Rice Seed Production and Use in Bangladesh and India Need for Bilateral Cooperation

Rice seed production, marketing, distribution situation in Bangladesh and India is not considered to be efficient. This has led to low availability and accessibility of modern varieties (MV) rice seeds, resulting in low yields and low production. In such a situation, farmers in Bangladesh and India rely more on their own resources (farmers saved seed) and also informal flow of seeds between the two countries. Given the situation, the paper explores why trade in MV rice seed does not exist despite some compelling factors. The paper suggests that to improve the situation, rice research institutions in the two countries should collaborate in development of MV rice seeds and its use. Further, governments in both the countries should encourage active participation of private sector in seed development.