RDA and IRRI host seed production course for Bangladesh women farmers’ groups

The Rural Development Academy (RDA) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) conducted a training course on seed production, quality control, processing, and marketing for 60 women-led farmers groups on 28 – 29 November 2022 in Bogura District.

The course provided the participating women with classroom and hands-on training on seed production, different seed quality characteristics, processing, storage, packaging, and marketing. Mechanized System Rice Intensification procedure and seed licensing and registration procedures were also covered.

The activity is jointly implemented by RDA and IRRI in northern Bangladesh under the Accelerated Genetic Gain in Rice (AGGRi) Alliance. AGGRi collects robust data and verifies the suitability of promising modern high-yielding rice varieties for specific regions; compares the performance of popular varieties with candidate products; accelerates the expansion of candidate products at the field level, and collects farmers’ feedback.

RDA is a specialized autonomous rural development government institution in Sherpur Upazila in Bogra for training, research, and action research. The institution is officiated with the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives. 

The guests from  RDA Bogura included Director Md Khalid Aurangozeb, Assistant Director Fakar Uddin Talukdar, Additional Director Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, and Training Director Md. Ferdous Hossain Khan.

Also attending the event were Dr. Daniel Menge, scientist, and Muhammad Ashraful Habib, senior specialist, from IRRI Seed Systems.

District Seed Certification Officer Mr. Shaduzzaman from the Seed Certification Agency, Bogura served as the resource person. The program was moderated by Mr. Md. Mozaharul Haque, RDA  agricultural consultant in Bogura. 

In 2022, The IRRI Bangladesh Seed System Team, in collaboration with other complimenting initiatives, conducted seed production of promising varieties, promoted new varieties in the farmers’ network, and carried out demonstrations through women farmers’ groups formed by IRRI’s networking partners in Bangladesh.

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