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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