Revisiting Agricultural Innovation Systems for Commercialization and Efficiency in Bangladesh: Learning from Asian Countries

The document delves into Bangladesh’s agricultural research system, studying its organization, difficulties, and required improvements.

In 1909, the initiative for agricultural research in Dhaka was launched to benefit Bengal and Assam, but it took until 1960 to establish a formal institution. Since that time, it has significantly influenced the country’s food security, poverty reduction, and embrace of the green revolution. Challenges such as climate change, resource degradation, and low returns to growers persist without competitive market mechanism. The private sector is emerging in seed, chemical, mechanization and public research faces threat of less competitive.

Across the country, 12 research institutes have been at the forefront of the system. These institutions specialize in researching commodities like Rice, Jute, Wheat, Sugarcane, and others. The year 1972 marked the beginning of institutions separating into autonomous bodies, which paved the way for the rise of institutes with exceptional research abilities and working conditions. Researchers with advanced degrees moved on from their university positions and join autonomous for incentives and research environment. However, the trend today differs from before for many reasons. Even after many decades, there has been little innovation in the institutional landscape, leading to lower productivity. Some commodity research is becoming less competitive compared to the market advantage.

The system’s uniqueness lies in its program development through priority setting and multiple layers of review, from regional to national levels. BARC, founded in 1973, provided advisory services and coordinated research activities. National Agricultural Research System (NARS) is formulated in 1996 with a complicated arrangement involving multiple ministries. International partnerships have been crucial for germplasm and knowledge services. Today, the NARS is experiencing various challenges that are affecting its overall performance and production environment.

The BARC governing body is possibly the highest body in the country, includes ministers, secretaries, extension agencies, universities, including a member of parliament and others. However, the governing body could not implement decisions without approval of individual ministry, which involves a lengthy process.

Lack of career advancement, fewer service benefits, and the politicization of research institutions demoralizes many researchers. In 2013, authorities made efforts to incentivize scientific professionals for their merit through promotions, pensions, and other service benefits, but never implemented. As a result, a threatening trend is visible of scientists, leaving the research for other jobs.

Technology Commercialization

Most of the countries are strengthening with the changing local and global demands in institutional management. Countries are establishing institutions for agro technology commercialization as they shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture, focusing on developing rural agro-enterprises that engage youth and women. The Intellectual Property and Technology Management (IPTM) Unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in India, operated by Agrinnovate Ltd., facilitates technology commercialization as a public-owned company. It acts as a link between research institutions and private sector stakeholders. Indonesia’s IP and Technology Transfer Management Office (IPTTMO) facilitates the commercialization of innovations from Indonesia’s agricultural research system. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC)’s Agrotech Company (Pvt) Limited (PATCO) as an innovative Product Marketing Company are examples of technology commercialization.

Towards public-private partnership (PPP) for attracting more investors into agriculture mechanization in the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines, PHilMech’s Industrial Promotion Program (PIPP) encourages the commercialization and utilization of improved designs of post-harvest equipment. All these commercialization programs operate through an administrative manual. This incentivizes professional from innovation products and services.

Research System in Asia

The document examines agricultural research systems in South and Southeast Asia, showcasing successful practices/innovation in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. There is a mixed model of governance through council or government department, or both. 

ICAR, India is considered a global model because it closely connects to the Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare through the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE). DARE manages research efforts throughout the country. Director General of the ICAR society is equally Secretary of the government (DARE), a unique example of institutional innovation. The structure of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) includes a unified service rule that applies across hundreds of institutions and directorates.

The Scientists Recruitment Board recruits’ scientists independently and has introduced the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) to encourage competent scientists to advance beyond vacancy-based promotions. Research management positions are tenurial designated for DG, DDG, director and managerial assignments.

Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) conduct technology assessment, demonstration, and capacity development, while Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) serve as the primary agricultural extension with universities and NGOs (800 in total). It is a good example of research-extension linkage.

All India Coordinated Research Project is a collaborative research project involving multiple stakeholders to tackle various complex research topics such as irrigation, mechanization, pulses, and oilseed development etc.

PARC operates autonomously under the Ministry of Food Security and Research. It is a federal organization with multiple research institutes, the largest being the National Agricultural Research Center, which includes 14 institutes in the capital and regional institutions. PARC scientists receive the same benefits as federal government employees, along with other incentives.

The Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) in Punjab is a government department within the Ministry of Agriculture that conducts provincial research, like other provincial institutes. The Department of Agriculture in Sri Lanka conducts research and extension with multiple crop-based institutes under one leadership. 

Thailand’s Department of Agriculture researches crops and farm mechanization under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The constituent agencies include Horticulture Research Institute, Rubber Research Institute and Agricultural Engineering Research Institute. In 2009, the former Rice Research Institute was upgraded as Rice Department.

The Post-harvest Technology Innovation Center aims to enhance the country’s global competitiveness through advancements in post-harvest technology knowledge as a “Center of Excellence.” It is based in the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University.

Agricultural Research and Development Agency (ARDA) is the primary organization responsible for coordinating and funding research staff within MOAC’s departments. Civil Servants Commission manages human resources and supervising the recruitment of agricultural researchers.

Indonesia is shifting its research to be overseen by National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), similar to Australian model. It reports to the president of Indonesia. Former Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD) under the Ministry of Agriculture had been the largest government organization.  There are 59 institutes under IAARD umbrella and scattered to 27 branches.

Different departments (Ministries) primarily organize the agri researches in the Philippines, such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in agro research. The DA, overseen by the secretary, works with the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) to ensure the conduct of all agricultural research. Included in the corporations are the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippines Fisheries Development Authority, National Dairy Authority, are government corporate entity attached to the DA. Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) is a sectoral council under the DOST, serves as the top organization in the national agricultural research system.

Strengthening Bangladesh research system

Several attempts to reform BARC and NARS in Bangladesh, focusing on restructuring for improved efficiency and accountability, have failed. The BARC act of 2012 suggests using expert reviews to allocate research resources in order to improve coordination and accountability, based on successful approaches in South Asian countries. However, the implementation is still pending without framing guideline.

There has been a proposal to standardize unified service rules in all agricultural research institutes by revising the legal framework for autonomous institutes under the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh. This would establish a standard for HR management and ownership creation among NARS members. Independent Recruitment Committee for scientists for NARS would address the inconsistencies in service rules across the institutes as practiced in Asian countries.

By introducing of performance-based promotions and offering rewards to outstanding scientists, can keep talent. The current service rule in autonomous institutions that supports exceptional scientists, akin to supernumerary positions in other service cadres, needs to be activated. A potential example could be ICAR in India according to the UGC process. The introduction of a research grant in Pakistan may be viewed as a method to nurture talent. Other service benefit like other public service should immediately implemented as proposed and approved before.

Reintroducing the position of national and emeritus scientist (awarded to four scientists in 1982) could help harness retired and able talents.

The governing body needs to be operational in order to create policies and implement. The suggestion is to enhance international cooperation by establishing a dedicated unit within NARS/BARC.

In 2007, the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) was established as an independent company under the Company Act to ensure sustainable funding and operational procedures. Public, private organizations, NGOs, or individuals can take part in it with an independent board of directors. It is also for creating research enabling the environment with an endowment fund and considered as an opportunity for AR4D.  KGF relies on an endowment investment and did not receive additional funds to address critical and emerging agendas. The lack of democratic norms and elite capture seem evident that hinders its development (website not updated until 2020). It needs a careful review of governance to create further opportunity for technology commercialization, IPR management, policy and socio-economic research, skill enhancement, private sector participation, market management, gender participation and so on.

By drawing on insights from other Asian countries and concentrating on institutional advancements, Bangladesh can enhance its agricultural research system to tackle evolving issues in nutritional security, food system transformation, sustainability, and climate resilience. Lastly, retention of knowledge and skill should remain the primary focus of the innovation system.

We are currently living in a world with rapid transformations and innovations. The primitive ideas and technicalities of cultivating have gone outdated around one hundred years ago. For this reason it is more than vital now to familiarize our agricultural scientists, researchers, academic scholars and farmers with the latest developments in the arena of agriculture. Acquiring this knowledge is no big deal in the present era because everything is just a click away.

Another essential point is giving enough space to our youths who are associated with research and innovation. A major drawback in under developed countries like ours is lethargic and elderly officials or policymakers stuffed with Old School concepts don’t allow young boys and girls to proceed. Artificial barriers are often contrived to obstruct qualified youths from holding key posts. Bangladesh must get rid of this detrimental colonial hangover if we are really serious about moving forward.


Wais Kabir, PhD is former
Executive Chairman,
Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Council.