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As reported in The New Nation (Dhaka) on 14th February 2006, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has issued a warning to farmers about the poor quality of several imported hybrid rice varieties. The Ministry of Agriculture apparently authorised the importation of these varieties without any local tests. But recent experiments at the BRRI research stations showed that the imported hybrids were of poor quality and were not adapted to local conditions.

Problems with imported hybrids are nothing new in Bangladesh. As GRAIN reported in our update on hybrid rice in Asia last year:

The performance of hybrid rice in Bangladesh has been lacklustre at best.. A 1999 study of 173 farmers growing both hybrid rice and "high-yielding varieties" on their farms found that, while the hybrids were higher yielding, the costs of inputs were 23 percent higher. The farmers surveyed complained of high seed costs, the need for more crop care and management time, low yield gains, high pest and disease attack, low profits and lack of suitability for home consumption. Three-quarters of the farmers surveyed who tried eating the hybrid rice said that it was not suitable for their palate. A more recent study, based on interviews with 25 farmers in three districts with experience cultivating hybrid rice paints a similar picture. These farmers complained of pest problems, the "technical" management practices required, high seed costs and poor eating quality. Overall, most of the farmers consulted felt manipulated by the promotional tactics of the seed dealers and few planned to plant hybrid rice seeds again. According to Mohammed Imamuddin, an agricultural extension officer from Noakhali who was interviewed for the study, "Although we talk about higher yields, hybrid rice has many problems. The price of seeds is very high, beyond the purchasing power of small farmers. It cannot be sold in the market and the government does not purchase it either."

Yet, despite these persistent problems with imports of hybrid rice seeds, the government continues to suport their introduction.

Bangladesh: more problems with imported hybrids