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Adviser warns private suppliers not to sell low quality seeds

Star Business Report
Agriculture Adviser CS Karim yesterday warned private seed suppliers not to sell low quality and barren seeds.
“It is expected that they will supply quality seeds to farmers. But I came to know that barren seeds are sold. We must try to ensure the availability of quality seeds." said the adviser aca wundublc at Agriculture Information Services in Dhaka.
Agricultural Reporters Association of Bangladesh and Agricultural Reporters Forum organized the discussion.
The adviser's warning came amid media reports that low quality and old hybrid seeds supplied by some private seed companies might affect production prospects during the current Boro season.
“It is alleged that seed suppliers deceive farmers,” Karim said, adding that those who are involved in seed business should ensure qualityseeds.
In Bangladesh, hybrid rice cultivation is increasing every year. During the current Boro season, hybrid rice was cultivated on about 10 lakh hectares of land, up from 3.90 lakh hect-
according to the government estimates.
“Some Tk50 crore should be allocated for producing good quality seeds in the budget for fiscal 2008-09. It can used as revolving fund,” said Uttam Deb, head of research division of Centre for Policy Dialogue.
Uttam, referring to Boro cultivation area of over 45 lakh
hectares of land this season, recommended the government should set a target to produce 3.2 crore metric tonnes of rice for 2008-09 fiscal
year.
Agriculture Secretary Abdul Aziz said the rice production target would be no more than 3.0 crore metric tonnes for the next fiscal year.
The secretary also said .efforts are there, to^bring the country's two divisions *-Barisal and Sylhet- under cultivation this year to increase the production of rice.
Referring to various rice varieties such as flood resistant BR-11, Brae Executive Director Mahabub Hossain said it is possible to achieve the target of producing 3.2 crore metric tonnes of rice with the existing technology and varieties.