Bangladesh Seed Association

Bangladesh Seed Association

BSA was formed in 2002 at government behest. The association is registered with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Farms (RJSC). Its Executive Committee comprises 20 members, elected to two-year terms, divided into two groups, Seed Industry and Seed Dealers. The President is Mr Abdul Awal Mintoo (also on APSA’s EC), elected in October 2019. Membership types are Seed Dealer; Seed Industry; and Associate. The latter lack voting rights. The seven Technical Committees are Membership and Finance; Hybrid Rice Seed; Vegetable Seed; Maize Seed; Potato Seed; Export and Import; and Discipline and Vigilance. BSA strategies include: defining seed business groups by sector; partnering with government; building public - private partnerships; short and long term plans for food production and seed import estimates related thereto; introducing mechanized agriculture; creating a seed supply and demand database; seed processing and storage; business promotion; and enhancing the BSA Secretariat’s capabilities. The BSA added some 170 new members last year and opened three new district chapters. A training manual is in preparation for dealers, retailers and sales personnel. Agriculture accounts for 20 percent of Bangladesh GDP. There are 1.4 million farm households and nine million hectares of land capable of cultivation.

The above information is based on a presentation given during APSA's annual National Seed Associations meeting, held on 27 November, 2019.