s), the average production Bangladesh agriculture is significantly lower than that of the developed, as well as developing nations. There is an urgent need for the agriculture sector to grow at > 2.5 percent per annum to achieve sustained economic growth of >6.0- 6.5 percent in Bangladesh. In order to increase agricultural productivity, widespread use of genetically improved seeds and planting material is essential. Seeds area major input and the initial lever for bolstering agricultural production. Therefore, the Seed Industry is perceived as a cost-effective instrument of positive change in Bangladesh agriculture.

The development of the Seed Industry in Bangladesh from the 1960s through the 1970s was dominated by the public sector, with a supporting role played by the private sector. The growth of the Seed Industry in the private sector started in the early 1990s. The Government of Bangladesh recognizing the need for continuous up gradation of seed to maximize agricultural productivity and the worldwide trend of genetic research moving to the private sector, introduced a National Seed Policy on Seed Development (NSPSD) in 1993. The NSPSD has enabled medium and large seed enterprises and companies with foreign/ technical collaboration to start playing an increasing role in the development and marketing of high quality seed varieties thereby boosting agricultural production.

By the remarkable development achieved in the seed sector, with respect to development of seed quality, awareness to improved seeds and seed technology yet only 13% quality seed is possible to be supplied by the formal system against total demand and hence food deficit prevails in the country. A target has to be fixed for the supply of seed from the formal system and all out effort such as trained manpower, capital and facilities have to be taken to fulfill that target. A target (Table- 4) is suggested below:

By the remarkable development achieved in the seed sector, with respect to development of seed quality, awareness to improved seeds and seed technology yet only 13% quality seed is possible to be supplied by the formal system against total demand and hence food deficit prevails in the country. A target has to be fixed for the supply of seed from the formal system and all out effort such as trained manpower, capital and facilities have to be taken to fulfill the target. A target (Table-4) is suggested below:

Table 4: The target of supply of good seed from the formal system.

crop	BADC		DAE		BARI		BJRI		PRIVATE		TOTAL      (m.ton)
	2005-06	2010-11	2005-06	2010-11	2005-06	2010-11	2005-06	2010-11	2005-06	2010-11	2005-06	2010-11
Rice	29970	62435	44344	51750	------	------	------	-----	3350	15000	77664	129185
Wheat	12851	23000	6000	17700	200	200	------	-----	-----	-----	19051	40900
Maize	233	800	------	------	------	------	------	-----	3000	7000	3233	7800
Total	43054	86235	50344	69450	200	200	0	0	6350	22000	99948	177885
Jute	346	1400	------	215	------	------	110	135	1350	1680	1806	3430
Pulses	245	1292	------	2313	------	------	------	-----	-----	------	245	3605
Oil seed	398	1505	------	950	------	------	------	-----	-----	------	398	2455
Vegetables	63	85	------	------	0.2	0.56	------	-----	728	1353.4	791.2	1438.96
Oil seed	62	164.4	------	180	------	------	------	-----	65	151.9	107	496.3
Total	1094	4446.4	0	3658	0.2	0.56	110	135	2143	3185.3	3347.2	11425.26
Potato	9231	22500	------	------	------	------	------	-----	5000	7000	14231	29500
Grand total	53379	113181.4	50344	73108	200.2	200.56	110	135	13493	32185.3	117526.2	218810.26

Source: Requirement and Supply of Different Crop Seeds: a Projection (2005-11), Seed Wing MoA.

The total the requirement of seeds of different crops in 2010-2011will be 218810.26 m. tons against which 117526.2 m.tons in 2005-06, had been supplied from the formal seed system (Table-4). From table it is easily understandable that there is a bright prospect of the Seed Industry Business in Bangladesh.

Figure 5. Gradual increasing of seed requirement in our country.

Above figure shows that the total requirement of seed in Bangladesh is increasing gradually.

In Bangladesh, since 1990s economic liberalization along with the move towards privatization by the government seems to have had a positive impact on the private seed industry. Many new payers including multinational companies are entering the seed and agro­biotech market in Bangladesh. Today in Bangladesh, the private seed sector is playing a major role in popularizing improved crop varieties, particularly hybrid rice, maize, pearl millet, sorghum, and vegetable seed and HYV potato seeds. Population is the major determinant of the potential size of a seed market. Bangladesh, with a population of over 140 million, presents one of the largest potential domestic seed markets.

The major issues in the seed industry today are biotechnology, globalization, the WTO and its regulatory framework. Commercial products related to biotechnology in seed industry, such as insect resistant crops have more impact on the seed business than any development in decades. Globalization of economics and increased importance of WTO have created many opportunities as well as challenges for the seed industry. Many questions surround the regulatory framework for protecting owners of seeds as well as consumers from possible seed related problems, and ensuring that the industry maintains a market orientation and competitive edge. Other striking issues facing the seed industry as many chemical companies are now merging with seed companies to capitalize on new technologies, economics of scale in research, and access to global market.

 Technology advancement in agriculture can lead to a second green revolution in Bangladesh. The advances in biotechnology and their integration with plant breeding are likely to open up new vistas in Bangladesh a prospective food factory. The availability of a large research network infrastructure and the diversity of agro-climatic conditions make it possible to grow a specific crop for seed production all round the year in Bangladesh. Also, the availability of relatively less expensive agricultural labor could contribute to the growth of the seed industry to cater to the domestic seed market, seed exports, and contract custom seed production. Thus an effective Bangladesh Seed Industry with the capacity for a continuous supply of improved high quality seed varieties at competitive prices would serve as a catalyst to increase food production and for sustained agricultural and socio-economic development.

CONCLUSION

Ø  Good seed alone can give an increased production to the extent of 15-20% over the poor seed.

Ø  For that reason government has given a clear mandate to the public sector through to act as catalyst in promoting private sector through transfer of technology and providing breeder and foundation seeds.

Ø  As a result many private seed companies have been developed in our country and that company plays a vital role in respect of production and supply of quality seed to the farmers.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Ø  Awareness should be created among the farmers about the quality seed.

Ø  Incentive support for both public and private sector seed production and marketing should be enhanced.

Ø  Rules, regulations and procedures for import of seeds should continuously be revised and   adjusted when necessary.

Ø  Effective relationships should be established between public, private and NGOs sectors.