Vegetable Research, Seed Production & Marketing Activities in BRAC

-Presented ByDr. Sitesh Chandra Biswas

Introduction• BRAC started agriculture activities

during the year 1972 through homestead vegetable gardening.

• Initially vegetable seeds were distributed to ‘group members’ collecting from BADC and open market sources.

• Poor availability of quality seeds was limiting factor for vegetable cultivation.

• Organized seed production started in 1996 with marketing facilities.

Objectives To provide food security and adequate

nutrition to the small and low income groups. Generating income opportunities to increase

the purchasing power of the poor peoples. Eradication of poverty and ensuring nutritional

security. Reducing dependency for quality seeds on

foreign companies and saving foreign money. Ensuring the supply of quality seeds to the

farmers in proper time and facilitating commercial agriculture.

Vegetable Production & Consumption in Bangladesh

Vegetable Cultivated Area 0.278 million ha

Vegetable Production 2.50 million tons

Present Consumption 80 g/day/person

Recommendation 220 g/day/person

Requirement (as per recommendation)

11.24 million ton

Production has to be increased (as per recommendation)

5 times more than the Present production

(Source: BBS, 04)Vegetable Seed Status in Bangladesh

Seed requirement 2652 MT

Quality seed production 791.4 MT (29.84%)

Imported 410 MT (15.46%)

Farmers retained seed (Poor quality)

1450.6 MT (54.70%)

Target crops• We are dealing with 30 different types of

vegetable crops including fruiting vegetables, leafy & salad vegetables, podded vegetables, stem & bulb vegetables, root & tuber vegetables etc.

Fruiting vegetables

Leafy & salad vegetables

Podded vegetables

Stem & bulb vegetables

Western brassicas

Root & tuber vegetables

Okra, pumpkin,cucumber, bitter gourd,bottle gourd,ridged gourd, ash gourd, snake gourd etc.

Spinach,pechay, red amaranth, leaf mustard,kang kong,prince shak etc.

Yard long bean, country bean, mung bean etc.

Stem amaranth, onion etc.

Cauliflower & cabbage etc.

Radish, carrotsetc.

Major Activities

• Variety Development

• Variety Screening

• Generation of New Technologies

• Maintenance of Parents &

• Grow out Trial

Released Hybrid and OP Varieties Hybrid varieties:

Sl. No. Crop No. of Varieties

01 Tomato 3

02 Brinjal 3

03 Bitter gourd 1

04 Ridge gourd 1

05 Bottle gourd 1

06 Pumpkin 1

07 Okra 1

Total 11

OP varieties:

Sl. No. Crop No. of Varieties

01 Radish 1

02 Cucumber 1

03 Spinach 1

Total 3

Promising Hybrid and OP Varieties:

Sl. No. Crop No. of Varieties

01 Tomato (Hybrid) 1

02 Brinjal (Hybrid) 1

03 Bottle gourd (Hybrid) 1

04 Ridge gourd (Hybrid) 1

05 Spinach (OP) 1

Total 5

Tomato - Tripti-02Characteristics:

It is a determinate, heat tolerant and early type hybrid.

Fruits are high round and have shining red color.

Average fruit weight 70-80g .

Yield per acre 20 - 22 tons (50 - 55 tons/ha).

Fruit harvest starts from 60-65 days after transplanting.

Fruits are firm, fleshy, tasty and suitable for distant transportation.

Tolerant to leaf curl virus and bacterial wilt.

It can also be cultivated in the summer season as summer tomato as well.

Hybrid Varieties

Bitter Gourd – BulbuliCharacteristics:This hybrid variety is a prolific bearer.

Fruits are very fleshy, solid & have moderate bitterness taste .

Fruit protuberances are slightly blunt, hence fruits usually do not suffer from injury during transportation.

Glossy green coloured fruit and average fruit weight is 225-250g.

Fruit harvest starts from 50-55 days after transplanting.

Yield per acre is 10-12 tons.

Bottle Gourd – Green SuperCharacteristics:It is also a high yielding variety.

Fruits are attractive deep green coloured with white spots and very tasty.

Average fruit weight is 2.5-3.0 kg.

Fruit harvest starts from 60-65 days after seed sowing.

Fruit length is around 45-50 cm.

It is a profuse bearer and yield per acre is 20- 25 tons.

Pumpkin – Beauty

Characteristics:It is a high yielding F1 hybrid variety.

Fruit color is blackish green at young stage and brown at the ripening stage.

Fruits are solid and the flesh is yellow coloured.

Very tasty at both green and ripening stage.

Average fruit weight is 4.0 - 5.0 kg at maturity.

Yield per acre is 20 - 25 tons.

Hybrid Okra – EvergreenCharacteristics:Evergreen is an early and high yielding F1 hybrid.Fruit angular type and deep green colored.The flesh is soft and very tasty.No. of fruits per plant is around 40-45.Fruit harvest starts from 45-50 days after sowing.Yield per acre 9- 10 tons.This hybrid is tolerant to yellow vain mosaic virus disease.

Hybrid Brinjal - Surobhi

• Characteristics: • Medium size and robust type plants. • Fruits are medium long (20-

22 cm), and blackish purple in color.

• Fruit harvest starts from 65-70 days after transplanting.

• Average fruit weight is 140 – 150g.

• Yield per acre 30- 35 tons.• This hybrid is tolerant to

bacterial wilt and brinjal shoot and fruit borer.

Hybrid Brinjal – Giant Green

• Characteristics:• Bushy type robust plant.• Oval shaped fruits are green

coloured with white tints.• The flesh is soft and very

tasty.• Fruits harvest starts from 65-

70 days after transplanting.• Average fruit weight is 175 –

200g.• Yield per acre 22- 25 tons.• This hybrid is tolerant to

bacterial wilt and brinjal shoot and fruit borer.

Hybrid Cucumber – Bijoy

Characteristics:• It is an extra early type

hybrid. • Attractive green colored

fruit. • Fruits are uniform, fleshy and

tasty.• Average fruit weight is 200-

250 g.• Harvest starts from 40-45

days after sowing.• Fruit length 18-20 cm .• Prolific bearer and yield per

acre is 20-25 tons.

Hybrid Cabbage KE-739

Characteristics:• It is a high yielding and mid

season variety.• Heads are uniform, very

compact, flattened round shaped and very tasty.

• Average head weight is 2.00-2.50 kg.

• Harvest starts from 70-75 days after transplanting.

• Yield per acre is 20-25 tons.

Cucumber –Sufala-01

Characteristics: It is an early type & high

yielding variety. Average fruit weight is

200-250 g. Harvest starts from 45-

50 days after sowing. Average fruit length is

20-25cm. Profuse bearing and

yield per acre is 8-10 tons.

Spinach –Sufala-01

Characteristics:

It is a quick growing and improved spinach variety.

Green colored, thicker, larger, soft and fleshy leaf.

Harvest starts from 30-35 days after sowing.

It is a late bolting and year round variety.

Yield per acre is 5-6 tons.

OP Varieties

Radish –Sufala-40Characteristics:•Sufala-40 is a high yielding, year round and heat tolerant variety.

• Roots are attractive white colored (20-25 cm. long) and have no mishappen roots.

•Roots are straight & very much uniform in size; harvest starts from 40-45 days after seed sowing.

•Roots are tasty and have mild pungency; leaves can also be used as vegetable.

•Yield per acre is 20-24 tons.

Development of Uncommon Varieties

1. Development of ornamental type okra or red okra.

2. Development of red spinach.

3. Development of yellow seeded mung bean.

4. Development of summer country bean.

5. Development of red yard long bean.

Characteristics: 1. It is a dual purpose vegetable crop, since it has decorative value.2. Robust type plant and has attractive red colored fruit, stem, petioles & leaf veins. 3. The flesh is soft, very tasty and has nutritive value (carotene & anthocyanin) as well.4. No. of fruits per plant is 25-30. 5. Fruit harvest starts from 50-52 days after seed sowing.6. Yield per acre 7- 8 tons.7. This hybrid is relatively tolerant to yellow vein mosaic virus disease.

Hybrid Red Okra

Red Spinach Characteristics: 1.This is a quick growing and high yielding advance line.2. Leaf, stem, roots, petioles as well as veins are red colored. 3. Leaves are thick, larger, soft and fleshy.4. Harvest starts from 30-35 days after sowing.5. It is a late bolting line and yield per acre around 5-6 tons.6. Anthocyanin, carotene & iron reach advance line.

Nutrient analysis in okra & spinachTable.1. Analysis of micronutrients in green & red okra.

SampleName

Ca(%)

Mg(%)

K(%)

P(%)

S(%)

B(µg/gm)

Fe(µg/gm)

Zn(µg/gm)

ß-caro-tene(mg/100gm)

Brix value

TotalN (%)

Greenokra

0.21 0.10 0.19 0.66 0.17 79.00 144.50 46.00 *0.17 4.00 3.33

Red okra

0.21 0.11 0.19 0.65 0.21 74.50 129.50 28.50 1.48 6.00 3.15

Table. 2. Analysis of micronutrients in green & red spinach.

SampleName

Ca(%)

Mg(%)

K(%)

Fe(ppm)

Zn(ppm)

ß-caro-tene(mg/100gm)

Green spinach

2.74 0.96 2.72 251.00 64.20 15.69

Red spinach

2.29 1.05 3.26 372.00 60.00 19.67

Yellow Seeded Mungbean

1. Uncommon, golden yellow coloured short duration improved line (crop duration 57- 58 days).2. Almost synchronized fruit ripening and fruits can be harvested through 2 pickings. 3. Uncommon attractive golden yellow coloured seed. 4. Tolerant to major diseases (MMV & CLS).5. Insensitive to seasonal influence and can be grown throughout the year.6. Good cooking quality and less turmeric is required for making cooked products ( Dal, Khichuri etc.) and its preparations are very tasteful.

Table 2. Studies on yield related characters of 3 different varieties of mungbean (Kh-2’2011).

VarietyDays taken to crop matu-rity

Plant hei-ght/plant(cm)

No. of bran-ches/plant

No. of pod clus-ters/plant

No. of pod/clus-ter

Total no. of pods/plant

Pod length/pod(cm)

Yield/ha(tons)

Seedreco-very(%)

Virus inci-dence(%)

YS-1 62.00 41.18 1.5 4.4 5.4 21.90 7.60 1045.00 65.22 5.43

BARI-5 70.00 47.91 1.10 5.0 5.20 21.0 8.50 691.00 38.42 6.06

BINA-7 74.00 50.25 3.60 7.7 7.10 28.90 6.30 544.00 52.31 17.70

Note. Yield of YS-1 was found to be 51.23% greater than BARI-5 & 92.09% than BINA-7.

Table. Determination of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sulphur, Boron, Zinc & Iron content in the 3 mungbean varieties.

Sample ID

Ca Mg K S B Zn Fe

% ppm

YS-1 0.895 0.415 1.345 0.330 23.700 32.940 154.590

BARI-5 0.940 0.405 1.130 0.380 23.100 30.000 148.140

BINA-7 0.670 0.320 1.015 0.300 24.300 28.050 161.100

Remarks - thanBARI-5 & + thanBINA-7

+ thanbothBARI-5 &BINA-7

+ thanbothBARI-5 &BINA-7

-than BARI-5but +thanBINA-7

+ than BARI-5- thanBINA-7

+ thanbothBARI-5 &BINA-7

+ thanBARI-5 but –thanBINA-7

Yard Long Bean (Red)Yard Long Bean (Red)CharacteristicsCharacteristics•High yielding improved type variety.High yielding improved type variety.•Prolific bearer, red coloured fruits.Prolific bearer, red coloured fruits.•High seedling vigour and stronger High seedling vigour and stronger vines with broad deep green leaves.vines with broad deep green leaves.•Profuse fruiting and good uniformity Profuse fruiting and good uniformity in fruit size and shape.in fruit size and shape.•Thicker fruit pulp and solid fruits; Thicker fruit pulp and solid fruits; hence the fruits are fleshy.hence the fruits are fleshy.•Virus tolerant variety and can be Virus tolerant variety and can be grown throughout the year.grown throughout the year.•Tolerant to major diseases.Tolerant to major diseases.•Wet tolerant variety and relatively Wet tolerant variety and relatively tolerant to leaf miner attack.tolerant to leaf miner attack.• Fruits have increased shelf life.Fruits have increased shelf life.

Summer Country Bean

Characteristics•These are year round and heat tolerant lines.•Green & greenish purple fruit color and fruit length is 8-10 cm.•Harvest starts from 60-65 days after sowing and fruit can be harvested for a longer period (6 months). •Tolerant to major diseases and pests.•Yield per acre 5-6 tons.

Coloured Vegetables (sources of different phytonutrients & their health benefits)

Colour Nutrients Sources Health Benifits

Red Lycopene, ellagic acid & anthocyanins.

Beets, onions (red), potatoes (red), peppers (red), radishes, tomatoes.

Maintain heart health, memory function, urinary tract health, lower the risk of some types of cancer.

Blue & Purple

Health promoting phytonutrients such as polyphenols & anthocyanins & powerful anti oxidants.

Asparagus (purple), cabbage (purple), carrots (purple), egg plant (purple), peppers (purple), potatoes (purple-fleshed).

Gives extra protection against some types of cancer & urinary tract infections, help boost brain health & vision.

Yellow & Orange

Varying amount of antioxidants such as Vit. C as well as other phyto-nutrients, including carotenoids and bioflavonoids.

Beets (yellow), carrot, sweet corn, peppers (yellow), potatoes (yellow), pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, tomatoes (yellow).

May help promote heart & vision health and a healthy immune system, they may also help to ward off cancer.

Contd.Green Varying amount of potent

phytochemicals such as lutein & Indoles as well as other nutrients.

Beans (green), broccoli, cabbage(Chinese), cabbage(green), celery, cucumber, Chayote squash, greens (leafy), leeks, lettuce, okra, onions (green), peas (green), peppers (green), spinach.

Lower the risk of cancer, improve eye health, keep the bones and teeth strong.

White/ Tan/ Brown

Allicins Cauliflower, corn (white), garlic, ginger, kohlrabi, mushrooms, onions, potatoes(white-fleshed), turnips.

Play a role in heart health by helping you maintain healthy cholesterol levels and may lower the risk of some type of cancer.

Generation of New Technologies

• Cut -and- come-again practice• Cloning technique• Growing vegetables in the off-

season under polythene tunnel.

Cut –and- come- again Practice in Spinach

Contd.

Contd.

Contd.

Cloning in F1 hybrid Kang kong

Contd.

Contd.

Contd.

Pot Cultivation of Kang kong.

Jute mallow (Prince shak)Characteristics:

It is a hardy type leafy vegetable and can be easily cultivated during the rainy season.Very much similar to jute plants and can be used as an alternative to jute leaves.Its leaves are tasty and can be harvested from 25-30 days after seed sowing.Prince shak can be cultivated almost throughout the year.Very easy to grow and can also be propagated through stem cutting.

Off –Season Vegetable Cultivation

Contd.

Off –Season Vegetable Cultivation

Maintenance of Parents & Grow out trial

• Parents of the hybrid varieties are being maintained for ensuring the supply of good quality vegetable seeds.

• After the production of hybrid seeds each samples are critically examined through grow out trial.

Research Strategy

Short Term Strategies.

Long Term Strategies.

Short Term Strategy

Variety Screening.

Improvement of Local Varieties.

Generation of New Technologies.

Long Term Strategies

Development of New Good Quality Improved Varieties (both F1 Hybrid & OP Varieties).

Development of off-season varieties (Summer tomato & C. Bean).

Development of Nutrient Rich Varieties. Development of Short Duration Varieties. Generation of New Techniques of Vegetable

Cultivation.

Research Constraints

Poor availability of innovative germplasm. Limited land area for conducting research in

the rainy season. No permanent shade house for conducting

research in the monsoon season. Absence of laboratory facilities for nutrient

analysis.

Variety Screening

• Imported seeds of Cole crops & Hybrid varieties of other crops are identified & recommended for marketing.

• Best varieties of reputed companies are collected & adaptive trial experiments are conducted.

• Trial experiments are also conducted in other farms as well.

• Suitable varieties are chosen for marketing.

Trial experiments of some vegetable crops(2011-2012)

• Variety screening trial of cabbage.

• Variety screening trial of cauliflower.

• Performance trial experiment of cucumber.

• Performance trial of coriander varieties.

Variety Screening of CabbageSl.no.

Variety 1st harves-ting (days)

Final harves-ting(days)

Crop Dura-tion(days)

Yield/acre(MT)

Remarks

1 Rare Ball 64 78 107 18.20 Early season typevariety

2 Green Coronet

76 94 123 23.13 Mid season typevariety

3 Advanta-1303

62 79 108 21.22 Early season typevariety

4 KE-739 75 93 122 29.69 Mid season typevariety

5 Tropic Sun Plus

71 82 111 26.26 Mid season typevariety

6 KA-780 59 72 101 20.54 Early season typevariety

Variety Screening of CauliflowerSl.no.

Variety 1st harves-ting (days)

Final harves-ting(days)

Crop dura-tion(days)

Yield/acre(MT)

Remarks

1 Advanta-413

47 57 87 15.20 Mid season typevariety

2 White marble

47 58 88 15.02 Early season typevariety

3 White snow

54 63 93 19.78 Late season typevariety

4 TropicalEleven

51 61 91 19.15 Mid season typevariety

5 Advanta-403

43 56 86 13.08 Extra early season typevariety

6 Advanta-410

48 59 89 15.76 Early season typevariety

Variety Screening of CucumberVari-ety

Mainvinelength

No. of br./plant

Totalfr/plant

Fr. wt./fruit

1st

picking(days)

Yield/acre(Kg)

Remarks

CV18 193.30 5.33 5.00 167.00 34.00 2338.00 Bitter taste

CV21 148.00 6.00 7.00 97.00 34.00 1086.40 Small size fruits

CV31 165.00 5.50 4.00 115.00 36.00 1833.00 Virus susceptible

CV80 180.00 6.00 4.00 168.00 36.00 1881.00 Good variety

CV88 185.00 5.67 5.67 180.00 37.00 2852.00 Good variety

CV93 200.00 7.00 6.50 228.67 34.00 2850.00 Best variety

Alavy(Check)

180.00 6.00 4.00 178.00 37.00 1993.00 Lal Teer Seed

Performance Trial of 3 Coriander Varieties

Variety Days taken to1st harv-esting

Plant height(cm)

Plant spread-ing(cm)

Length of leaves(cm)

Width of leaves(cm)

Plant wt./plant(g)

Yield/acre(tons)

Remarks

Ramses(Check )

32.00 24.80 22.30 20.20 6.30 18.50 2.20 Lal Teer Variety

SungroSeeds(Check )

32.00 24.40 22.60 24.80 11.80 19.60 2.35 Good variety

GreenAroma

30.00 24.30 25.70 26.80 12.00 20.20 2.54 Best variety

Vegetable Seed production (MT)

Crop 07 08 09 10 11

Vegetable Seeds (OP) 35 41 53 85 19.00

Vegetable Seeds

(Hybrid )2.36 5.25 3.27 3.60 2.00

Vegetable Seed Production Contract Growing Areas

Sl. No.

Location No. of Farmers Area ( Acres)

01 Meherpur Sador 142 102.24

03 Chuadanda Sador 57 31.35

05 Birgong Sador 35 28.18

06 Birol Sador 30 17.18

07 Thakurgaon Sador 86 49.02

Total 350 227.97

Seed Production Target for the Year

2011-2012.

Hybrid(MT)

OP(MT)

Total(MT)

No. of farmers

Land(acres)

2.85 54.60 57.45 360.00 290.00

Problems Usually Faced During Seed Production

Unusual weather conditions.

Farmers do not allow grading process.

Farmers are shifting to other high value crops.

Sometimes seed purchasing rate is lower compared to other companies.

Varieties marketed by BRAC:

Imported Vegetable Seed

Imported SeedCauliflower, Cabbage, Carrot, Turnip, Watermelon and Cucumber

Sl. No. Sources of origin

No. of Varieties

01 Own variety 14

02 BARI 4

03 BADC 6

04 Exotic 8

Marketing Issues

Seed market is now very competitive.

Higher production cost.

Lack of adequate no. of suitable varieties.