Substandard, spurious seeds invade markets in northern region

BOGURA, Jan 03: The threat of substandard seeds looms large at a time when the farmers in the northern region are busy readying their fields.
Peaky and below-standard seeds mostly coming from India through different borders have flooded the local markets causing great concern for the farmers in the region and putting agriculture at stake.
Exploiting the opportunity of no quality check being carried out by the authorities concerned, a section of unscrupulous traders are selling the below-standard seeds in different markets to make a quick buck.
Most of these seeds enter the country through the borders of the northern region without going through any quality test, which poses a threat of attacking plants with severe diseases.
Not only that various harmful pests including mealybugs and planthoppers are coming into the country with these untested seeds. Consequently, agriculture of the region is now under threat.
Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers are nowadays inclining towards modern agriculture due to the blessings of advanced technology.
Meanwhile, commercial farming has increased proportionately at a satisfactory level in the past one and a half decades.
But it is a matter to lament that there is not adequate supply of high yielding seeds for the farmers.
Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) supplies only 10 per cent of the high yielding seeds against the total demand.
Taking the advantage, the unscrupulous traders procure these unrefined seeds coming from India through different borders.
Later these spurious and fake seeds are supplied to the local markets and even sent to different districts including Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Natore, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj.
Among the smuggled Indian seeds, jute, maize, paddy and various hybrid vegetable seeds are prominent.
Meanwhile, many farmers in the region have incurred huge losses by using substandard and peaky tomato and potato seeds.
The total seed business of the region is controlled by some 14 to 15 influential traders, who are directly and indirectly involved in smuggling of seeds.
Rustom Ali, a farmer of Shariakandi Char of Bogura district said, "I cultivated tomato on my two bighas of land besides my house. But, I have got poor yield this year due to use of unhealthy and contaminated seeds purchased from local market. Thus, I have incurred loss this year."
Not only maize seeds, below-standard seeds of various other crops have flooded markets and the traders are selling those indiscriminately in a bid to make extra profit.
Prof Saiful Islam of the Agriculture Department in Rajshahi University said, "Blast disease may spread into wheat and paddy field after coming with several seeds from India. Few diseases may spread through wind. So, we need to be aware from now. Otherwise, we have to face dire consequences."
Motlubur Rahman, deputy director of the DAE, Bogura said, "Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) authorities are directly involved in supplying and testing seeds as well as monitoring the seed market."

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