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Report of the Media Briefing Workshops
Addressing Barriers to Rice Seeds Trade between India and Bangladesh
(RISTE Project)
1. Background
1.1 CUTS International has implemented the RISTE project, since January 2013 in
collaboration with four partners in India and one in Bangladesh with the support from the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is being implemented in four eastern states of
India namely; Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal and in Bangladesh with the
objective ‘to develop an enabling environment to promote seeds’ trade and knowledge-
sharing on High Yielding Variety (HYV) rice seeds between India and Bangladesh.’
1.2 The project seeks to facilitate understanding of two interrelated issues: firstly, major
factors that hinder formal trade and knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and India in rice
seeds, particularly in HYV rice seeds; and secondly why is there lack of consensus among the
relevant stakeholders with regard to potential benefits and constraints relating to HYV rice
seeds’ trade and knowledge-sharing between the two countries.
1.3 The project, since its inception, has achieved several milestones. These include
identifying disabling factors that hinder trade and cooperation in rice seeds between India and
Bangladesh. Several enabling factors, which could lead to improvement in rice seeds
availability and accessibility in the two countries, have also been identified. These findings
are duly reflected in the reports and other research papers produced under the project. Major
findings and recommendations are summarised in the form of ‘Joint Communique’ and
‘Recommendatory Paper’. These could be accessed at http://cuts-citee.org/riste/Outputs.htm.
2. Media Briefing Workshops
2.1 For dissemination of major findings and outreach among the relevant policy makers,
research institutions, seed producers and traders and the end users i.e. the farmers, altogether
five media briefing workshops were organised – four in India (Aurangabad in Bihar,
Kendrapada in Odisha, Kolkata in West Bengal, and Ranchi in Jharkhand) and one in
Bangladesh (Dhaka).
Table 1: Media Briefings in India and Bangladesh
Date Partner Organisation Location
April 25, 2014 Bihar Water Development Society, Bihar Aurangabad, Bihar
April 28, 2014 Samrudhi, Odisha Kendrapada, Odisha
June 5, 2014 Mukti, West Bengal Kolkata, West Bengal
May 12, 2014 Indian Grameen Services, Jharkhand Ranchi, Jharkhand
June 28, 2014 Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh
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2.2 The approach towards the organisation of media briefing workshops is premised on the
understanding that media can potentially play an instrumental role in raising policy debate
and awareness on public policy issues, and can bring policy changes on issues, such as
formalisation of trade in rice seeds, particularly HYV. Media could also play a significant
role in ushering in a regime of cooperation and knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and
India on larger issues of agriculture development. Further, a strong association with print and
electronic media is expected to lead to an effective dissemination of the research findings,
stimulate policy debate, promote endorsement of research findings and create conducive
environment for the necessary policy and practice changes in enhancing rice seeds trade and
knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and India on larger issues of agriculture
development.
3. Objectives of Media Briefing Workshops
a. Generate awareness among local and national level media on the issue of informal
rice seeds trade between India and Bangladesh
b. Enable interaction between and among the local and national media on project
findings and its importance for Bangladesh and India and
c. Sensitise the local and national media on scope and potential of formalisation of trade
in rice seeds and knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and India.
4. Media Outreach and Participation
4.1 Five media briefing workshops at five locations drew the participation of more than 80
media persons from electronic and print media and both of regional and national languages
including English. Out of these, about 40 media channels prominently covered the event.
Media coverage can be assessed at the online RISTE webpage: http://www.cuts-
citee.org/RISTE/In_media.htm.
Table 2: Some Selected Media Channels that Covered the Workshops in India and
Bangladesh
States/Country Name of Newspaper and TV Channel
Bihar Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Rashtriya Sahara and ETV (Bihar)
Jharkhand Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Sanmarg, Dainik Bhaskar and AAJ
Odisha Suryapravah, Dharitri, Sambada, The Samaj, Samay, ETV
(Odia) and Doordarshan (Odia)
West Bengal Financial Express, Sambad Pravah, The Statesman,
Hindustan Times, Dainik Jagran, Salaam Dunia, Prabhat
Khabar, Press Trust of India and The Economic Times,
Business Standard
Bangladesh Daily Sun, Jai Jai Din, Banikborta, Janakantha, Yugantar,
Samakal, Prothom Alo
5. Media Coverage
5.1 As indicated above, nearly 40 media channels, both electronic and print, prominently
covered the media briefing workshops organised during April 25to June 28, 2014. The media
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(print and electronic) covered issues, such as flourishing of Bangladeshi rice seeds varieties
in India and vice versa; quality of rice seeds available in Bangladesh and India; barriers to
formalisation of trade and cost and the benefits therein; lack of awareness and loss of
productivity among others. A list of selected coverage is provided in Table 3. Other media
coverage can be accessed at http://cuts-citee.org/riste/In_media.htm.
Table 3: List of Selected Coverage of the Media Briefing Workshops
(Organised during 25 April to 28 June)
S. No. Media/Channel Name Title of Coverage*
1. Banikborta, June 29,
2014
11 Bangladeshi rice seeds’ varieties
flourishing in India
2. Janakantha, June 29,
2014
13 Bangladeshi rice seeds’ varieties popular
in India
3. Samakal, June 29, 2014 Barriers impacting rice seed trade
4. Yugantar, June 29,
2014
60 percent rice seeds’ low quality in
Bangladesh
5. Prothom Alo, June 29,
2014
Consultation on HYV rice seeds’ trade
between Bangladesh and India
6. Financial Express, June
06, 2014
Research proposes formal Indo-Bangla trade
in rice seeds
7. Sambad Pravah, June
06, 2014
Rice seeds trade between India and
Bangladesh affected
8. The Statesman, June 06,
2014
NGO Stresses on Bilateral Rice Trade
9. Hindustan Times, June
06, 2014
Global warming taking toll on paddy
cultivation
10. Dainik Jagran, June 06,
2014
Problem in rice seeds causes losses to farmers
11. Salaam Dunia, June 06,
2014
Benefits from Cooperation between India and
Bangladesh
12. Prabhat Khabar, June
06, 2014
Formal trade of rice seeds between India and
Bangladesh should happen
13. Press Trust of India,
June 06, 2014
Research proposes formal trade in Indo-
Bangla rice seeds
14. The Economic Times,
June 05, 2014
Research proposes formal trade in rice seeds
between India and Bangladesh
15. The Samaj, May 25,
2014
Indian farmers on the mercy of Bangladeshi
middleman
16. First News Magazine,
May 17, 2014
Informal trade surges between Bangladesh
and India
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17. Prothom Alo, May 14,
2014
Formalising Indo-Bangla rice seed trade
underscored
18. Dainik Jhagran, Ranchi,
May 13, 2014
Farmers of Jharkahnd depend on
conventional rice seeds
19. Hindustan, Ranchi, May
13, 2014
Jharkhand Lacks quality rice seeds
20. Sanmarg, Ranchi, May
13, 2014
Farmers of Jharkahd lack awareness about
quality rice seeds
21. Dainik Bhaskar,
Ranchi, May 13, 2014
Farmers of Jharkahd lack awareness about
Quality Rice Seeds
22. AAJ, Ranchi, May 13,
2014
Farmers of Jharkahd lack awareness about
quality rice seeds
23. Daily Observer, May
11, 2014
India, Bangladesh should collaborate in HYV
rice seed development
24. UNBconnect, May 10,
2014
Study stresses Indo-Bangla collaboration on
HYV rice seeds
25. Press Trust of India,
May 06, 2014
Formalise trade in rice seeds between India
and Bangladesh: Study
26. Suryaprava, April 29,
2014
Surplus seeds of farmers will be sold in
Bangladesh
27. The Samaj, April 29,
2014
Farmers surplus seeds will be used in other
countries
28. Sambada, April 28,
2014
Discussion on quality rice seeds production
29. Samay, April 28, 2014 CUTS International organised farmers
meeting
30. Dharitri, April 28, 2014 Odisha produces quality rice seeds
31. National Sahara, April
26, 2014
Quality rice seeds produced in Aurangabad
will go to Bangladesh
32. Hindustan, April 25,
2014
Crop productivity will increase
33. Dainik Jagran, April 25,
2014
Increase the production of rice: DAO
34. Press Trust of India,
April 20, 2014
India, Bangladesh need cooperation in rice
seed trade: Study
*Title of coverage in local/regional languages has been translated into English.
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6. Some Media Clippings
Daily Sun, Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 29, 2014
Nayi Duniya, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014
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Aaj, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014
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Hindustan, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014
Dainik Bhaskar, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014
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The Samaj, 29 April, 2014
Sambada, 28 April, 2014
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Janakantha, Dhaka, 29 June, 2014 Yugantar, Dhaka, 29 June, 2014
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