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Agricultural
Database
National
Agriculture Policy:
Seeds
Policy :
At present, only a small
portion of the required quality seeds for different crops is supplied by
the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Rest of the
seeds are produced, preserved and used under private management,
especially at the farmers’ level. Government has already declared the
National Seed Policy with the objective of promoting seed industry in the
private sector. In pursuance of the seed policy, government has revised
the Seed Act of 1977 and also formulated seed rules in the light of the
Seed Act (Amendment) 1997. In this respect the government will follow the
policies mentioned below:
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In the light of the
prevailing seed act and seed rules, the government will retain the
opportunities already provided to the private sector for production,
import and marketing of seeds side by side with the public sector.
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Appropriate mechanism
will be devised to improve the technical skill of the private sector
with regards to seed treatment, seed preservation at specific moisture
level and seed storage management so as to ensure the highest quality
of seeds.
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The act of favorable
policy preparation, technical supports, training, etc. will be
strengthened in order to encourage private sector participation in
seed development and seed preservation.
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Improved
technology-based seed production, seed multiplication and related farm
activities have been declared as industrial enterprises in the present
industrial policy. For the development of seed industry this policy
will be continued and adequate government support will be provided.
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In addition to the
production and marketing of seeds in the public and private sectors,
the policies relating to seed production and seed preservation
at the farmers’ level will continue so that the farmers can easily
use good quality seeds. The government has, meanwhile, taken
initiative for strengthening the activities of BADC in this regard.
Necessary steps will be taken during the Fifth Five Year Plan period
to raise BADC’s seed distribution program to the extent of ten
percent of the total demand.
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Already introduced seed
buffer stock system will continue to ensure the normal supply of seeds
of major crops at the time of natural calamities or any other
disaster.
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The conditional
opportunity that has already been given to the private sector to
import hybrid rice seeds for increasing rice production will be
further consolidated on the basis of performance analysis. But,
special care will be taken to ensure that the private sector produces
hybrid seeds locally and that the hybrid seeds offer higher yield and
more financial benefits to the farmers on a sustained basis.
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At present, Seed
Certification Agency (SCA) is the only legal authority to certify
seeds. With a view to increasing supply of quality seeds, private
sector agencies participating in the seed production programs will be
allowed to market their "truthfully labeled seeds" side by
side with the government agencies. The Seed Certification Agency will
have the legal authority and responsibility to closely monitor the
entire seed labeling and certifying process of the respective private
sector organizations. The Seed Certification Agency will take
membership of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) so
that the opportunities for exporting internationally standard seeds
are created.
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