Bayer produces hybrid Boro rice seeds, exports to the Philippines

Bayer, a German bio-tech company is working in the fields of Bangladesh agriculture and healthcare services making investment in local production of hybrid rice seeds to contribute to the countrys food security.  

In recent years, despite all challenges Bayer is scaling up its local production of Boro hybrids and export hybrid rice seeds after meeting the local demands. This year, Bayer Bangladesh is exporting significant quantity of Boro hybrid for the first time to the Philippines, said a press release.

Aman hybrids seeds production remains a challenge due to climatic conditions whereas availability of good hybrids is equally important in Aman Season. Seed industry is still dependent on import for Aman hybrids due to production challenges.
Govt is continuing its support to import Aman hybrid while encouraging local production for both Boro and Aman hybrid seeds.

Bayer already built and scaled up its R&D, Production and Processing facilities to support Bangladesh farmers.

It recently organized a ceremony in its Seed Processing Center premises. Md Abu Zubair Hossain Bablu, Director General, Seed Wing, Agriculture Ministry and Zahidul Islam, Managing Director, Bayer CropScience Ltd. attended the event with DAE, other Govt., and Bayer Officials.

Md Abu Zubair said on this occasion appreciated Bayer s own researched & climate-smart hybrid rice seeds which are helping farmers to get higher yields as well as to have remedy from many climatic adverse situations and in pest management.

It is also contributing to ensure country food security, he said. Looking forward to Bayer s capability to produce hybrid seeds locally and export after meeting the local demand, he said it is really a  happy moment to start exporting Boro hybrid rice seeds.

Zahidul Islam, Managing Director of Bayer CropScience Ltd. said Bayer in is bringing many new technologies and services to Bangladesh for the benefit of farmers. It is establishing facilities and has the capability of local production of its own hybrid rice seeds.

Already Bayer Bangladesh has reached the capability to produce locally Boro hybrid rice seeds, and export after meeting local demand. But still, it remains a challenge to locally produce Aman hybrids seeds due to climatic conditions.

So the country has to import Aman hybrid rice seeds from other Bayer Country. Nevertheless, he said he believe by having the capability of producing locally Boro hybrid rice seeds and opening export from Bangladesh, the country will be able to bring more Bayer technologies in Bangladesh to serve farmers.  

Bayer CropScience Limited is a joint venture in Bangladesh between Bayer AG (60%) based in Germany and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) (40%), Ministry of Industries of Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Bayer is serving Bangladesh agriculture for last four decade with its all services & technologies. Whereas the Bacterial Leaf Blight [BLB] tolerant, submergence tolerant, Brown Plant Hopper [BPH] tolerant along with high yielding hybrid rice seeds are worth mentioning.