Govt to buy 1.7 lakh tonnes of high-quality seeds

The government is planning to produce high-quality seeds of paddy, wheat and maize to meet the increasing food demand across the country.

In this regard, the government has taken a project to produce 1.7 lakh tonnes of seeds through farmers who are attached to 15 centres of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).

The project will make it possible to produce high-yielding, disease free and quality seeds, a senior official of the planning commission told The Business Post.

The ministry of agriculture has sent a project proposal titled ‘Improvement and Quality Seed Production of Rice, Wheat and Maize (3rd Phase)’ to the commission for the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC) approval, he also said.

The cost of the project is estimated at Tk 579 crore, of which Tk 492 crore will come from the government exchequer while Tk 87 crore will come from the implementing agency. BADC will implement the project in 174 upazilas of 41 districts under eight divisions by June 2027.

The project also aims to improve food security, alleviate poverty and improve the living standards of people.

According to the project proposal, if the project is implemented, the cropping pattern and grain density will increase in the char areas of the country. This will enable the development of more environmentally friendly and high-yielding varieties of paddy, wheat and maize.

The main components of the project are- the acquisition of five acres of land, the construction of three new buildings, three training centres cum dormitories, and two seed preservation centres, and the modernisation of equipment for seed breeding.

Under the project, 5,520 farmers, seed dealers and concerned employees will receive training on seed production, processing and storage. Besides, three sunning floors, 11 cleaning cum grading machine rooms and material warehouses will be constructed in a space of 2,985 square metres.

The implementing agency will procure modern farm seeds and processing equipment and other equipment for the project. The project is included in the annual development programme (ADP) of the current fiscal year as an unapproved project.

Commenting on the project, Md Foyzul Islam, Chief of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Division said, “Through the implementation of such a project, Bangladesh will take another step towards ensuring 100 per cent food security in the country.”

He also said that the project will help to increase per capita income and create employment opportunities for farmers.