|
National
Policy
National Agricultural
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
|