Seed and Horticulture Wing

BADC is the only public sector organization mandated to multiply all new improved varieties evolved from Research Institutes. BADC has gained technological superiority by dint of its standard quality seeds. The visionary program was started with the supply of a meager quantity 13.8 MT quality seeds in 1961. This program of supplying quality seeds of improved varieties by the public sector, BADC, for the first time in the country had created a significant impact to the farmers and the development of a well organized seed system in the country. At present, it has been producing quality seeds of 141022 MT in the FY 2015-16 through its own seed multiplication farms and contract growers' zones located at different agro-ecological zones and agro-climatic conditions of the country.

Existing facilities in Seed and Horticulture Wing

BADC owns:

• 34 foundation and multiplication farms for seed production.
• 75 contract growers' zones with 1, 09,531.02 acre command area and 37,611 contract farmers.

• 52 modern seed processing and preservation centers along with 3 auto seed processing plants having 1,68,700 MT storage capacity.
• 1 central seed quality testing laboratory in Dhaka.
• 100 seed sale centers with transit seed godowns and 8,056 seed dealers throughout the country and a strong internal quality control system.
• 14 Agro-service centers and 9 horticulture centers at different locations of Bangladesh.

Main activities and functions of Seed and Horticulture Wing

• To give necessary suggestions to the Government for preparing the plans pertaining to seed policy.
• To produce and supply of cereal seeds, jute seed and other seeds.

• To select contract growers, provide training them and ensure provision of support services;
• To enhance supply of quality seeds;
• To produce, process and preserve foundation, certified and truthfully label seeds of High Yielding Varieties (HYV) in its own farm.

• To provide effective services for production of improved seeds:

• To establish contract grower's block for production of certified & truthfully label seeds by providing technical assistance and support services;
• To transfer technical know-how for production and processing of seeds to private sector and facilitate its expansion through ensuring support services;
• To control the quality of foundation, certified and truthfully label seeds;
• To install cold storages for preservation of foundation and certified seeds;
• To conduct training on seed marketing for seed dealers;
• To import and export quality seeds;
• To encourage uninterrupted production, processing, preservation and marketing of certified & truthfully label seeds in private sector and to provide training, technical ssistance and support services.

• To determine the quantity and seasonal requirement of seeds in joint collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Extension & Research Institutions.
• To produce and facilitate marketing of cross varieties (Hybrid) of seeds.
• To provide training, technical assistance and support service to private entrepreneurs and farmers on large-scale basis for production of potato seeds including Horticultural products (Grafts & Gooties) etc.

Fertilizer Management Wing

During the FY 1960-61, BADC had started fertilizer distribution activities with an amount of 31,000 MT. From the FY 2006-07, BADC has been again handling for import, storage and distribution of non-urea fertilizer (TSP, DAP & MoP). Recently, measures have been taken for the distribution non-urea fertilizer through 48 sale centers in 21 regions of BADC all over Bangladesh. At present BADC has 112 numbers fertilizer godown with the capacity of 1,52,766 MT. BADC had distributed, 9.88 lakh MT,9.00 lakh MTand 9.90 lakh MT of non-urea fertilizers throughout the country during the FY  2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively.

Main activities and functions of Fertilizer Management Wing

• To maintain buffer stock of non-urea fertilizer.
• To monitor the availability and quality of fertilizer, quality control and implementation of Fertilizer's Act.
• To give necessary suggestion and assistance in the process of import of non-urea fertilizers under public and private sectors.

• To provide the government with necessary information and advice to formulate the fertilizer policy and its implementation.

Minor Irrigation Wing

BADC started its irrigation activity only through operation of 1555 Low Lift Pumps (LLP) in the FY 1961-62. In the FY 1967-68, BADC began to install Deep Tube Wells (DTW) and from the FY 1972-73, it had started to supply Shallow Tube Wells (STW) in order to increase irrigated areas as well as to increase crop production. At present, there are 171041 LLPs, 36034 DTWs, 1563791 STWs and BADC is also using some manual & traditional devices to cover 54.02 lakh hectares of land for irrigation in Boro season all over the country (BADC Survey & Monitoring Report, 2014-15). BADC is constructing Rubber Dams to reserve surface water and irrigating through gravity flow. 4 Rubber Dams have already been constructed and other 2 are under construction. So far, 11 Solar irrigation pumps in  different districts have already been set up. Besides these, BADC has made irrigation system acceptable to the farmers through water management, operation and maintenance of irrigation equipment, smooth and optimum use of water at field level. At Present, BADC is implementing a numbers of Project & Program for the development of Minor Irrigation System.

The present strategies of Minor Irrigation Wing

• To increase irrigated areas from about 54 lakh hectare to 60 lakh hectare within 2021 (about one lakh hectare per year);
• To give emphasis on use of surface water for irrigation by expanding the availability of surface water through excavation/ reexcavation of khal/nalas;
• To prevent groundwater depletion through optimum use of groundwater;
• To increase irrigation efficiency from 34% to 48%;
• To minimize yield gap from 3 ton/ha. to 1 ton/ha. by 2021; and
• To increase cropping intensity.

The main activities and functions in Minor Irrigation Wing

• Excavation/ re-excavation of khal/nalas to preserve surface water and also for drainage purpose;
• Construction of different types of hydraulic/retaining structures for augmentation of surface water and rain water harvesting;
• Installation of different capacity Low Lift Pumps and Force Mode Pumps of diesel and electric operation. Force Mode Pumps are also installed where groundwater is below the suction limit of centrifugal pump;
• Construction of surface and sub-surface (buried pipe line) irrigation channel to minimize water loss;
• Construction of Rubber Dams in small river, creeks etc.;
• Rehabilitation, repair, maintenance of old Deep Tube Wells;
• Introduction of Solar irrigation pumps (use of renewable energy);
• Installation of Smart Card Pre-paid Meter for optimum use of water and recovery of the irrigation charges;
• Survey and Monitoring of irrigation equipment, irrigated areas and groundwater table monitoring through auto water table recorder and data logger and database development;
• To make a database of saline water intrusion in the coastal area of the country due to climate change and forecasting.

Collaborative programs with other Organizations

To meet up the national demand and face the upcoming challenges BADC has been working with different organizations such as:

• Government organizations: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Department of Agriculture Extension, Department of Agriculture Marketing, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Local Government Engineering Department, Water Resources Planning Organization, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Agricultural Universities, Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, Rural Development Academy, Bangladesh Diesel Plant, Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Ltd. etc.
• Non-Government Organizations: Institute of Water Modelling, Golden Barn Kingdom, Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services etc.
• Overseas Organization: SL-Agritech Corporation, Philippines, Yuan's seed Co. ltd, China, Winall Hi-tech Seed co. Ltd, China, Shenzhen Boshi Bioscience Co. Ltd, China, International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, Belarusnan Potash Company, Belarush, Prodintorg, Russia, Canadian Commercial Corporation, OCP, Morocco, GCT, Tunisia etc.
• Development Partners: World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Food and Agricultural Organization, German Development Corporation, United States Agency for International Development etc.

Recognition

BADC has been honoured with the following prestigious national and international  Awards:

• Bangabandhu National Agricultural Prize 2012 (Gold Medal).
• Natioanl Tree Plantation Campaign & Plant Fair 2013, 2014 & 2015 (1st Prize).
• The occasion of food Fair on World Food Day 2015: first prize
• Agricultural Technology Fair 2013 (1st Prize) .
• National Seed Fair 2011,2012 (1st Prize).
• In recognition of his contribution to the management of the National Seed Conference Seed Fair 2008: first prize.
• World Food Day Fair 2006 (1st Prize).
• Dhaka Export Fair 1977,1979 &1981 (1st Prize).
• The Reflector Award-2013।