Access to quality seeds and our research facilities in Bangladesh: pathways to resilient agriculture by 2050

Access to quality seed refers to farmers'—particularly smallholders' ability to reliably obtain improved and locally suitable seeds that are available on time, physically and financially accessible, genetically pure, and high in germination and vigour. Such seeds must also be well adapted to local agro-ecological and climatic conditions. Beyond physical availability, access encompasses farmers' awareness and choice of varieties, trust in seed quality, and the institutional, market, and policy environments that ensure seed reliability, affordability, and resilience.

Seeds are the most fundamental input in agriculture, shaping crop productivity, resilience, and farm profitability. In Bangladesh, where agriculture supports livelihoods for nearly half of the population and underpins national food security, access to quality seed remains both a critical opportunity and a persistent challenge. 

Over the past five decades, the seed sector has evolved from a farmer-managed system, largely sustained by women to a structured, multi-actor network involving public research institutions and private companies. While this transition was driven by the promise of quality assurance and higher yields, it has also resulted in increasing centralisation and control over seeds. Despite notable progress, ensuring timely, affordable, and climate-resilient seed access for all farmers remains unfinished business.

Evolution of seed systems: from farmer-led to pluralistic models

A seed system comprises the network of actors and activities involved in breeding, producing, distributing, and using seeds. It includes both formal commercial systems and informal farmer-managed practices, which together determine farmers' access to suitable planting material. 

In Bangladesh, traditional seed systems relied on farmers saving, exchanging, and selecting seeds adapted to local conditions. Women played a central role in conserving agrobiodiversity and sustaining household- and community-level seed security.

Following independence in 1971, the government prioritised food self-sufficiency and promoted a public-led seed system to accelerate the adoption of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) in line with the Green Revolution. Key milestones included the Seed Ordinance (1977), National Seed Policy (1993), Seed Acts (2013 and 2018), and the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act (2019), which formalised variety release, certification, and market regulation. This effectively created parallel formal and informal systems, often marginalising traditional practices.

Today, Bangladesh operates a pluralistic seed system. Public institutions such as the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI), and Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) generate breeder and nucleus seeds. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) remains the backbone of foundation and certified seed production and distribution. Private companies dominate hybrid seed markets—particularly maize, rice, and vegetables—while informal farmer-saved systems still supply more than 70% of seeds, especially for pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and minor crops.

Current status of access to quality seed

Despite institutional expansion, access to quality seed remains uneven. Annual national seed requirements are estimated at 1.2–1.5 million tonnes, including 0.3–0.4 million tonnes of true seed and 0.92–1.10 million tonnes of tubers and bulbs. Formal supply, however, accounts for only 0.3–0.4 million tonnes, meaning just 30–35% of total demand is met through certified or quality-assured channels. The gap is particularly acute for potato, pulses, oilseeds, onion, and spices, where farmers largely depend on saved, uncertified, or transboundary seed sources.

Rice presents a mixed picture. Boro rice has achieved more than 100% formal seed use due to irrigation and widespread HYV adoption, while Aus and Aman rice continue to rely heavily on farmer-saved seed. Wheat and maize show moderate commercialisation. Vegetables, onion, and chilli—despite high hybrid adoption—face price volatility, seed fraud, and inconsistent quality. Hybrid rice, introduced in 1996, still accounts for only 9–10% of total rice cultivation, whereas hybrid vegetables cover around 20–25% of demand. 

Many HYVs and open-pollinated varieties used by farmers were developed by public research institutions, yet hybrid seeds are often priced two to five times higher than open-pollinated varieties, sometimes without commensurate yield gains, eroding farmer trust.

GMO seeds and the social ecosystem

Genetically modified and genome-editing technologies offer significant potential to improve productivity, climate resilience, and nutritional quality. However, adoption in Bangladesh remains limited by scientific, social, and policy constraints, alongside ongoing debate within the scientific community. Progress is hindered by inadequate advanced biotechnology laboratories, shortages of skilled human resources, and weak biosafety testing and regulatory capacity. Beyond Bt brinjal—the country's first GM food crop—innovation has been minimal, with annual Bt brinjal seed distribution remaining at only 200–300 kg despite substantial investment.

Public scepticism, misinformation, ethical concerns, and low farmer awareness have reinforced policy caution. Slow approval processes, partial implementation of the PVP Act, and the absence of a clear regulatory framework for genome-editing tools such as CRISPR further constrain progress. Still, prospects remain promising if Bangladesh strengthens biosafety infrastructure, builds scientific capacity, and ensures transparent risk communication through inclusive, science-based regulation.

Research capacity: Strengths and gaps

Bangladesh's National Agricultural Research System (NARS) is among the strongest in South Asia. BRRI alone has released hundreds of rice varieties, helping raise yields from under 2 tonnes per hectare in the 1970s to over 4.5 tonnes today. BARI has similarly released improved varieties of vegetables, potato, and oilseeds, doubling or tripling yields. However, most of these advances have relied on conventional breeding due to limited access to modern laboratories and advanced research tools.

Despite these constraints, dedicated scientists have developed numerous climate-resilient varieties for saline, drought-prone, wetland, and hilly regions. By 2050, NARS plans to release around 250 new varieties, including 100 hybrids. Yet breeder seed production remains insufficient, especially for non-rice crops, while gaps in human resources—particularly in molecular breeding, seed pathology, and DUS testing—continue to limit system performance.

Climate change and seed access

Climate change is intensifying challenges to seed production, storage, and distribution. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, salinity intrusion, floods, and cyclones increasingly disrupt seed viability and supply. Higher temperatures during flowering reduce seed set, while humidity accelerates seed-borne diseases. Coastal and saline-prone regions face acute shortages of stress-tolerant varieties, and the formal sector alone may not be able to meet demand in a timely manner.

Research institutions are developing stress-tolerant varieties and climate-resilient storage and drying technologies, including solar-based systems. However, weak linkages between research, extension, and seed distribution limit scaling. Climate models suggest that gradual warming, rather than abrupt land-use change, will significantly affect seed quality and system resilience.

Local varieties: Resilience and rural enterprise

Local varieties remain widely used, accounting for an estimated 20–24% of seeds nationwide. These varieties—across rice, potato, vegetables, onion, and other crops—are often more resilient, better adapted, and less input-intensive. Strengthening local seed systems through supervised production can preserve genetic diversity while ensuring quality. 

Community seed banks, seed villages, and participatory plant breeding enable farmers, particularly women, to conserve and multiply climate-resilient seeds.

Improved local potato seed production using virus-free techniques and True Potato Seed offers opportunities to reduce import dependence. These systems also create entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and women through seed production, processing, storage, and marketing.

Bridging formal and informal systems

With only one-third of seed demand met formally, Bangladesh's greatest opportunity lies in integrating formal and informal systems through a "trusted seed" approach. Under supervision from the Seed Certification Agency, trained community producers can supply quality-assured seeds while maintaining local adaptation. Evidence from extension services and cooperatives shows this model can expand supply and create employment. Estimates suggest it could support up to 25,000 seed entrepreneurs nationwide.

Market challenges and the private sector

Private companies play a critical role in hybrid seed markets, yet heavy reliance on imports—particularly for maize, sunflower, chilli, and vegetables—exposes farmers to price volatility and supply risks. Weak market surveillance allows counterfeit seeds to circulate, undermining trust. 

Strengthening quality control, transparent pricing, and digital traceability—such as QR-coded certification—along with investment in domestic hybrid breeding through public–private partnerships is essential.

Policy reform and the road to 2050

Bangladesh has a comprehensive seed policy framework, but implementation gaps persist. The PVP Authority is not fully operational, and regulatory bodies face capacity constraints. Establishing a National Seed Regulatory Authority could streamline certification, market surveillance, and trade regulation.

Under the "Transforming Bangladesh Agriculture: Outlook 2050" initiative, national seed demand is projected to remain around 1.28 million tonnes by 2050. Meeting this demand will require investment exceeding Tk25,000 crore across breeding, multiplication, storage, certification, and digital systems. Redirecting subsidies toward innovation, research, and entrepreneurship will be critical for long-term sustainability.

Toward equitable seed access

Access to quality seed is not merely a technical concern—it is central to food security, climate resilience, and rural equity. By combining strong public research, inclusive community-based seed systems, digital innovation, and effective regulation, Bangladesh can achieve seed self-sufficiency and resilience by 2050. In doing so, the country can secure its food future and position itself as a regional leader in sustainable seed systems and agricultural innovation.

Dr M Nazim Uddin is a Researcher at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute