STRENGTHENING BANGLADESH-INDIA RICE SEEDS COOPERATION: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

This article examines the potential for strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and India in the crucial sector of rice seeds, from a Bangladeshi perspective. It highlights the importance of the rice sector for the food security of both countries. The study analyzes the potential benefits of enhanced cooperation, including the joint development of new, high-yielding, and climate-resilient rice varieties; the harmonization of seed certification and quarantine procedures to facilitate cross-border trade in seeds; and the sharing of agricultural research and technology. The research also explores the challenges and concerns from a Bangladeshi perspective, such as the need to protect the country's own rich biodiversity of traditional rice varieties and to ensure that any cooperation is on an equitable and mutually beneficial basis. The paper concludes by calling for the establishment of a formal, institutionalized mechanism for bilateral cooperation on rice research and seed technology.

Rice is the staple food and the single most important agricultural crop for both Bangladesh and India. This paper provides a detailed analysis, from a Bangladeshi viewpoint, of the immense potential for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the area of rice seeds. The study begins by making a strong case for why such cooperation is a strategic necessity in an era of climate change, which poses a significant threat to the food security of the entire region. The core of the article is an exploration of the specific areas for cooperation. A key area identified is collaborative research and development. The paper argues that by pooling the scientific expertise of their national agricultural research systems, the two countries can accelerate the development of new rice varieties that are tolerant to drought, salinity, and submergence. Another major area of focus is the facilitation of the cross-border trade in seeds. The paper discusses how the harmonization of regulations could provide Bangladeshi farmers with quicker and easier access to the latest high-quality seeds developed in India, and vice versa. The findings are, however, balanced with a note of caution. The paper emphasizes the need to ensure that any cooperation is structured in a way that protects the interests of Bangladeshi farmers and the country's own genetic resources. The paper concludes with a call for a move from ad-hoc cooperation to a more structured, long-term partnership, which would be a win-win for the food security of both nations.