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Published : 14 Jun 2026, 01:40 AM
Jute farmers across Kushtia are facing severe financial losses after sowing “adulterated and substandard” seeds supplied by the state-run Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).
While farmers claim the seeds are completely non-viable, BADC authorities have dismissed the allegations as groundless.
Local growers and entrepreneurs allege that low-priced jute seeds imported from India, reportedly intended for hatchery feed, were first stored in warehouses and later repackaged for distribution through a network involving dishonest traders and BADC officials.
The allegations have raised questions over whether Tk 18 million allocated by the agriculture ministry for jute seed procurement under agricultural rehabilitation support has been misused, and whether the government’s incentive programme has failed on the ground.
Farmers say the situation has undermined confidence in state-run agricultural input distribution, with many now turning to privately available Indian seeds.
Under the programme, the government allocated funds for the procurement of 180 tonnes of jute seeds to boost production.
However, the Kushtia seed zone reportedly collected 283 tonnes of seeds, which were later packed and distributed across several districts.
Of this, around 24.5 tonnes of seeds were returned from the Faridpur Jute Seed Division after testing showed poor germination capacity, according to an official letter signed by its Deputy Director Syed Kamrul Huq.
Monira Khatun, deputy director of BADC’s Jute Seed Division in Kushtia, rejected all complaints, saying: “The matter is being handled at higher levels. No one has the authority to question the quality of our seeds.”
The seed depot for the Kushtia zone is located in Chitla of Meherpur’s Gangni Upazila, where journalists observed inconsistencies in packaged seeds stored in the same facility.
Some bags appeared visibly different, suggesting mixing of good and poor-quality seeds.
Witnesses said that once journalists began investigating, a large quantity of seeds was allegedly dumped behind nearby bushes.
Sources say proper procedures, including certification testing through accredited agencies before processing and marketing, were not followed.
A local seed entrepreneur, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that more than 10 districts together could not produce even 50 tonnes of jute seeds, raising questions over the source of the reported 283 tonnes.
He alleged that most seeds were imported from India at low cost and later repackaged locally.
“The seeds were collected and stored first, then repackaged through a syndicate involving traders and BADC officials before being distributed to farmers,” he said.
Farmers have reported crop failure after using the seeds.
Alauddin Mandol, a farmer from Bottoil village in Kushtia Sadar, said he spent Tk 12,000 preparing one bigha (0.1338 hectares) of land, but no seedlings emerged.
“This land remained unused for the season, and I also lost my money. No farmer in this area can show that the seeds actually germinated,” he said.
Rezaul Islam, an assistant agriculture officer of Bottoil Union, also confirmed that seedlings did not emerge in fields where BADC-supplied incentive seeds were used this season.
Seed trader Rafiqul Islam of Amala Bazar in Mirpur Upazila alleged that a large syndicate is involved in seed adulteration.
“They take samples of branded seeds, get certification through agencies, then import low-quality seeds, repackage them, and attach fake certification tags before supplying them through BADC warehouses,” he said.
Social activist Karshad Alam of the Kendriya Committee of Sammilito Samajik Andolon said irregularities involving BADC seeds were not new.
He said similar complaints were raised last year regarding onion seeds, and claimed that repeated failures in monitoring have led to continued losses for farmers and misuse of public funds.
“We demand exemplary punishment for those involved after a proper investigation,” he said.
Kushtia Seed Certification Agency official AKM Kamruzzaman said the agency works to ensure quality control at all stages of seed production and distribution, and takes legal action when irregularities are found.
“We regularly identify deviations during production, processing and marketing, and take corrective and legal measures,” he said, adding that mobile courts fined around 17 organisations this year for irregular activities.
Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Md Touhid Bin Hasan said an executive magistrate has been assigned to investigate the allegations and submit a report, alongside a separate probe by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
He said action would be taken if the allegations are proven.
Meherpur Farmers Turn to Indian Seeds
Farmers in Meherpur are increasingly opting for Indian jute seeds as germination levels of seeds supplied by the BADC have reportedly fallen, prompting concerns among growers and dealers.
Seed dealers said demand for Indian varieties has risen as jute seeds from the Chitla Seed Farm in Meherpur are showing lower germination rates this season.
However, Meherpur Sadar Upazila Jute Development Officer Iman Ali claimed farmers have not been significantly affected, despite a slight decline in germination of incentive seeds.
The Chitla Seed Farm, the country’s largest government jute seed-producing facility covering around 162 hectares, is responsible for meeting nearly 60 percent of national demand and was once widely trusted for quality output.
Farmers and dealers, however, say declining seed quality and production standards have led to a loss of confidence in the state-run facility, pushing cultivators towards higher-priced imported Indian seeds.
Jute, the second most important cash crop in the district after rice, is being cultivated extensively this season due to favourable market prices.
Yet, farmers say they have had to rely on costlier Indian hybrid varieties due to the poor performance of local seeds.
Farmer Ashraful Islam of Baradi village said he cultivated jute on 10 bighas using Indian hybrid seeds after losing confidence in local varieties.
He said that despite higher input costs, profitability remains strong this season due to favourable jute and stick prices.
“Had local seeds performed well, production would have been higher,” he said, adding that Chitla Seed Farm has failed to supply quality seeds for several years.
Seed trader Hasan Ali, owner of Chougachha Jute Seed Bhandar, said he initially placed a pay order for five tonnes of government seeds but later cancelled it after learning that germination levels were low.
Following the information, he said he procured eight tonnes of Indian hybrid varieties instead, arguing that confidence in government seeds has been eroding.
Another dealer, Arman Ali of Arman Traders, said he had purchased both government and Indian seeds this season but noted that demand for imported varieties had increased.
He added that many farmers reportedly avoided government incentive seeds due to concerns over germination, though official confirmation of widespread complaints was limited.
Meherpur Sadar Upazila Jute Development Officer Iman Ali, however, said farmers had not raised strong complaints about incentive seeds.
He added that farmers are provided with required seed quantities along with fertiliser support and training in previous seasons, although this year only seeds were distributed.
No Major Complaints over BADC Seed Incentives in Chuadanga
Authorities in Chuadanga have said there are no significant complaints regarding BADC incentive jute seeds, although isolated cases of poor germination have been reported.
Farmers in some areas said germination was generally satisfactory, but delayed cultivation following maize harvest may have slightly affected crop growth in certain fields.
Farmers from Kathuli village in Sadar Upazila said they used BADC incentive seeds without major issues, though some noted possible minor yield impacts due to late sowing.
Farmer Amzad Hossain said he cultivated jute after harvesting maize, adding that late planting in May may have marginally affected yield prospects.
Another farmer, Nazmul of the same village, said seed germination was satisfactory and no major problems were observed.
Chuadanga DAE Deputy Director Masudur Rahman Sarkar said 2,200 farmers in the district received jute cultivation incentives this season, with each allocated support for one bigha of land.
He said the beneficiaries include 300 farmers in Sadar, 600 in Alamdanga, 800 in Damurhuda and 500 in Jibannagar.
BADC seed distribution officials said the incentive seeds supplied in Chuadanga were sourced from Kushtia and distributed through the DAE.
Senior Assistant Director Nazmul Hasan said no complaints from farmers had been received regarding seed quality.
Masudur Rahman added germination tests were conducted after receiving the seeds and before distribution, and claimed there were no issues in Chuadanga, saying that yields are expected to be better compared with many other districts due to earlier cultivation.
Responding to concerns about seed quality issues reported in some parts of the country, he said not all seed batches are necessarily affected, adding that Chuadanga’s allocation was of good quality.
