A shipment of BRRI-49 certified Aman rice seed supplied for the upcoming planting season in Kishoreganj was found to contain live insects and insect-damaged grain dust, prompting Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to seek an urgent replacement of the affected stock.
In a letter dated 3 June, BADC Kishoreganj Regional Office Deputy Director for Seed Marketing Mohammad Zainal Abedin informed the relevant production authorities about the issue and requested the immediate supply of insect-free seed to avoid disruptions in distribution.
According to the letter, the first consignment of 10 tonnes of BRRI-49 certified seed for the 2026-27 distribution year was received from BADC’s production wing. During inspection, officials detected live insects and powder from insect-damaged grain. Photographic and video evidence of the infestation was also attached to the communication.
BADC officials warned that distributing infested seed could create complications for both farmers and dealers, particularly as dealers have already begun contacting the corporation to collect seed for the Aman season.
Seed dealer Golam Mostafa alleged that despite depositing money and completing purchase formalities, dealers were still unable to obtain seed according to demand. He said two or three key varieties remained unavailable out of the 15 to 16 varieties allocated for distribution.
The repeated trips to BADC offices to collect seed have increased transportation costs and caused inconvenience for dealers, he said.
Mostafa added that farmers were currently in the ideal period for sowing Aman seedbeds but were struggling to obtain the required seed. As a result, many were being forced to purchase seed from the open market, creating an opportunity for private seed companies to expand sales.
Another dealer, Khorshed Alam, said seed deliveries scheduled for 1 June had yet to arrive. He said dealers later learned that insects had been detected in the seed supplied by the production wing.
“If farmers do not receive seed on time, they will turn to alternative sources,” he said.
Dealer Masum Billah said the issue involved one of the country’s most important annual crops and that under no circumstances should substandard or damaged seed be distributed to farmers.
BADC Assistant Deputy Director for Marketing Fatema Nasrin said delays in delivering seed to dealers could leave the entire consignment unsold. Such a situation could benefit private companies, damage BADC’s reputation and result in financial losses for the government.
She said dealers who had already deposited money and collected invoices were visiting the office daily in search of seed, creating pressure on officials.
After the consignment arrived from the production wing on 3 June, inspections confirmed the presence of live insects, prompting dealers to express reluctance to accept the seed, she added.
BADC Kishoreganj Regional Office Deputy Director for Marketing Mohammad Zainal Abedin said BRRI-49 was a highly sought-after variety and that insects were discovered during inspection of the 10-tonne shipment received from the production centre.
He said insect-infested seed could be treated through spraying and fumigation, but prolonged infestation might reduce germination rates and yield potential.
Following the allegations, a visit to the BADC Kishoreganj production wing warehouse found workers regrading and repackaging the affected seed.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that although seed was supposed to be collected from contracted growers, part of the stock had been procured from other sources. The allegations have raised concerns among dealers about the reliability of the supply chain.
BADC sources said approximately 900 tonnes of Aman seed had been allocated to the Kishoreganj region for fiscal year 2026-27. Of that amount, 313 tonnes consist of BRRI-49 seed, with the Kishoreganj production wing expected to supply 220 tonnes.
People involved in the distribution process warned that failure to supply seed within the required timeframe could result in government losses of nearly Tk50 lakh during the current season.
Responding to the allegations, BADC Kishoreganj Production Wing Deputy Director Mohammad Harun Or Rashid acknowledged that the seed had experienced some problems but said regrading had removed the infestation.
He said the seed currently being repackaged would not face any germination problems and remained suitable for distribution.
