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.