Addressing Barriers to Rice Seeds Trade
between India and Bangladesh
(RISTE)
Key messages
Suresh Prasad Singh
Policy Analyst
Outline
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Background
Major issues when the project was launched
What the project did?
Major findings
Major constraints
Outcomes
Recommendations and way forward
Impact and sustainability
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Background
Supported by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
 Focus on India (Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal) and Bangladesh
Goal: To develop an enabling environment to promote seeds trade and Knowledgesharing on HYV rice seeds between India and Bangladesh
Objectives
1. Understanding of factors that drive demand and flow of HYV rice seeds in
Eastern Indian States and Bangladesh to identify varieties with bilateral trade
potential
2. Understanding of systemic enabling factors and challenges to bilateral knowledge
sharing and trade in seeds between India and Bangladesh, particularly on HYV rice
seeds
3. Influencing changes to policies and practices to facilitate formalisation and
expansion of trade and knowledge-sharing on HYV rice seeds between Bangladesh
and India
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Major issues when the project was launched
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No formal trade (informal trade)
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Lack of awareness on why there is no formal trade
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Lack of awareness on preferred HYV rice seed varieties
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Apprehensions among stakeholders about quality, market uncertainties
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No recognisable attempt to bring stakeholders closer to possible opportunities
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What the project did?
 Partnership with local organisations
 Literature review and extensive fieldwork
 Interactions with stakeholders
 Seed producers
 Seed traders
 Seed Associations (BSA, NSAI)
 Farmers (15 FGDs)
 Policy makers and other government officials (at various levels)
 Media interactions (five workshops)
 Documentary film
 TV talk show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZAzpKbXmy0&feature=youtu.be
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Major findings
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Informal HYV rice seeds market and trade is thriving
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Farmers demand access to quality rice seeds available across the border
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Identification of rice seed varieties informally traded
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Identification of points of informal trade in HYV rice seeds (Jessore, Dinajpur,
Nawabganj in Bangladesh; Dakshin Dinajpur, Burdman, Cooch Behar in West
Bengal)
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Contd…
Issues that hinder formal trade in HYV rice seeds
Apprehension of local stakeholders (fear of external dependence)
Lack of harmonisation in seed laws, regulation and policies
Issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights
Industry’s fear of market capturing by other party
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Some major outcomes
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Creation of a platform through interactions with stakeholders
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Generation of stakeholders’ perspectives on the issue of seeds trade (informal and
formal), which could facilitate further interactions and engagements
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Government officials on both sides have reached a consensus for trade and
cooperation in HYV rice seeds
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Bangladesh Seed Association and National Seed Association of India are to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise their relationship
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Contd…
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Greater awareness and capacity building of media
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Mapping of trade processes
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Identifying infrastructural bottlenecks at border points
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Facilitating greater participation of private sector
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Recommendations and way forward
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Need for a framework of cooperation
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Mutual acceptance of varieties released: this calls for some amendments/changes
in domestic seed policy and practices
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To counter emerging challenges of low yield and adverse impacts of climate
change, there is need for exchange and sharing new ideas and technology
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Existing HYV seeds that have been developed through public institutions and
international organisations like IRRI should be made more accessible
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Contd…
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There is need for creating awareness and a roadmap towards achieving the full
potential of the recent development through signing of the protocol.
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Need for identifying suitable/adaptable varieties for trade and exchange
Joint research and development
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Impact and sustainability
We (CUTS and its partners) are confident that
“this project has created an enabling environment for
seeds trade and knowledge sharing for greater
cooperation on agriculture among Bangladesh, India
and other neighbouring countries.”
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Thank you for your attention
sps@cuts.org
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