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| Bangladesh Krishi Gobeshona Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bangladesh Krishi Gobeshona Foundation |
| Formation | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Dhaka |
| Region served | Bangladesh |
| Leader title | Chairman |
| Parent organization | Ministry of Agriculture |
Bangladesh Krishi Gobeshona Foundation
The Bangladesh Krishi Gobeshona Foundation is a public research funding and coordination body established to promote agricultural research and innovation across Bangladesh. It supports institutes, universities, NGOs and private partners to advance crop science, livestock, fisheries and agroforestry, linking research outputs with national programs like National Agricultural Policy and multilateral initiatives such as FAO and IFAD. The Foundation acts as a bridge among stakeholders including Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, and international centers like IRRI and CIMMYT.
The Foundation was created in the context of post-independence agricultural modernization efforts that also involved organizations like Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and Bangladesh Krishi Bank. Early phases aligned with projects funded by World Bank and Asian Development Bank and were influenced by predecessors such as the Tropical Agriculture Centre for Research and Higher Education (hypothetical) and consultative forums like meetings of SAARC agriculture ministers. In its formative years the Foundation coordinated with research stations at Mymensingh, Gazipur, Jashore and scientific bodies including Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and universities such as University of Dhaka and Chittagong University, integrating inputs from international experts linked to FAO missions and UNDP programs.
The Foundation’s mandate formalizes priorities found in instruments like the Plant Variety Protection Act-adjacent policies and sector strategies used by Ministry of Agriculture. Objectives emphasize development of resilient rice varieties via collaborations with International Rice Research Institute, diversification through partnerships with Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, and technology dissemination linked to Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee and extension networks such as Department of Agricultural Extension (Bangladesh). Other goals include strengthening human capital through fellowships at Bangladesh Agricultural University, supporting climate adaptation research in concert with ICRISAT and CGIAR centers, and fostering private sector engagement resembling models from Green Revolution-era programs.
The Foundation’s governance incorporates a board with representatives from ministries, research councils and academic institutions including Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and universities such as Jahangirnagar University and Rajshahi University. Operational divisions mirror functional units found in entities like USAID-supported projects and include program management, grants administration, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building linked to training partners such as ICAR-affiliated institutes and regional centers like SAARC Agricultural Information Centre. The Secretariat liaises with donor agencies like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and technical partners such as CIMMYT and IRRI.
Programs target staple improvement, forages, aquaculture, and post-harvest technology with thematic projects comparable to initiatives by WorldFish, ILRI, ICARDA and Bioversity International. Initiatives include competitive grant schemes modeled after Gates Foundation calls, transdisciplinary consortia with Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute, and innovation platforms similar to One CGIAR partnerships. Research themes address salt-tolerant crops in coastal zones like Khulna and Satkhira, flood-resilient varieties for Sylhet and Sunamganj, integrated pest management reflecting practices from IRRI and CABI, and gender-inclusive extension drawing from BRAC and PROSHIKA experience.
Funding combines government appropriations from Ministry of Finance (Bangladesh), competitive grants, and external support from multilateral banks such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank, bilateral donors like DFID/FCDO, and foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation. Partnerships extend to international research centers CGIAR members including IRRI, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, WorldFish and ILRI, national universities, NGOs such as BRAC and PROSHIKA, and private seed companies akin to Syngenta and regional agro-industries. Collaborative projects often involve frameworks used by UNEP and UNDP climate programs and align with Sustainable Development Goals promoted by United Nations agencies.
The Foundation has supported the release of stress-tolerant crop varieties developed in cooperation with Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and International Rice Research Institute, contributed to expansion of aquaculture productivity with partners like Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute and WorldFish, and enabled capacity building through scholarships tied to Bangladesh Agricultural University and international placements at IRRI and CIMMYT. It has helped mainstream climate-smart agriculture approaches similar to programs by CGIAR and influenced national planning instruments used by Ministry of Agriculture and Planning Commission (Bangladesh). Recognitions reflect collaborations with institutions such as Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and endorsements from donor agencies including World Bank.
Challenges include sustaining predictable funding streams akin to issues faced by National Agricultural Research Systems in other countries, navigating intellectual property norms intersecting with instruments like the UPOV Convention, strengthening data systems comparable to AGROVOC-linked platforms, and enhancing private sector uptake as seen in transitions promoted by CIMMYT and IRRI. Future directions emphasize deeper integration with regional bodies like SAARC, scaling climate adaptation research referencing IPCC assessments, expanding partnerships with philanthropic funders such as the Gates Foundation, and reinforcing linkages with higher education institutions including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and Bangladesh Agricultural University to nurture the next generation of agricultural researchers.
Category:Agricultural research in Bangladesh