The country needs to formulate time-befitting policies to promote the seed sector so that farmers can get the best output as well as the private sectors can flourish in a controlled manner.
The proposed polices should contain the direction to conduct research and marketing of the seed by both public and private organisations to give the best output to the country’s agriculture sector.
The remarks came from a discussion titled “Problems and Prospects of the Country’s Seed Sector” jointly organised by Agriculture Ministry’s seed wing and the daily newspaper Banikbarta.
“The government should take steps to stop marketing of fake and substandard seed in the country as some unscrupulous businessmen have already spread a network of fake seed,” said Mahabub Anam, managing director of Lal Teer seed company.
The proposed policy should have a clear direction to stop such kind of adulteration, he also said adding that otherwise the improvement of seed sector is impossible.
In addition, there are several incidents of fake seed marketing among farmers in the country in the last few years by some private sector seed producers for which farmers have had to count huge loss.
“The government has pointed out the problems of the seed sector and it is taking measures to solve them,” said Anwar Faruque, director general of the ministry’s seed wing, while addressing the discussion at the city’s BASIS Hall.
He, however, said the country has a huge prospects for the sector.
Citing an example of private sectors’ achievement, the DG also said the private seed producers in Bangladesh are now exporting seed which can be considered as a big success.
The country needs around 11.5 lakh tonnes of seed each year. Of them, only 23% is being supplied by public and private institutions.
Dr Mahabub Hossain, former Brac chief executive, thinks that the country needs joint collaboration of public and private entrepreneurs to ensure quality seed for farmers.
In case of seed marketing the private sector can take the lead but in case of research and inbreed seed marketing the government has to take the lead, he added.