Hybrid rice in Bangladesh: current status and prospects

Rice is not only the staple food, but also economic and political commodity of Bangladesh. Rice accounts for 95 percent of staple food consumption, 70 percent of energy intake, 50 percent of agricultural income, and 25 percent of consumption expenditure. Rice production is synonymous with food security in Bangladesh. Current domestic supply of rice is not sufficient for the domestic demand for rice. The addition of two million people annually, climate change causing instability in rice production, loss of 1 percent of farm land to non-farm purposes annually, degradation of land and water resources, saturation of yield frontier in rice, and fierce competition for agricultural inputs pose great challenges to the future food security of Bangladesh. More rice must be produced with less land, water, and other resources to feed the growing future population. Hybrid rice is considered as a viable technology to increase rice production and meet the future food security in Bangladesh. Current hybrid rice area is over 660,000 hectares (6% of total rice area) and it is gradually expanding. More than 65 hybrid rice varieties are grown in Bangladesh but more than 75 percent of seed demand is met from imported sources. When compared to the best inbred rice varieties, hybrid rice yield is 25-30 percent higher, cost of production is almost the same, and profitability is double. The benefit-cost ratio of 1.6 for hybrid rice indicates that it is highly profitable enterprise. Declining farm size over time, large irrigated areas, and high population density indicate good scope for expansion of hybrid rice in Bangladesh. Moreover, increasing price of rice, continuous progress in hybrid rice technology, and expanded possibilities for public-private partnerships provide new opportunities for expansion of hybrid rice production. Limited supply and high price of seed, no guarantee of quality of seed, low market demand due to poor grain quality, and high risks of pests and diseases are the main obstacles by hybrid rice production in Bangladesh. Hybrid rice, however, can play a vital role in the future food security of Bangladesh. Therefore, Bangladesh, should promote hybrid rice farming with increased investment on its research and development. Future efforts in hybrid rice research and development should focus on developing efficient seed supply system, training farmers on hybrid rice seed production, nurturing public-private relationship for development of varieties and seeds, research to reduce costs of seeds and improving grain quality, and adaptive research to evaluate suitability of hybrid rice varieties in different seasons and across different locations.