Sub-standard Hybrid Seeds

Matia warns importers of legal action

6 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday warned the seed companies of taking legal action against them if they import sub-standard hybrid rice seeds and sell those to farmers. “Those doing hybrid seed business must be disciplined. If they try to do unethical business, they will have to come under legal action.” The minister said this at a workshop on 'Hybrid rice for food security: Research and development and farmers' experiences in South and Southeast Asia' organised by Bangladesh Rice Foundation and Brac at Spectra Convention Centre in the city. The productivity of hybrid is six-seven metric tons a hectare against four-five metric tons of high-yielding varieties. The government favours hybrid rice production to feed the increasing population, but wants short duration and quality varieties. The previous Awami League government allowed import of hybrid seeds and made rules that imported seeds must undergo trials for three years locally before cultivation, but gradually many of the seed companies violated the rules, she added. “Bad seeds were sold to the farmers. Besides, there was not good crop management that ultimately resulted in bad yield and slow growth of hybrid rice here.” Stating that serious depletion of underground water in the northern parts of the country are posing threats to Boro cultivation, she said developing short duration hybrid rice and salinity-tolerant variety, especially meant for the southern region, could greatly reduce the challenges. Dr SS Virmani, a former IRRI scientist, BRF Vice Chairman Dr Z Karim, Brac Executive Director Dr Mahabub Hossain and Bangladesh Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr MA Sattar Mandal also spoke while M Sayeduzzaman, former chairman of Bangladesh Rice Foundation, chaired the session.