Workshop on Strengthening Farmers' Access to Improved Vegetable Seeds for Homestead Vegetables Production System held

Inaugural Ceremony
The workshop began with recitation from the Holy Quran at 9:30 am on 21 May 2008 held at BRAC Centre Inn, 75 Mohakhali, Dhaka . The main focus of the workshop was to strengthen the local production and supply system of improved vegetable seeds for homestead vegetable growers for better yield and quality of vegetables. Dr. M A Hamid Miah, Liaison Scientist, IRRI welcomed the participants and explained the back ground of FoSHoL Project.

Dr. Monowar Hossain, consultant, FoSHoL-Coordination Project/IRRI in his key note paper, described the present status of homegrown vegetable seeds and supply system along with the scope of their improvement. According to him production and supply of quality seeds will increase vegetables production in 15 million homesteads of rural areas. Harvesting of one kg vegetable/day/homestead will provide 55 lac tons of vegetables per year satisfying about 69% of the total requirement in Bangladesh . Mr.M. Shamsul Alam DG, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) as a Special Guest emphasised the need of such workshop and more training to create awareness on vegetables as well as quality seed production involving more women. Dr. M. A. Razzaque, Executive Chairman, BARC and the Special Guest pointed out that the planting materials of vegetatively propagated homestead crops like aroids, turmeric, ginger, need also attention for better quality as they are grown under different micro niches of homestead. He also stressed to increase the availability of quality seed for vegetable production.

Mr. M Abdul Aziz, ndc, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and the Chief Guest attached his priority on the importance of homestead vegetables for better food, nutrition, cash and social interaction. He suggested that all persons regardless of status should be involved in home gardening with the feeling that they are part of the overall food production system. He emphasized on the availability of quality seeds and seedlings of vegetables for home gardening will provide more vegetables for consumption and maintain diversity of traditional varieties of species. The Secretary expressed his views to grow more pesticide free, and organic vegetables by identifying sustainable locations.

Dr. M. Zainul Abedin, IRRI Representative for Bangladesh & Team Leader-FoSHoL Coordination Project mentioned in his speech as Chairperson that vegetable gardening is one of the major activities of FoSHoL Project so that targeted 46253 farm households have the access to nutritious vegetables. He pointed out that farmers, nursery men, traders should be trained to promote the use of quality seeds and seedlings for vegetables production. Massive campaign is needed at the villages for using good seeds involving both men and women. He requested the participants for fruitful discussion on various issues related to seed production and supply system during the three technical sessions. Finally, he thanked the guests and other invitees for their participation at the workshop.

Technical Sessions
Eighty five officials from public, private sector, NGOs and a group of farmers took part in the technical sessions and shared their experiences, views and ideas. The first technical session was chaired by Ms. Veena Khaleque, Country Director, Practical Action. In the session, the papers on seed production and supply system of CARE, Practical Action and ActionAid were presented and discussed.

The second technical session was presided by Dr. M. Zainul Abedin where papers on characteristics of BARI varieties and their breeder seed supply system, production and distribution of foundation seeds of different vegetables under BADC and BSMRAU ( Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University ) vegetable varieties and their seed supply system were presented and discussed.

The 3rd technical session was chaired by Dr. Abdur Rahim, Prof. Horticulture Department, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. In this session five different papers were presented; four papers on vegetable varieties of four seed companies (A.R. Malik & Co, Lalteer, Supreme Seed Co. and BRAC) and one paper on the role of their Association.

Recommendations
The plenary session was chaired by Dr. M A Hamid Miah and the participants made a lot of discussion, and suggested the following recommendations:

• Collect the local traditional varieties from different locations and send those to BARI for characterization and purification. The purified seeds should be provided to the farmers for further multiplication.
• Identify seed growing farmers and provide intensive training to them and their family members on quality seed production, processing, storage and marketing
• Provide training to seed dealers and nurserymen with emphasis on ethics of business
• Encourage and support vegetable seed growers by supplying the breeder seeds from BARI/foundation seeds from BADC for multiplication
• Make available the information of good vegetables including spices varieties and theirs seeds to the farming community from research organizations, universities and private seed companies.

Media Coverage
The highlights of the workshop were broadcast in televisions and different dailies. Back page headline, “Production of 5.5 millions tons of vegetables is possible on 15 millions of homesteads” was published on 22 May 2008 in The Daily Naya Diganta . Based on this information, an editorial note on homestead vegetable cultivation, describing its importance for food and nutrition security was published in the well circulated, The Daily Ittefaq on 24 May 2008.