BADC plays key role in quality seed production
The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), one of the organisations dedicated to the development of agriculture and farmers, is playing a significant and unparalleled role in establishing a system for producing quality seeds and ensuring their effective distribution.
Quality seeds of various crops are essential and primary inputs for crop production. BADC, as a state-owned organisation, is effectively carrying out the responsibility of producing and supplying quality seeds to farmers according to their demand and seasonal requirements.
BADC seeds have become a symbol of trust among farmers, who become increasingly active in collecting them when the crop season arrives.
BADC produces seeds of improved varieties of different crops, including foundation, certified and truthfully labelled seeds. The seed production programme is carried out through various seed multiplication farms and contract farmers.
Although BADC began its journey in 1961 with a seed production capacity of only 13.80 metric tonnes, the scale and scope of its seed production have increased manifold over the years.
In the last production season, a total of 144,231.899 metric tonnes of seeds were produced against a collection target of 149,343.585 metric tonnes.
The crop-wise production was: 6,109.540 metric tonnes of Aus paddy seed, 24,918.188 metric tonnes of Aman paddy seed, 50,597.385 metric tonnes of Boro inbred seed, 728.971 metric tonnes of Boro hybrid seed, 11,966.830 metric tonnes of wheat seed, 38.567 metric tonnes of maize seed, 44,181.700 metric tonnes of potato seed, 30.370 metric tonnes of onion seed, 73.550 metric tonnes of onion bulbs, 1,757.360 metric tonnes of jute seed, 1,915.931 metric tonnes of pulse seeds, 1,807.331 metric tonnes of oilseeds, 79.615 metric tonnes of winter vegetable seeds, 20.108 metric tonnes of summer vegetable seeds, 1.453 metric tonnes of hybrid vegetable seeds and 5.000 metric tonnes of spice seeds.
Meanwhile, all necessary activities for seed production are currently underway in line with the targets set for the ongoing production season.
It may be mentioned that, in line with the Prime Minister’s directive to reduce dependence on imports and achieve self-sufficiency, BADC has undertaken, for the first time, initiatives to produce summer onion seeds and jute seeds.
Producing jute seeds and summer onion seeds domestically according to demand is expected to be considered a milestone in the country’s agricultural sector. For the current production season, the targets for producing summer onion seeds and jute seeds have been set at 40 metric tonnes and 2,210 metric tonnes, respectively.
After inspecting onion and jute seed production activities at various farms, BADC Chairman Md Azizul Islam instructed all concerned to demonstrate sincerity and dedication in meeting the challenge and to perform their responsibilities by following all prescribed techniques for seed production.
A total of 105,775 contract farmers across the country are involved in producing this large quantity of seeds. In addition, 34 seed multiplication farms located in different parts of the country are playing a significant role in producing foundation seeds.
BADC’s activities are not limited to seed production alone. To further purify and improve the quality of the seeds produced, various processes, including cleaning, sorting and grading, are carried out at 31 seed processing centres.
The seeds are subsequently distributed across the country in a timely manner at government-fixed prices through 100 seed sales centres and 10,269 authorised seed dealers.
BADC’s role in producing and distributing quality seeds in a timely manner is undoubtedly commendable.
The corporation has been working tirelessly under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a modern and smart agricultural management system.
