Quality cereal seed in achieving sustainable development goals in Bangladesh: A review of perspectives on policy analysis
This paper (PDF) published in the Journal of Agricultural Research Advances states that quality seed is one of the first and foremost prerequisites for a healthy and vigorous crop and considered as an important factor for increasing crop yield. However, in Bangladesh resource-poor farmers have limited access to quality seeds. Without proper policy implementation for quality seed supply, it is very difficult to achieve food security and the sustainable development goals. Therefore, the objective of this review paper is to identify the causes of inadequate supply of quality cereal seed in Bangladesh and the policy options that need to be revised to enhance the availability of quality cereal seed at an affordable price for farmers. It was found that 1) the seed varieties that were developed were often not in line with farmers’ wishes, 2) the quantity of breeder seeds of desired varieties were not available in the required quantities, 3) there was a lack of statistics on cultivable land of different crops and marketing seeds by the private sector, 4) there was no seed demand assessment/forecasting mechanism, 5) quality cereal seeds are often unaffordable to farmers, 6) contract growers don’t get their seed price in time, 8) the Seed Certification Agency has the regulatory functions to control seed quality but due to less capacity it can’t carry out functions duly, 9) and the absence of an appropriate seed production and marketing plan is the main cause of inadequate supply of quality seed. To conclude, the production and supply of quality seed should not be totally left to the private sector. They can be given responsibility for a specific quantity of the total required seed with some conditions. Though, policy support is needed to make quality cereal seeds available (on time, at an affordable price). A holistic approach is needed as well as a strong monitoring mechanism.