BADC’s 65-Year Journey

Tahmina Rachi

The story of a stalk of rice is not only the story of one grain. It is also the story of a good seed, of getting water at the right time, and of getting the fertilizer a crop needs. It is the story of the tireless labor of farmers and, above all, of a nation’s food security. When the rice stalk sways in the farmer’s field, the silent efforts of many institutions work behind it. One of the key guides behind the scenes is the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).

It is no accident that BADC was born on a historic day, 16 October 1961. The United Nations World Food Day is also on 16 October. BADC’s work to achieve and protect food security is tied to the same thread. The aim is the same, only the scale is different. The world marks World Food Day on 16 October. So for BADC, the day is not only a founding anniversary. It is also a day to remember the wider promise of agriculture, food production, and food security.

BADC began its journey in 1961 with certain goals and aims. Over 65 years, these have grown into many dimensions. BADC now works as an agency that gives many kinds of service for the farm development of the country. It makes a key contribution by producing, storing, and distributing quality seed, by giving and expanding irrigation, and by importing and distributing fertilizer to the farmer’s doorstep.

At the time of its founding, farming in the country was held back by many limits. There was a shortage of good seed, little chance for irrigation, and too few farm inputs. These were big barriers to farm output. As the farm needs of the country grew over time, the type of farming also changed. BADC changed its work to match this change and stood beside the farmers.

A close companion in seed self reliance

In 1962 to 63, BADC began its work by supplying about 13.8 metric tons of seed. Step by step, the amount of seed it produced and supplied kept rising. In 2025 to 26, BADC produced 1.44 lakh metric tons of seed of various crops. These included rice, wheat, maize, potato, jute, pulses, spices, vegetables, and oilseeds. It also distributed 1.47 lakh metric tons of seed to farmers.

Quality seed is one of the key inputs for raising crop output. To produce good seed and give it to farmers, BADC has its own network. It has 34 seed production farms, 10 horticulture development centers, and 14 agro service centers. It also has 92 contract grower zones, 65 seed processing centers, 30 potato seed cold storages, 8 tissue culture labs, and 100 seed sales centers.

In the various contract grower zones of BADC, there are 1,05,775 contract growers. They take BADC’s seed and technical help, produce quality seed, and supply it to BADC. Through its research cell, BADC has registered 40 high yielding and promising crop varieties in its own name so far. To face the extreme effects of climate change, it also puts special stress on producing, processing, storing, and supplying seed of varieties that can bear hard conditions. These include varieties that can bear salinity, drought, and flooding.

Long experience in irrigation management

In 1961 to 62, BADC brought modern irrigation and farm mechanization to the country with 1,555 power pumps. Irrigation is very important in Bangladesh’s farming. Irrigated farming in the dry season especially helps keep the country’s food output steady. Now BADC puts special stress on water saving irrigation technology. It also stresses keeping the balance of nature and cutting irrigation costs by using more surface water and less underground water. Through various projects, BADC brought 22,000 hectares of land under irrigation, or expanded irrigation there, in the 2025 to 26 fiscal year.

BADC’s success in fertilizer management

Along with seed and irrigation, fertilizer management is closely tied to farm output. Fertilizer is one of the key inputs. From 1960 to 61, BADC began to sell fertilizer to farmers, to encourage its use, and to give training. In 1962 to 63, about 50,000 metric tons of fertilizer were distributed to farmers. Since then, BADC has run fertilizer marketing through upazila based sales centers across the country.

In the 2025 to 26 fiscal year, BADC imported 26.27 lakh metric tons of non urea fertilizer (TSP, MOP, and DAP). It distributed 24.01 lakh metric tons. In that fiscal year, BADC supplied 75.37 percent of the national need for non urea fertilizer across the country. Because BADC carries out fertilizer management, farmers can get quality fertilizer on time at the price the government sets.

A new door of chances through special steps

One key irrigation method to make the best use of surface water is to redig the existing canals and drains across the country and keep the water flowing. BADC has a bright and proud history in this work. The government has given this matter high priority. It has taken up a master plan to redig 20,000 km of canals and drains across the country in five years. Of this, the duty to redig 9,000 km has been given to BADC. As part of this, BADC finished redigging 820 km of canals and drains in the 2025 to 26 fiscal year.

Setting up solar irrigation pumps

Irrigation is a key part of farm output in Bangladesh. BADC has taken a special step to use renewable energy in farming. It aims to cut fuel costs in irrigation, reduce reliance on electricity and diesel, and ensure uninterrupted irrigation for farmers. For this, BADC has sent a project proposal to the ministry. The project is to convert existing irrigation machines into solar powered ones by using renewable solar energy.

This master plan of the government will be carried out across 349 upazilas in 56 districts of all 8 divisions of the country. Under the project, BADC will convert 50,900 existing diesel powered irrigation machines into solar irrigation machines. When the project is done, it will produce 356 megawatts of power every day. Of this, 25,000 irrigation machines will be linked to the national grid through net metering. This will save about Tk 176.40 crore every year.

Farming in a controlled environment in polysheds

As part of modern and lasting farming, BADC is building polysheds to produce safe and exportable farm products in a controlled environment. So far, 82 polysheds have been built across the country, and there is a plan to build 60 more by June 2028. In extreme cold, heat, or heavy rain, seedling production goes on inside the polysheds. This lowers the risk of growing seedlings for farmers.

This has opened a chance to grow high value vegetables, fruits, and flowers all year round. Polysheds use water saving irrigation technology, face fewer insect attacks, and bring more women into farming. So it is profitable and lasting, and it is quickly becoming popular.

On the way to self reliance in jute seed

Jute is a key cash crop closely tied to the heritage, economy, and farming of Bangladesh. As the Prime Minister directed, BADC has taken a specific four year time bound plan to produce the country’s whole jute seed need inside the country. Under this plan, work is now going on in the 2026 to 27 production season to produce 2,210 metric tons of seed.

Summer onion seed production

Onion is one of the main and essential spice crops of Bangladesh. The present government puts great stress on producing summer onion seed inside the country, so that the country can cut its reliance on imports fully and supply farmers by itself. In line with this, BADC has set a target to produce 110 metric tons of summer onion seed inside the country in the next three fiscal years. As part of this, work is now going on at various farms in the present production season to produce 40 metric tons of summer onion seed of the N 53 variety. This will be raised step by step to 100 to 110 metric tons in the 2030 to 31 production year.

More challenges ahead

Farming in Bangladesh is no longer limited to raising output. Future farming is built from all these together: safe food, climate resilient farming, water saving, farm mechanization, modern technology, better quality of farm products, and market management. The journey of BADC over more than six decades mirrors the change in Bangladesh’s agriculture.

Once, food shortage was the big challenge. Today, Bangladesh has come a long way in farm output. In this journey, farmers are the main strength. But the role of the institutions that ensure the inputs and technology farmers need cannot be denied either. Standing at the doorstep of 65 years, BADC has a proud past on one side and a future of bigger duty on the other. To make the unbroken chain that takes food from the field to the people’s plate richer and more lasting, BADC is making its work more modern and people friendly with the times.

Author: Joint Chief, Monitoring, BADC, Dhaka.