26th Session of the Asia Pacific Plant Protection Commission Country Report - BANGLADESH

Executive Summary
Bangladesh is an agrarian country and her climate favours the rapid development of various pests and diseases on crops. One of the main constraints to crop production is the pests. Estimated crop loss by pest and diseases are 10-15% annually.

The plant protection activities of the country at national level are under the Director of Plant Protection Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture. Bangladesh has to import a huge quantity of food, seeds and other plants and plant products. Annually on an average 80 lac metric tons of plants and plant products are imported through the Plant Quarantine Stations of Plant Protection Wing. On an average nine metric tons of agricultural commodities are inspected by the plant quarantine section per annum for the purpose of export and also need to issue huge number of phytosanitary certificates. With the recent introduction of some restriction by some of the European Union (EU) countries on sanitary and phytosanitary issues might have create adverse effects on the country’s exports. We are working on the issues raised by the EU. Recently we have taken a program titled “Exportable citrus and vegetable production to meet the EU requirements. We have selected some places (north-west region) of low pest prevalence area for mango production.

The existing plant quarantine legislation known as “Destructive Insects and Pests Rules, 1966 (Plant Quarantine) was framed as per provisions delineated under Sub-section (I) of Section-3, Section-5 of the Destructive Insect and Pests Act, 1914 (II of 1914). Plant Quarantine Act, 2011 has been approved by the Parliament in March, 2011.
Pest surveillance and forecasting system of the country have been upgraded recently. The infestation of Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) and Stem borer were high during last two years. Besides, outbreak of Bacterial Leaf Blight and Blast in rice crop during 2008-09 and 2009-2010 crop seasons created some threats on the total rice production in the country.

Different pest control approaches are being practiced to manage the pest incidence in the country. Among these Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is given more emphasis for the management of pests in the country. Realizing the importance of IPM, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has given due importance to it which has been reflected in the National Agricultural Policy where it is emphasized the IPM will be the main policy for controlling pests and diseases. In view of the importance of IPM in Bangladesh, a National IPM Policy has also been developed. Research institutions have developed several new IPM technologies. The research institutions are now putting emphasis on IPM particularly on bio control and non-chemicals (bio-pesticides) for pest management. They have developed package technologies on IPM for several pests. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) recently found that pheromone trap is very effective for the control of fruit flies in bitter gourd, gourd, and cucumber and also for shoot and fruit borer of egg plant. Moreover, they have developed BARI Begun (eggplant)-6 resistant to Jassid and 8 to bacterial wilt. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed BRRI Dhan 26, 31 and 35 resistant to Brown plant hopper (BPH), BRRI Dhan 28,33,43,44 and 45 to blast and BRRI Dhan 36, 37, 39 and 41 to Tungro virus. They have also developed several varieties resistant to other insects and diseases.
Couple of private companies has started rearing and marketing of parasitoids and predators in the country. Private sectors have also come forward for mass rearing and marketing of parasitoids and predators. Pesticide free vegetables and some fruits are available in the on a limited scale but marketing channel need to be developed. The Government has started thinking about the GAP particularly of exportable vegetables and fruits. Safe food production through IPM approach created a great enthusiasm among the producers and consumers under the guidance of the different Government agencies.

Several hundreds of IPM/ICM facilitators have been developed at DAE. Besides, for sustainability of IPM/ICM practices in the community, over 2000 Farmer Trainers have been developed. By September 2011, about 9,50,000 farm families will be trained on IPM/ICM but this is about 6% of the 15 million farm families. Over 10,000 IPM/ICM clubs have been formed throughout the country and these clubs started the formation of their association at union and Upazila level.

“The Pesticide (Amendment) Act,2009 and the Pesticide Rules 1985 amended up to 2010” are in force. A total of 123 generic pesticides have been registered for use in agriculture and 60 for use in public health. Total number of trade name of agricultural & public health of these pesticides is 2145. There is a Pesticide Technical Advisory Committee headed by the Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Ministry of Agriculture. Based on formulation, the Government has banned nine pesticide compounds under WHO class 1a and 1b for agricultural purposes.