 Bangladesh
Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) completed
45 years of its establishment on 16 October 1961; BADC
was founded with the object of bringing about a break-through
n agricultural development to pave the way for achievement
of self-sufficiency in food production. It was assigned
with the specific task of procurement and supply of
'various agricultural inputs, viz, improved seeds, chemical
fertilizers and irrigation equipment to the farmers.
BADC is entrusted
with the task of multiplication, production and supply
of high-yielding varieties of seeds, BADC has 21 Seed
Multiplication Farms and 15 Contract Growers Zones for
this purpose. Later, 'Seeds are mechanically processed
in 12 Seed Processing Centers in and around the seed
production zones.
BADC has also
started promotional activities for export of vegetables
and fruits. It provides logistic support to the private
vegetable and fruit exporters in order to encourage
the export of vegetable and fruits. The Agro-Service
Centre at Kashimpur, Dhaka has become the main area
for producing vegetables for export. The growers here
are supplied with various inputs and provided with technical
know-how. Comilla Agro Service Centre has been included
in the export zone and inclusion of other ASCs are also
under active consideration.
Irrigation is the
lifeline of agriculture in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is
a land of mighty, rivers and innumerable tributaries,
heavy rainfall and recurring floods. Yet, irrigation
plays a vital role in this country for half of the year
when water scarcity seriously handicaps farming operation.
BADC is responsible
for supply and operation of various irrigation equipments,
viz, low-lift pumps and tube wells. Mechanised irrigation
was first introduced in this country in 1951 with the
operation of three low-life pumps in haor areas. After
its establishment, BADC took over the responsibility
of irrigation through low-lift pumps or what is popularly
called power pumps. Since then big strides have been
made by BADC in popularising low-lift pumps throughout
the country.
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