Staff Correspondent
Recently, the "Workshop on Strengthening the Seed Sector of Bangladesh," bringing together
distinguished officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, private sector representatives, researchers, and
partners from the Netherlands. The event was attended by the Chief Guest, the Secretary of the
Ministry of Agriculture, and Andre Carstens, Head of Mission of the Dutch Embassy as Guest of Honour.
This workshop highlighted the findings and recommendations from recent Seed and Phytosanitary
Scoping Missions, conducted in response to the official request from the Government of Bangladesh.
These insights are invaluable for driving forward critical initiatives, such as establishing a Plant Variety
Protection (PVP) Authority, an independent National Plant Quarantine Authority (NPPO), and an
independent Seed Certification Authority under the Seed Policy and Seed Act.
Additionally, the experiences of the recent Outgoing Seed Trade Mission to the Netherlands enriched
today’s discussions, offering actionable insights on knowledge cooperation, policy alignment, and the
benefits of a robust seed regulatory framework. This is a significant step forward in ensuring quality
seeds and building a sustainable value chain to support Bangladeshi agriculture.
