Bridging Gaps In Bangladesh’s Rice Seed System
27 October 2025, Bangladesh: Rice is the backbone of Bangladesh’s agriculture, sustaining rural livelihoods and ensuring national food security. Each year, a complex network of public and private agencies works to supply quality seeds to farmers. Yet, a significant portion of these seeds goes unused or arrives too late, limiting productivity. Despite government initiatives, gaps in seed distribution and demand forecasting persist across regions, constraining the adoption of high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), the nation’s largest state-owned seed producer.
To address these challenges, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with BADC and the PARTNER Project, organized a series of regional workshops titled “Seed System Gap Analysis—Insight to Implementation.” These workshops brought together stakeholders across the seed value chain to identify bottlenecks, explore opportunities, and develop strategies for a more efficient, inclusive, and technology-driven rice seed system.
Four stakeholder consultations, one mission
The workshops took place in four key rice-growing regions: Sylhet (September 28), Bogura (October 7), Jashore (October 8), and Dhaka (October 15), covering all eight agricultural divisions of Bangladesh. Each workshop engaged farmers, seed producers, dealers, government officials, and private companies. Using tools such as the McKinsey 7S framework, SWOT, and Fishbone analyses, participants identified bottlenecks in seed demand forecasting, varietal replacement, seed mobility, and seed security. Challenges were examined at both macro and regional levels, and the need for digital solutions to enhance efficiency and inclusivity was highlighted.
Insights from the Field
Insights from the workshops will guide the upgrading of SeedCast, a digital platform that allows farmers and dealers to register seed demand by region, soil type, and season. This enables BADC and private companies to forecast production accurately, reduce wastage, and improve farmer access to quality seeds. Findings from the workshops are also contributing to a resource-rich, actionable policy dossier to strengthen Bangladesh’s seed system.
Md. Selim Haider, Additional General Manager (Seed Distribution) at BADC, emphasized, “We must reduce seed wastage and ensure timely delivery to the right regions. SeedCast, our upcoming digital tool, will be shaped by your experiences and on-the-ground realities.”
Dr. A.K.M. Mizanur Rahman, Agency Program Director of the PARTNER Project, noted, “Bangladesh’s seed system still operates largely traditionally. Integrating digital tools like SeedCast will bring efficiency, transparency, and agility to agricultural planning.”
Private seed company representatives, including ACI, Lal Teer, and Syngenta, highlighted concerns about counterfeit seeds undermining farmer trust and company reputations, calling for stronger monitoring mechanisms.
At the Dhaka workshop, Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, Chief Coordinator (Research Cell) of BADC, stressed inclusivity and collaboration: “Public–private partnerships, active participation of women and youth, and enhanced technical capacity for farmers are essential to building a resilient seed system.”
IRRI’s Seed System Bangladesh team including, Dr. Muhammad Ashraful Habib, Dr. Saidul Islam, and Nuruzzaman, facilitated discussions and conducted Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to uncover region-specific challenges, including mismatched seed supply and demand, limited awareness of new varieties, and inadequate access to technical knowledge.
Key Achievements
The workshops engaged over 130 stakeholders and:
- Identified critical gaps in seed forecasting, quality assurance, and timely distribution.
- Fostered dialogue and collaboration across the seed value chain.
- Laid the foundation for the SeedCast digital platform, poised to enhance planning, reduce losses, and improve farmer access to high-quality seeds.
The Seed System Gap Analysis—Insight to Implementation workshops mark a milestone under the Technical Assistance from IRRI for Demand-Driven Seed Forecasting Tool Formulation, Adaptation, and Functioning project, funded by BADC and the PARTNER Project.
Authors:
Dr. Muhammad Ashraful Habib – Lead Specialist, Seed System & Product Management, IRRI
Dr. Sk Mosharraf Hossain – Scientist, Seed System & Product Management, IRRI
Dr. Swati Nayak – Scientist-II & South Asia Lead, Seed Systems & Product Management, IRRI
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