Since the first seeds of Bt eggplant were planted in commercial fields in Bangladesh in 2014, smallholder farmers have been clamoring for access to this sustainable crop. Through the Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership, we are empowering farmers through effective seed delivery and education. With our partners in Bangladesh, we are working to boost agriculture-led growth by getting research and technology into the hands of farmers. Our goal is to sustainably increase the adoption of four previously released Bt eggplant varieties (Bt Begun 1, Bt Begun 2, Bt Begun 3, and Bt Begun 4) in Bangladesh, contributing to enhanced food security in the region.
Since 2016, with the support of the Government of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has been making Bt eggplant seed available to farmers at nominal prices through its extensive dealer network. BADC, the leading public sector seed producer in Bangladesh, sources breeder seed from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and produces foundation seed for the four Bt eggplant varieties (Bt Begun 1, Bt Begun 2, Bt Begun 3 and Bt Begun 4). The quality of the foundation seed is rigorously tested by BARI before being sold to farmers.
