1. Presented By : Mr Deboyoti Guha Working Secretary Seed Association of Bengal

2. Introduction of Seed Association of Bengal The only registered seed association /Forum in West Bengal. Established in 2008. Partner of IRRI, affiliated to Indian Chamber of Commerce and National seed Association of India. Participating NFSM, RKVY and ISOPOM. Total volume of the seed industry nearly 700 Crores above. Total 40 thousand hector area covered. 95,000 contract farmers to produce seed. Generated about 70 lakhs direct and indirect man days in rural economy for seed production. 16,000 dealers network. Create economical development of small & marginal farmers by the way of paying more value on agriculture produce. Helping to increased SRR percentage to 32% Growth of the industry 20% per annum.

3. No of Seed Companies : 50 46 private seed producers companies 4 co-operatives Crops : Major: Paddy Others (Potato, Groundnut, Maize, Pulses and Oilseeds) Paddy seed Turnover : Certified: 120,000 MT TL Seed: > 100,000 MT

4. Marketing Area : Entire West Bengal Bihar Jharkhand Uttar Pradesh Odisha Assam Seed is sold to the farmers through the dealers networks Proposed Target Area : Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bangladesh, Nepal

5. Availability of Breeder Seed : Allotment of Breeder Seeds from Govt. of India through Govt. of West Bengal & National Seed Association of India.

6. Paddy Varieties: 45 VarietyDurationYield (MT) / hectare Shatabdi105-110 Days5.0 MT IR-36120- 125 Days5.8 MT IR-64120- 125 Days6.4 MT Lalat120- 125 Days6.0 MT MTU-1010120- 125 Days6.3 MT Sahbhagi Dhan (Drought tolerant) 105-110 Days3.9 MT MTU-7029 (Swarna)140- 145Days6.5 MT MTU-1001135-140 Days5.8 MT Rajandra Masuri135 -140 Days5.9 MT Pratikha135 -140 Days5.6 MT Sawrna Sub-1 (Flood tolerant) 140- 145 Days6.7 MT

7. Problems of Seed Production :  Shortage of specific varieties of breeder seed.  Lack of Seed Certification infrastructure.  Less numbers of seed testing laboratories.

8. Barriers of HYV Rice Seeds Trade between and Bangladesh Informal flow of Rice Seed between India and Bangladesh West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram along with Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Seclet, Chittagong are border districts between two countries. Bangladesh high commission estimated 4 million dollars of informal exports amount in 2009. Consultative group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) shows that Indian Rice varieties covers 12% rice area.

9. Why Informal Trade ? Remarkably pores border of 3909 kms. Official machineries is slow and out dated creating delays and escalating costs. Bribes and other demands by both Govt. Officials in the border. An inadequate transport infrastructure.

10. Damages due to informal Trade of HYV Seeds Huge amount of Govt. revenue loss. Parental line of rice variety is not known. Question about certification of seed. Quality seed is not always available.

11. Rice Varieties are being Exported / Imported between two countries India to Bangladesh - MTU 7029 Parijat MTU 1010 Pratiksha Swarna Sub – 1 Gontra Bidhan - 1 Bangladesh to India – BB – 11 (BR 11), BRRI – 28, BRRI – 29

12. Why seed producers of Eastern States are interested for formal trading? Rice is high volume low value crop, logistic is important. Approximate market of 261 million dollars. Similarity is agro climatic condition (Hills, Tarai, Old alluvial soil, New alluvial soil, Red Laterite, Costal Zone) Opportunity to make Brand Image.

13. Benefits of Formal Trade between Two Countries Govt. will get revenue. Farmers of both Countries will be able to grow varieties in accordance to their choice suitable for specific soil. Improve trade and knowledge sharing on HYV Rice varieties. Scientists of BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council) and ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) will be able to produce more effective varieties to protect farmers.

14. New Hope Last month Govt. of India notified Bina Dhan 8, 10, 11, 12 released in Bangladesh. In continuation of Agreement signed in workshop on “Rice Production in Bangladesh and Collaboration between India and Bangladesh on seed issues” on 16 th – 17 th February 2013 in Dhaka.  Hopefully Bangladesh is going to notify four HYV of Rice released in India very shortly.

15. Grateful to :  CUTS International, India.  Unnayan Shamannay of Bangladesh  For “RISTE Project” Barriers to HYV Rice Seeds Trade between India and Bangladesh.