Ban Glade

BANGLADESH: COUNTRY REPORT TO THE FAO INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
(Leipzig 1996)
Prepared by: M. Sujayef Ullah Chowdhury Dhaka, April 1995
BANGLADESH country report
Note by FAO
This Country Report has been prepared by the national authorities in the context of the preparatory process for the FAO International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, Leipzig, Germany, 17-23 June 1996. The Report is being made available by FAO as requested by the International Technical Conference. However, the report is solely the responsibility of the national authorities. The information in this report has not been verified by FAO, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of FAO. The designations employed and the presentation of the material and maps in this document do not imply the expression of any option whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Table of contents
FOREWORD PREFACE CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO BANGLADESH AND ITS AGRICULTURE CHAPTER 2 INDIGENOUS PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
2.1 FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES 2.2 MEDICINAL PLANTS 2.3 OTHER WILD SPECIES AND WILD RELATIVES OF CROP PLANTS 2.4 LANDRACES (FARMERS VARIETIES) AND OLD CULTIVARS
5 7
10
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19 22 22 22
CHAPTER 3 NATIONAL CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

3.1 IN SITU CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES 3.2 EX SITU COLLECTIONS 3.3 EX SITU FIELD CONSERVATION AND FIELD GENEBANK FOR FOREST SPECIES 3.4 IN VITRO CONSERVATION 3.5 STORAGE FACILITIES 3.6 DOCUMENTATION 3.7 EVALUATION AND CHARACTERIZATION 3.8 REGENERATION 3.9 FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES
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30 32 40 42 42 47 48 51 51
CHAPTER 4 IN-COUNTRY USES OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES

4.1 USE OF PGR COLLECTIONS 4.2 CROP IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES AND SEED DISTRIBUTION 4.3 USE OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES
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54 58 59
4.4 BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE USE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES 4.5 IMPROVING PGR UTILIZATION
59 60
CHAPTER 5 NATIONAL GOALS, POLICIES, PROGRAMMES AND LEGISLATION

5.1 NATIONAL PROGRAMMES 5.2 TRAINING 5.3 NATIONAL LEGISLATION 5.4 OTHER POLICIES
62
62 64 66 67
CHAPTER 6 INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

6.1 UNITED NATIONS INITIATIVES 6.2 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTRES
68
68 71
CHAPTER 7 NATIONAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

7.1 OPPORTUNITIES 7.2 NATIONAL NEEDS
77
77 78
CHAPTER 8 PROPOSALS FOR A GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2 APPENDIX 3 APPENDIX 4 APPENDIX 5 APPENDIX 6
References
79 80 83 88 92 103 105
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Foreword
The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) is pleased to make this document available to those who are interested in conservation and use of plant genetic resources. We, in Bangladesh, see this problem in the context of developing agricultural production systems capable of providing adequate food, clothing, and shelter to a population that is expected to double in the next 35 to 40 years. It is difficult to comprehend that the existing agricultural production systems, resting on a few high-yielding varieties, would be robust enough and would tolerate the enormous strain on resource bases that the enhanced demand would entail. Ours is a risk-prone country. This means that gone are the days when we could afford to rank superiority of cultivars only in terms of high yield. Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses like insects, diseases, weeds, drought, waterlogging, salinity are some of the issues that would dominate research agenda in future. Developing genetically manipulated / engineered plants, capable of withstanding stresses and at the same time cost-effective and environment friendly, would only be possible if we could identify, isolate, and insert into target plants the appropriate gene(s). Old cultivars, landraces, wild relatives of crop plants or even alien plant genetic resources are the repository of those genes. There are, however, hard realities that extend far beyond biological constraints. The recently adopted GATT/WTO accords require countries to adopt one or the other kind of intellectual property rights for plants and micro-organisms, and allow signatory states to seek retribution from states that pirate technology patented in other countries. For the developing countries the message is clear. They have, thus far, been generous in giving away their plant genetic resources to others including developed countries, without even thinking that these natures gifts are worth for charging payments. It is these genetic resources that biotechnology firms in developed countries may now be putting into use to produce genetically engineered plants. Patenting those plants mean that developing countries may be required to pay for the value added to the same raw material procured at practically no cost. The rules of the game here may seem unfair. But this is a warning, to developing countries, of what may follow if they do not learn to value the treasure of bountiful plant genetic resources that Mother Nature has endowed them with.
We are probably witnessing the dawn of an era when privatization in the name of protecting property rights will increasingly push back the spirit of international collaboration in the use of plant genetic resources, and to develop improved varieties in the common interest of fighting poverty and malnutrition globally. Limitations of access to advanced plant genetic material implies that developing countries will now have to be vigilant in recording their plant genetic resources, conserving them, using them, and above all, they will have to learn and understand the true market value of their genetic resources. BARC hopes that this document, the first of its kind produced in the country, will prove useful in creating an awareness about the importance of protecting plant genetic resources and conserving species biodiversity, the basic building material for producing new types of crops to meet unprecedented demands for food, fibre, and fuel in future.
M. Sujayet Ullah Chowdhury Executive Vice Chairman Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Dhaka
Preface
The Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 helped create a new global awareness about collection and conservation of plant genetic resources (PGR). PGR conservation has assumed a high priority, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh, following the new GATT/WTO accords. Bangladesh is an abode of 5,000 plant species and is the secondary centre of origin of many plant species, including a large number of cultivated plants. In the past, Bangladesh did not accord enough emphasis on conservation of its plant genetic wealth. The access to abundant plant genetic diversity will be the key to human survival. If diversity goes, we will soon follow - this is more applicable to Bangladesh where genetic erosion is occurring rather fast and conservation efforts are weak. Three institutions in Bangladesh maintain genebanks: the Bangladesh Rice research Institute (BRRI); the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI); and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Activities of these genebanks are confined to crop plants, these institutes are mandated to deal with. There is a large number of plant species that are uncared for and are subject to extinction due to rapid population increase, urbanization, deforestation and various development projects. We have already lost some of our valuable landraces. Already 45 plant species of the country are on the verge of extinction. There is only about 5 per cent forest cover left. Ecological risks will multiply if we cannot improve forest covers; foods from plants will be scarce if we cannot develop improved varieties using genetic diversity. All these warrant conservation and utilization of our plant genetic resources before they become extinct. Even the activities of the existing, narrow focused genebanks suffer due to a host of problems. It is time that an integrated approach be taken to conserve the nations wealth of PGR - field crops, horticultural crops (including fruit trees), forest species, forage crops, medicinal and floricultural plants. An integrated approach for PGR conservation is an urgent need for developing improved varieties of plants to meet the increased demand in future.
The Intellectual Property Rights, the Plant Breeders Rights, the Patent Rights, etc. will diminish our chance of obtaining plant genetic resources from other parts of the world. It is important that we formulate our PGR strategy, not only at the national level but also at regional and global levels. Bangladesh needs to make its position clear soonest, before the International Conference and Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ICPPGR) in 1996. This Country Report, prepared according to the guidelines of FAO, attempts to put together, perhaps, for the first time, aspects of our PGR. The report has many deficiencies. Nevertheless we have made a beginning. We hope, the report will help create awareness about and concern for PGR conservation in the country. We also hope, we shall be richer with information on our PGR in the near future, and prepare ourselves to safeguard our natural resources not only for the present generation, but for generations yet unborn. We are thankful to Dr. S. D. G. Jayawardena, IPGRI Expert, for his caring guidance during the preparation of the report. We are also thankful to Dr. Kenneth W. Riley, Regional Director of IPGRI for Asia, Pacific and the Oceania (Singapore) for his kind assistance in and concern for the preparation of the country report in time. The comments and the encouragement given by Dr. N. Murthi Anishetty of the FAO headquarters (Rome) contributed to the improvement of the draft report. We specially thank Professor M. Salar Khan for going through the draft critically and for making valuable suggestions. Thanks are due to Dr. Herbert Van der Vosen of the Seed Wing, the Ministry of Agriculture for his significant contribution, and Dr. M. L. Chadha, AVRDC Expert, for providing very useful information. Our special thanks are due to Dr. Kazi M. Badruddoza, Scientist Emeritus of the NARS of Bangladesh, for his guidance and encouragement, and Dr. M. Sujayet Ullah Chowdhury, Executive Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) for providing all possible supports towards the preparation of the report. We thank all our colleagues in the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), the teachers of universities, the BCSIR, the Association of Development Agencies of Bangladesh (ADAB - the association of NGOs in the country), and private sector agencies for providing information that helped us prepare this report.
Finally, we thank Messrs. Wasiuzzaman and Manjoor Ahmed of the Agricultural Information Centre of BARC for their prompt help in making available photocopies of numerous documents, including the draft report.
BARC, Dhaka 12 April 1995
M. K. Bashar M. G. Hossain (contact person) H. Islam P. Nandy M. A. Sobhan
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CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Bangladesh and Its Agriculture
Emergence of Bangladesh Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation in 1971 following a liberation war that shattered the already weak economy. The country has not yet prospered, but made a triumphant recovery during the last two decades. Contributions from agricultural research coupled with the toils of some 14 million small farm-households brought in sight, within two decades, the countrys long cherished dream for "food self sufficiency". Food grain (cereal) production increased from about 9 million tonnes in 1960 to 19.4 million tonnes in 1991-92. The challenge the country faces now is not only to sustain the productivity in agriculture in the face of declining resource bases but also to increase production further to meet the demand of the growing population.
Geographical Location Bangladesh has a total area of 143,999 sq. km, stretching between 20034 and 26,038 in the north latitude and between 88,001 and 92,041 east longitude. The country is surrounded by Indian territories in the west, the north, and the east, except a small strip in the south-east by Myanmar. The Bay of Bengal lies in the south.
Topography and Soil The land mass of Bangladesh is flat, with some uplands in the north-east and the south-east. The land elevation varies from 3 m to 45 m (Mondal, 1990). In Chittagong Hill Tracts, however, the hill top reaches an elevation of about 100 m. The geo-morphology of the country comprises of a large portion of flood plains (75%), some terraces (13%) and hilly areas (12%). The GangesBrahmaputra-Meghna river system with its some 400 tributaries/ distributaries form a maze of interconnecting network of channels. The rich water systems used to provide an enormous variety of fresh water fish, the traditional protein source in the diet of the people. The per capita availability of fish has declined
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remarkably in recent years due mainly to habitat destruction. Regular inundation of land during the monsoon season bestowed the country with highly fertile, alluvial soil. Over and/or un-judical exploitation have contributed to rapid land degradation. A declining land productivity is now evident virtually in all agro-ecological zones (AEZs). Thirty AEZs have been identified throughout the country ( Figure 1).
Climate The climate is sub-tropical monsoon, marked by sweltering temperature in summer months. Even though locally six seasons are recognized, of these four are conspicuous: winter (Dec-Feb), summer (Mar-May), monsoon (Jun-Sept) and autumn (Oct-Nov). Farmers, however, recognize two cropping seasons: Rabi for the drier-cooler months (Oct-Feb) and Kharif for the hot and wet months (Mar-Sept). Temperature ranges from 5C to 28C in winter and 22C to 40C in summer months. Humidity ranges from 60 to 70 per cent in winter and 80 to 98 per cent during monsoon. About 80 per cent of the total rainfall is concentrated during monsoon, with occasional showers in summer, and hardly any rainfall in autumn and winter. The average rainfall varies from 1429 mm in the north and north-west parts of the country to 4338 mm in the east and south-east parts (BBS, 1994). Bangladesh is one of the worlds most risk prone areas. During the months from March to September (covering the summer and the monsoon seasons), natural calamities like cyclone, tornado, flood and tidal surge often hit the country and cause widespread damage to life and property. Also, constant changes in the courses of the rivers and their tributaries/distributaries wash away crop fields and homesteads. This river bank erosion causes a total loss of not only crops but also other plant genetic resources in affected areas, and drives hundreds of families to utter destitution, forcing them to take shelter in areas previously reserved for crops, forests or other plant genetic resources. In the interest of the country vis a vis its plant genetic resources, the devastation caused by river bank erosion deserves a serious attention. Farmers continue to grow crops amidst such calamities, through approaches of natural selection. In the process they have selected, over millennia, crop cultivars that can withstand calamities and/or suit post calamity crop culture so that they (farmers) can procure their means of survival.
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Population The 1991 census showed a population of 106 million in Bangladesh. There are 806 persons per square kilometre. Bangla is the lingua franca and English is widely used.
Agriculture Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. The sector employs 61.3 per cent of the labour force (BBS, 1994) and contributes around 36 per cent to the GDP (BARC, 1995). The countrys traditional agriculture has been highly diversified, with more than 160 crops grown throughout the year (Mondal, 1990). This is integrated with livestock, fisheries and homestead forestry components. Cropping intensity has now surpassed 170 per cent (BBS, 1994). However, with the increase in population and an intensive cultivation of cereal crops (HYV rice and wheat), cereal area increased at the expense of many other crops including jute, pulses and oil seeds. Recent trends in the cultivation of major crops are shown in table 1.
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FIGURE 1 AGRO-ECONOMICAL ZONES OF BANGLADESH
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Table 1
Year 77-78 79-80 81-82 83-84 85-86 87-88 89-90 91-92 93-94 Rice
Area (million hectares) and production (million tonnes) of major agricultural crops
Oil seed Jute Sugarcane ha t ha t ha t 0.43 0.36 0.73 0.96 0.15 6.67 0.41 0.34 0.76 1.07 0.15 6.34 0.43 0.35 0.57 0.84 0.16 7.14 0.42 0.46 0.69 0.95 0.17 6.96 0.51 0.46 1.06 1.57 0.16 6.64 0.59 0.44 0.51 0.85 0.17 7.21 0.55 0.43 0.54 0.84 0.19 7.42 0.57 0.46 0.59 0.98 0.19 7.45 0.55 0.43 0.61 0.94 0.18 7.51 Wing, Ministry of Agriculture,
Wheat Pulses ha t ha t ha t 10.03 12.77 0.19 0.34 0.84 0.58 10.12 12.54 0.43 0.81 0.81 0.56 10.46 13.36 0.53 0.95 0.78 0.55 10.55 14.42 0.53 1.21 0.76 0.53 10.46 15.04 0.54 1.04 0.71 0.51 10.31 15.41 0.61 1.05 0.63 0.44 10.42 17.71 0.59 0.89 0.69 0.49 10.25 18.26 0.58 1.07 0.69 0.48 10.31 21.15 0.62 1.11 0.74 0.52 Courtesy of Dr. H. Van der Vosen, Seed Govt. of Bangladesh.
Rice, wheat, jute, sugarcane, pulses, oil seeds, potato and vegetables are principal crops. The country also produces about 40 million kg of tea and about 0.945 million tonnes of high quality jute annually (BBS, 1994). Banana, papaya, pineapple, mango, jackfruit, guava, coconut and jujube are important fruits. The cultivated crops of Bangladesh with their growing seasons (Rabi or Kharif ) are shown in Appendix - I. Jute, prawns and shrimps, leather and leather products, and tea are major export crops. The major agricultural imports include wheat, pulses, edible oil and oilseeds, sugar, spices, fruits, raw cotton and cotton yarn, and tobacco products. The country is grossly deficient in timber and wood products. Bangladesh soils have traditionally been known to be highly fertile. However, the following are the major factors that contributed to a rapid decline in soil organic matter content, both major and micro plant nutrients, and a consequent decline in agricultural productivity in recent years:
1. intensive cereal cultivation forced by the food demand of the increasing
population (especially since the introduction of HYV rice and wheat);

2. changes in cropping patterns in favour of cereal (especially rice)
monoculture;
3. constructions of numerous flood control embankments and polders (that
obstruct natural inundation of land and prevent annual deposits of silts that used to add an immeasurable amount of plant nutrients to the countrys soils every year);
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4. intensive crop cultivation throughout the year without adequate nutrient
replenishment of soils. A study by FAO (1992) reveals that 250 - 300 kg nutrients per hectare are depleted from Bangladesh soils every year;
5. inability of capital starved subsistence farmers to procure and use balanced
inputs for crop culture.
Subsistence Agriculture Subsistence farming practices characterize Bangladesh agriculture. The average holding size per farm-household is 2.2 acres (~0.9 ha). The land holding size is highly skewed among farming families (Table 2).
Table 2 Farmers category and farm holding size

Farmers category Small Medium Big Per cent of total number of farmers 70.34 24.72 4.94 Range of holding size (Acre) 0.05 - 2.49 Acre ~(0.02 - 1.00 ha) 2.50 - 7.49 ~(1.01-3.03 ha) 7.50 and above ~(3.04 ha) Average holding size (Acre) 0.9 ~(0.36 ha) 4.1 ~(1.66 ha) 11.8 ~(4.78 ha)
Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 1994
The subsistence agriculture produces barely enough for survival of the farmhousehold and as such it can barely make a significant contribution to economic growth. The subsistence agriculture is also an obstacle to attaining production goals through an intensive extension service as well as cost intensive modern technologies. The other challenge Bangladesh faces is how to transform its subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, without essentially driving farmers out of their lands.
Seed Production and Supply Systems Up till now seed production and distribution have been managed in the public sector by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Institutions (Agricultural Research Institutes, universities and others) involved in variety development supply Breeder Seeds to BADC for production of Foundation Seeds and Certified Seeds under the supervision of their (BADC) seed personnel. The quality control of seeds is the responsibility of the Seed
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Certification Agency (SCA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and the institutions that furnish the breeder seeds. BADC can supply an estimated 5 per cent of the seed requirements. Even that is confined to a limited number of crops (rice, jute, wheat, vegetables, etc.). Sources differ widely in their estimates of seed supply by BADC (Table 3).
Table 3 Estimates of seed supply (% of requirements) by BADC

Crop Rice Jute Wheat Oilseeds Pulses Vegetables CDP-DEA (1994) 1.63% 14.00% 15.66% 1.74% 0.16% 0.34% Fifth 5-Year Plan Document, MoA 3.64% 16.00% 22.00% 2.20% 0.20% 43.00%
1
1Courtesy of Dr. H. Van der Vosen, Seed Wing, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of Bangladesh
The rest of the requirements are met from farmers own retained seeds, farmer to farmer exchanges, and from purchases in markets. There is virtually no quality control of these (non-BADC) seeds and often they are of unknown origin. A substantial amount of seeds, especially of vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, radish, carrot, etc. are imported and marketed by private sector seed dealers. At the moment there is no foreign seed companies involved in seed production in the country. A few NGOs and indigenous seed companies produce seeds locally but their scale of production is too small to make any significant impact. Most of the private seed companies are involved in seed import-and-sale. Even though the private sector seed companies have recently started to emerge and take interest in in-country seed production (mostly for vegetables), they are yet to develop technical capabilities and extend seed production to cover a wider number of crops.
Crop Vulnerability Bangladesh agriculture is overwhelmingly rain-fed and highly vulnerable to floods, droughts, cyclones, tidal waves as well as river bank erosion. For example, consecutive devastating floods of 1987 and 1988 destroyed the countrys major crops (rice and jute); the drought of 1989 had a heavy toll on
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the countrys agricultural production; the lack of rain in 1994 reduced the main rice crop (Aman rice) production by about 15 per cent. The Government now estimates that nearly one million tonnes of rice will need to be imported in 1995. Occurrences of insect and disease attacks are widespread, resulting in estimated crop losses ranging from 10-15 per cent every year. The country nevertheless holds a great potential for agricultural development. There exists a large gap between the productivity potentials (as demonstrated in agricultural experiment stations) and what is obtained by the resource poor farmers of the country. The gaps range from 25 per cent to 80 per cent depending on crops and regions of the country. On the other hand, the countrys rich reserve of plant genetic resources (including their wild relatives) provide a wide scope for crop improvement through genetic manipulations. One can therefore hardly overemphasize the importance for protection, collection and conservation of these genetic resources before they are lost forever. Collections and conservation of plant genetic resources (PGR) have assumed a greater importance especially in view of the newly introduced GATT/WTO accords. Abundant year-round solar radiation, sub-tropical environment, small variation in diurnal and seasonal temperature, and high humidity throughout the year rendered Bangladesh rich in vegetation all round the year. There has been a reserve of genetic diversity of some 5,000 species of higher plants (Khan, 1977). This diversity imparted characteristic features to indigenous crop plants that belong to a wide array of species, genera, and families, with enormous genetic variability within traditional crop species. For example, there were over 8,000 cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa) (Haque and Mia, 1989); as far back as 1907 Burkill and Finlow observed, There are 33 types of Corchorus capsularis under cultivation as against 5 of C. olitorius. In a recent study 1090 landraces of Deshi jute (Corchorus capsularis) and 519 of Tossa jute (C. olitorius) were reported scattered throughout the land mass of the country (Husain et al., 1988). Bangladesh, in fact, constitutes a larger part of the South Asian Centre of genetic diversity, sharing with India. There are still today some 500 plant species that are of medicinal importance; some 130 species of fibre resources (both wild and cultivated); 18 species of bamboo, and so on (Khan, 1991). The country is the secondary centre of origin of diversity of major crops like rice and jute, a number of vegetables like egg plant, okra, the cucurbits, taros and yams, pulses and beans, oilseeds, a number of leafy vegetables, fruits like mango, jackfruit, citrus, spices like chillies, ginger, turmeric etc. In this delta once grew the unique fibre crop, the muslin cotton (believed to a cultivar of Gossypium arboreum) which is now extinct. Unfortunately information on
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genetic erosion and/or extinction of plant species is scanty in Bangladesh. Isolated studies reveal that some 45 species of angiosperms and at least 2 species of pteridophytes are threatened in this delta (Khan, 1991; Huq and Banik, 1992). At least nine threatened species are tentatively regarded as endemic to Bangladesh ( Khan, 1991). In Bangladesh a sound national plant genetic resources (PGR) system does not exist. Also the conservation emphasis is limited mainly to rice and jute. There is an urgent need to formulate a comprehensive national PGR system, perhaps through the formation of a Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources. The proposed Bureau would not only be involved in orthodox germplasm conservation but would also serve, in the long run, as a Tissue Culture Repository, a Cryo Bank and a DNA Bank. The development of advanced facilities is important as these techniques are going to play very important roles in germplasm conservation and exchange on days ahead. In short, the development of a sound national PGR system is considered sine qua non for attaining the countrys long term objectives of sustainable agricultural production.
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CHAPTER 2
Indigenous Plant Genetic Resources
2.1 FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES
Bangladesh statistics show a total forest area of 1,559 sq. km or about 12.8 per cent of the total land area of 143,999 sq. km. (BBS, 1994). Estimates of other sources, however, reveal a much less area under forest cover. For examples, Gittings and Akonda (1982) estimated, a decade ago, that the forest area of Bangladesh shrank from 16.5 per cent in 1971 to 6 per cent in the early 80s. A recent study showed a forest cover of 6.5 per cent (BFRI, pers. communication). Hoque et al. (1993) puts the figure at only 5 per cent. It is estimated that forests in Bangladesh do not exceed 5 to 6 per cent of the total land area. It will not be surprising if the actual forest cover is even less. However, in addition to this reserved forest area, there are some 0.27 million hectares of village forests comprising of village-groves, mostly with multipurpose trees (MPTS), bamboo, canes and shrubs.
The forest resources of Bangladesh have been classified as: 1 mangrove forest (0.67 m ha), 2 hill forest (0.67 m ha), 3 plain land forest (0.12 m ha), 4 unclassified state forest (0.73 m ha), 5 village groves (0.27 m ha) (Chowdhury and Hussain, 1989).
An estimated 73,000 hectares of Bangladesh forest have been lost through encroachment for aquaculture and agriculture during the last two decades (BFRI, pers. communication). It is also estimated that a loss of about 8,000 hectares of forests occurs annually due to homestead establishment, urbanization, deforestation, etc. Furthermore, poachers damage forest genetic resources more than the loss through fire, diseases, insects or other natural calamities like tidal surges, droughts, etc. (BFRI, pers. communication).This, at the same time, points to the adverse impact of the loss of forests on the wildlife composition.
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Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH) started its plant exploration since 1972 and began publishing the Flora of Bangladesh series which has now reached its 47 the number of fascicles. However, isolated studies provide some information on the important species of the countrys natural forests (Das, 1990; Zabala, 1990). These are shown in Appendix - II. Some important forest species, especially those identified as endangered by the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), have been collected and planted in ex situ conservation plots of the Institute (Huq and Banik, 1992). The endangered species are shown in Table 4 from two different sources (Huq and Banik, 1992; Khan, 1991). It is interesting to note that the two sources (see Table 4) had, among the endangered species, only one species (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.) in common. Based on these, it would appear that not less than 45 species are currently endangered. Khan (1991), in his list, identified some endemic species among those threatened. This means that the loss of these species is a loss not only to Bangladesh but to the entire mankind. However, with a view to addressing the wanton destruction and the rapid depletion of forest resources, the Government of Bangladesh created a Ministry of Environment and Forest in 1989; updated the Forest Act of 1927; imposed a ban on killing wildlife, on export of frog legs, reptile skins, and felling of trees in high forests. While the impacts of these are yet to be assessed, the Government has recently drawn up a Twenty-year Forestry Master Plan for development and expansion of forests in the country. Among the forest species a good number, either growing wild or underutilized, produces edible fruits (Das, 1987). These are shown in Appendix 2.
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Table 4 A tentative list of threatened angiosperms in Bangladesh

Source: Huq and Banik (1992) Scientific names Local name Adina cordifolia Hook Haldu, Rangkat Petpuria, Kelikadam, Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall) Pitraj R. N. Park Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. Agar Bassia latifolia Roxb. Mohua Source: Khan, M. S. (1991) Scientific name Local name Aglaonema clarkei Hook.f. Habinishak
Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. Cirrhopetalum roxburghii Lindl. (endemic) Cymbopogon osmastoni I R.N.P. Debregeasia dentata Hook.f. Ealeocarpus lucidus Roxb. Hippocratea marcantha Korth. Homalium schlichtii Kurz. Justica oreophylla Clarke
Malakkha Jhangi Agar
Bauhinia malabarica Roxb. Castanopsis tribuloides A. DC. Couroupita guianensis Aubl. Derris robusta Benth. Diospyros cordifolia Roxb Garuga pinnata Roxb
Kesujya, Nanki, Jhanki, Karmai Batna, Barahingorik ,Khami, Hingra Nagalingam, Siblingam Lohasirij, Koroi Tomal, Maheshkanda Garua,Ghogar Kharapata, Bhadi, Dabdubi Chalmugra, Bolgachh, Hiddigachh Raktan, Serajang Nageswar. Nagchampa Dakroom, Phutikadam. Kelikadam Bansh pata, Jinaru Kanakchampa,Moos, Muchigandha Narikeli, R, KasmiriBadam, Pagla Gachh Joyenda, Kusum, Joyna, Lakkha Box Badam, Jangli Badam
Ajay Ghas, Rukhs Ghas
Bamun Katha paharia Gulancha, Basakpata, Chhota arusa
Hydnocarpus kurzii (King) Warb. Lophopetalum fimbriatum Wt. Mesua ferrea L. (M. nagassirium ( Burm. f.)) Kost Mitragyne parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. Podocarpus nerifolia Don. Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. Pterygota alata (Roxb.) R. Br. Schleichera oleosa (Lour) Oken Sterculia foetida L.
Knema bengalensis De Wilde (endemic) Limnophila cana Griff. (endemic) Mantisia spathulata Schutt. (endemic) Marsdenia thyrsiflora Hook.f. Ophiorrhiza villosa Roxb. Phrynium imbricum Roxb. Quercus acuminata Roxb. Rotala simpliciuscula (S. Kurz) Kuhne (endemic) Semecarpus subpanduriformis Wall. (endemic)
Karpur
Jitti, Reyong Ganja kuli Pitul pata Kantabatana, Kalibatna
Swintonia floribunda Griff. Tamarindus indica L.
Civit, Amchundul Tentul
Sonneratia griffithii Kurz Spatholobus listeri Prain (endemic) Tournefortia roxburghii Clarke Typhonium listeri Prain Vatica scaphula Dyer (endemic) Vernonia thomsoni Hook.f.
Bhela, Bhelatuki, Beula,Bhalao, Bhelama Lemchi, Lemshi Palaya lata
Ghet kachu
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2.2 MEDICINAL PLANTS
A majority of the people in Bangladesh use herbal medicines, manufactured by indigenous institutions. These institutions use many forest/wild plant resources. The Government is deeply concerned about the rapid depletion of forest resources that include, inter alia, medicinal plants. However, information on medicinal plants, their proper identification and ecological niches, and their conservation measures are yet to be included under scientific studies and documented. The revised list of medicinal plants by the National Herbarium exceeds 500 species (Khan, 1991). However, a list of medicinal plants, identified by the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (Rashid et al., 1976) is given in Appendix 3.
2.3 OTHER WILD SPECIES AND WILD RELATIVES OF CROP PLANTS Bangladesh has been, as stated above, the abode of 5,000 angiosperm species (Khan, 1977) and of these only some 160 species are used as crops (Mondal, 1990). Virtually all of the rest are left to grow in the wild. This reflects the countrys traditional rich reserve of wild plant genetic resources on the one hand, and the need for their conservation on the other. A preliminary list of available plant species, that are relatives of/allied to crop plants, in Bangladesh is given in Appendix 4.
2.4 LANDRACES (FARMERS VARIETIES) AND OLD CULTIVARS Landraces and old cultivars still play a dominant role in Bangladesh agriculture. However, no serious studies on the significance of landraces have yet been undertaken in the country. Farmers grow and retain these cultivars mainly due to:
a. non-availability of improved varieties and/or their seeds, b. low input requirements by traditional varieties, c. their adaptability to specific ecological niches (e.g. deep water rice, salinity
tolerant varieties of crops, etc.),
23
d. their resistance to pests, e. their specific quality(ies) like finer grain, aroma, specific tastes, etc.
It is significant to note that traditional varieties suited subsistence farming which is still, as stated earlier, the very feature of Bangladesh agriculture. A list of old cultivars of selected crops that are still grown in the country is given in Table 5. It is noted that the varieties shown in the table (Table 5) include, in the main, varieties approved by the National Seed Board and/or those that are widely known. There are numerous other varieties scattered throughout farmers fields. It has not been possible to include them all here. It is also important to note that R&D activities on traditional varieties are either very much limited or totally absent. The major policy emphasis so far has been on increased yield, especially of a few major crops. In doing so, quality factors inherent in traditional varieties have often been ignored. As regards horticultural crops (both fruits and vegetables), legumes and oilseeds, traditional varieties play the most dominant role in providing food security of the people. Under poverty stricken subsistence farming systems, farmers are committed to conservation of traditional varieties, in so far as superior varieties suitable to their socio-economic and ecological conditions, are not available to them. Farmers would be committed to conservation of traditional varieties only if it pays them economically. However, farmers methods of conservation and storage have not been a matter of serious study in Bangladesh, and as such these methods have not been documented. It can however be stated that retention of traditional varieties by farmers is not essentially guided by their commitment to conservation, rather by the survival mechanisms adopted by farmers. Equally important is the fact that market oriented agricultural production systems suited to the farming community of the country does not exist. Often a bumper production of a crop leads to a fall in the market price of the produce and thus works against farmers interests. Apart from a limited effort to protect some forest areas, land use policies, either to protect plant genetic resources (PGR) or for sustaining agricultural production, have not yet been formulated in the country. Rather, the drive for increasing the food grain production (by promoting HYV rice and wheat), has threatened both minor cereals as well as non-cereal crops. These contributed significantly to genetic erosion of land races. For examples, high quality rice varieties like Bashful, Biroi, etc. are hardly grown these days by Bangladesh farmers, even though the market demand for these is there.
24
Such a situation is leading to changes/imbalances in cropping patterns, causing soil sickening in many areas, especially in areas devoted to rice monoculture and/or rice-wheat cropping systems. Such an alarming situation could well be averted by developing superior varieties and by broadening the genetic base of such varieties. The first step towards this would be a thorough inventory of indigenous germplasm, their characterization, evaluation, conservation and followed by their utilization in plant breeding programmes.
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Table 5 Some old cultivars of selected crops of Bangladesh

Crop Early Aus rice Old cultivars Rice Hashikalmi, Dharial, Dular, Kataktara, Morichboti, Holoi, Shaita, etc. Shada Pankaiz, Gabura, Malibhangor, Goda Laki, Dud Laki, Lal Aman, Chamara, Balam, Kaika, Dhepa, Baran Dhan, etc. Remarks adapted to drought prone areas used for medium to deep water area due to lack of modern varieties.
Medium to Deep Water Aman rice
Transplanted. Aman rice
Rajashail, Nonashail, Hogla Pata, Nonakuchi, Patnai-23, etc.
adapted to coastal saline areas; no improved variety for these area are yet available. Grown in specific areas for quality/ aromatic grains; no improved varieties with such qualities are yet available.
Transplanted Aman rice
Nizershail, Jhingashail, Kartik Shail, Dadkhani, Kataribhog, Kalijira, Chinigura, Khash Kani, Tulshi Mala, etc.
Boro (Winter) rice Wheat Maize Foxtail Millet Prosso Millet Deshi Jute ( Corchourus capsularis)
Tossa Jute ( C. olitorius)
early taller plant types that Tepi Boro, Akhni Shail, Poshu Shail, Lokhai Boro, Rata Boro, Gopal Veri can withstand early flood Other Cereals and Millets Kheri Barnali, Shuvra, Khai Bhutta, Mohar Titas Tushar Jute Meghnal, Bhoisha, Tebri, Sachi, Kai, Naris, Deora, Bang, Amarjani, Nut, These are used for Boron, Kaizdai, Meghi, Kazuli, Shimul, adaptability /suitability to Kalchit, Chungi, and Amonia. local cropping patterns. The government neither Vely, Cheng, Satnala, Moshra, encourages nor Boupagli, Githanaris, Sadajori, Kochan, discourages their use. Japani, Lalsha, Mashranga.
26
Crop Sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum )
Old cultivars Akash Dhar Dhar, Chandan, Chini Kushail, Fata Kushail, Chini Champa, Aat Kushail, Misrilal, Misridana, Kazla etc. are still being cultivated by farmers, especially outside the mill zones. Raj Ghar, Monipuri, Burma, Tingamaria, Ayebheel, Duilia, Dum-Dum,Delinkot, Kyang and Boh-most.
Remarks Traditional varieties degenerate with time producing low cane and sugar yields, with higher susceptibility to pests. Old tea plants are uprooted each year from hundreds of acres of plantations without prior scrutiny or retaining materials of special interest. Immediate steps are necessary to save germplasm of interest. -
Tea ( Camellia spp.)
Pulses Lentil Grasspea Chickpea Mungbean Blackgram Mustard Ut fala (L -5) , Lo c al Khesa ri Sab ur- 4, Hy rpoc hho la Sona M u g, Mubarik , Kant i, B INA Mung -1 Baroma shi M as hka lai, Oilseeds Tori-7, Rai-5, Shonali Sharisha (SS-75) Daulat (RS-81), Dholi (BARI Sharisha), BARI-7, Bari-8, Shampad (BAU), Kalyania TS-72), Agrani, TS-72, BINA-1, BINA-3, Shafal, Shampad, Shambal T-6, T58007 Shova (Guji-1) Nila (Lin-1) Shova (Nig-1) Dhaka-1 (Maizchar Badam) Soybean Devis -
Sesame Garjan Til Linseed Niger Groundnut
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Crop Potato
Old cultivars Tuber crops Lal Pakri, Lal Shill, Ausha, Challisha, Shada Guri, Dohazari Sada, Dohazari Lal, Bograi, Deshi Lal, Deshi Sada, Hagrai, Hira (P501), Marin, Origo Bilashi (Mukhi Kachu), Latiraj (Pani Kachu), Kath Kachu, Bash Kachu, Narkeli Kachu, Magan Kachu, Kham Kachu, Garo Kachu, Dudh Kachu Daulatpuri, BARI -SP4, BARI -SP5, Kamala Sundari, Tripti, Shaheb Alu, Ranga Alu, Lamba Alu Vegetables Uttara (Rajshahi-3), Suktara (F-1), Tarapur (F- 1), Kha t k hatia, Islampuri Begun, Gafargaon Begun, Bichi Begun Baromasi Shada Seem, Baromasi Beguni Seem, HC 0084, HC 0010, BARI Seem BARI Felon-1, Barbati, Nabila Manik, Ratan BARI Lau
Remarks -
Taro
Sweet Potato
Brinjal
Country bean
Cowpea Tomato Bottle gourd
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Crop Papaya
Old cultivars Fruits Shashi Papaya, Shahi, Koinbator, Washington, Honeydew, Kurgo Honeydew, Rachi, Pusa, Solo, Shimla Amrit Sagar, Shabri, Kabri, Champa, Mahersagar, Chini Champa, Augnisar, Dudsar, Dudsagar, Chadam, Aita, Singapuri, Behula, Mandira, Bier Bati, Bichi kala, Ghima Kala, Anazi Kala Sahrup Kathi, Kanchan Nagar, Mukundupur Narikeli Kul, Comilla Bell Boroi, Satkhira Narikeli Lengra, Gopal Bhog, Fazli, Khirhapat, Ashina, Surjapuri, Bombai, Himsagar, Kishanbhog, Aushina, Rajbhog, Brindabani, Kuapahari, Mohanbhog, Misuribhog, Shreedham, Dudhia, Gooti, Boishakhi, Sinduri, Ashari Ghorashal, Giant Kew, Honey Queen Gala, Khaja, Chaila, Neisha China-3, Bombai, Mozaffarpur, Mangalbari, Rajshahi Local Kagzi Lebu, Seedless Lemon, Ghora Labu Tipica Sabuj, Tipica Badami, Dudhea Goalanda, Patenga, Padma Spices Dhani Marich, Kalo Morich, Lamba Marich Dimla (T-027), Sinduri (T-004) Jointa Golmarich
Remarks -
Banana
Guava Jujuba Mango
Pineapple Jackfruit Litchi Lemon Coconut Watermelon Chillies Turmeric Black pepper
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CHAPTER 3
National Conservation Activities
Prior to the 70s limited efforts were made to maintain landraces, primarily as active or live materials, and mainly by plant breeders. That even were confined to major crops like rice, jute, sugarcane, potato, etc. Conservation attempts somewhat intensified after the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. Organized attempts for conservation started with the establishment of the genebank at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in 1974. This was followed by the establishment of genebanks at the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) in 1982 and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in 1986. Small scale conservation activities (with active materials) are being undertaken at Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Sugarcane Research and Training Institute (SRTI), Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and a few other universities, Institute of Forestry of Chittagong University (IFCU), Institute of Postgraduate Studies in Agriculture (IPSA), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), and Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH) maintains specimen of collected materials (Fig. 2). In addition some NGOs have also, in recent years, been making efforts to acquire and conserve germplasm. These are, however, scattered efforts at different institutes/ organizations spread over different ministries.
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Figure 2
Ministries and institutes involved in PGR activities in Bangladesh
AGENCIES FOR PGR ACTIVITIES IN BANGLADESH
Ministr y of Environment & Forest
Ministr y of Science & Te c h n o l o g y
Ministr y of Agriculture
Ministr y of Commerce
Ministr y of Education
NGO Bureau
BNH
BFRI
FOREST DEPT
IFCU
BCSIR
BTRI
BAU & OTHER UNIVERSITIES
NGOs
BARI
BRRI
BJRI
BINA
S RT I
IPSA
Legend: BNH- Bangladesh National Herbarium; BFRI- Bangladesh Forest Res. Inst.; IFCU- Inst. of Forest, Chittagong Univ.; BCSIR- Bangladesh Council for Industrial Res.; BTRI- Bangladesh Tea Res. Inst.; BAU- Bangladesh Agr. Univ.; NGOs- Non-Govt. Organizations; BARI- Bangladesh Agr. Res. Inst.; BARI- Bangladesh Agr. Res. Inst.; BRRI- Bangladesh Rice Res. Inst.; BJRI- Bangladesh Jute Res. Inst.; BINA- Bangladesh Inst. for Nuclear Agr.; IPSA- Institute for Postgraduate Studies in Agr.
3.1 IN SITU CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES Only the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, has plans for in situ conservation. Under this, specific areas in natural forests where valuable indigenous forest genetic resources occur, have been demarcated. The attempts include Selection and Conservation of Provisional Plus Trees (PPTs) and Selection and Conservation of Seed Stand of Tree species, including those in mangrove forests.
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So far BFRI has selected 950 PPTs of the following:
Forest tree species:

Species Anthocephalus chinensis (Lamk) Rich ex Walp Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. Chikrassia tabularis Juss. Dipterocarpus turbinatus Gaertn. Hopea odorata Roxb. Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. Swintonia floribunda Griff. Swietenia macrophylla (L.) Jacq. Syzygium grande (Wt.) Wall. Tectona grandis L. f. Toona ciliata J. Roem. Xylia spp. Local name Kadam Chaplash, Chambal Chikrass, Dalmara Kali garjan Telsur, Tersol Jarul, Kantajarul Civit, Amchandul Bara Mehogini DhakiJam Segun Toon. Pia, Piyas Lohakath
The conservation of seed stand is the first step for the supply of superior planting materials. Up till now such activities are limited to Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Syzygium grande, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Heritiera fomes, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia auriculiformis species. Apart from the above mentioned efforts by BFRI, in situ conservation activities is non-existent in the country. However, BRRI has identified three in situ conservation sites for wild relatives of rice. And only very recently horticulturists have identified a few useful fruit trees (i.e. mango and jackfruit) of interest in different localities. Measures are yet to be taken to protect these genetic resources while further explorations await. Otherwise, the valuable genetic resources that still exist will be lost in no time. All these attempts warrant support and follow up actions without delay before these genetic resources of special interests are lost. Similarly, explorations/ expeditions have to be organized for identification of genetic resources in the wild and steps be taken for their in situ conservation. The more will be the delay, the greater will be the danger of losing these valuable genetic resources. We may have to pay an extremely high price to buy them back, if at all available anywhere, for their future use in the country to develop new varieties of crops, horticultural, forestry and medicinal plants.
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3.2 EX SITU COLLECTIONS
It is important to note here that there is no national genebank in the country having overall responsibilities for conservation of genetic resources. Of the three institutional genebanks in the country, two (i.e. genebanks at BRRI and BJRI) are monocrop genebanks. The multicrop genebank at BARI cover only a limited number of crop species mandated to the institute. Furthermore, the facilities at BARI is considered inadequate to serve as a national genebank, both in terms of space and in terms of technical facilities. These institutional genebanks were established with financial and technical assistance from donor agencies. For examples, the Asian Development Bank helped in the establishment of the genebank at BJRI; FAO/IBPGR/GTZ assisted in the establishment of the BARI genebank; and Ford Foundation and JICA financed the establishment of the BRRI genebank. The operational costs of the genebanks are provided by the Government of Bangladesh through its Annual Development Budget. Such financial arrangements are not only meagre but also uncertain, as budgetary provisions are often subject to pruning. Also there is no guarantee that annual development budgets will continue to support these development projects in the future. It is hoped that the Biodiversity Convention (1992) has contributed to a greater awareness among the countrys policy makers which, hopefully, will help initiate programmes to strengthen PGR conservation activities in the country. The collections in the institutional genebanks have been summarized in Table 6. The collections have by far been derived from in-country explorations. Some PGR collections have nonetheless been received from international institutions/organizations (AVRDC, CIMMYT, CIP, ICRISAT, IJO, IRRI, etc.) as well from other countries, under bilateral arrangements. It is to be noted here that the genebank at the BJRI serves as the global repository for jute and allied fibres crops and their wild progenitors/relatives.
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Table 6
Genebank/ Institute BARI
Number of accessions in genebanks/active materials in different institutes of Bangladesh

Crops / species
Cereals (other than rice) Legumes Oilseeds Oilseeds Vegetables Spices Fruits Tuber crops Tuber crops Others Field materials
Total No. of collections

1,210 4,474 140 996 603 126 10 151 650 119 10
Location
GRC GRC GRC ORC GRC GRC GRC GRC TCRC GRC GRC
Total BRRI Rice Oryza sativa var. indica

Traditional indica Indica breeding lines Exotic indica
8,489
GRC
Genebank
4,400 200 150 (China, IRRI,etc.)
Exotic indica
2,266 (USA)
O. sativa var. japonica

Exotic japonica 150 (Japan) Exotic O. glaberrima 200 (WARDA) Wild rice 73
Total
7,439
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Genebank/ Institute BJRI
Crops / species
Corchorus spp. (15 spp.) Hibiscus spp. (22 spp.) Allied genera (15 genera)

4,081 1,510 345
Location
Genebank
Total BINA
Rice (Oryza sativa ) Jute (Corchorus spp.) Cotton Mustard Sesame Groundnut Lentil Chickpea Blackgram Mungbean Grasspea Tomato Sugarcane Sugarcane mutants
5,936
101 29 7 16 15 34 10 31 13 120 8 9 6 20 Breeding Division
Total
419
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Genebank/ Institute BTRI
Crops / species Tea

BTRI released clones BTRI non-released clones Local garden clones Local seedbarie collections
Location
Breedin
10 150 7 78 8 6 2 3 1 2 1 1 7
Division
Introduced clones
Tocklai release Other North Indian garden clones UPASI, South Indian clones TRI Sri Lanka clones Kenya clone
Seed stock
BTRI released biclonal seed stock Tocklai biclonal seed stock S ri Lanka: Aylsbary poly clonal seed st ock
Introduced general seeds

Japan - sinensis type Malaysia - assamica type Indonesia - assamica type Tanzania - assamica type Kenya - assamica type Sri Lanka - assamica /dark Monipuri India - assam ica/Jat D ulai, D angri, Kehang
1 1 1 1 1 3
Polyploids
Triploid Tetraploid
Total
285
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Genebank/ Institute SRTI
Crops / species
Sugarcane
Location
Breeding
Sachharum officinarum S. spontaneum
784 26
Division
Total BAU
Rice
810
Dept. of 4 3 9 5 5 10 5 4 8 3 8 4 8 3 7 5 11 9 17 11 251 1 1 1 1 2 11 6 Genetics & Plant Breeding/ Dept. of Crop Botany
Oryza alata O. australiensis O. barthi O. brachyantha O. eichingeri O. glumaepatula O. grandiglumis O. granulata O. latifoloa O. longiglumis O. longistaminata O. malampuzhaensis O. meridionalis O. meyeriana O. minuta O. ridleyi O. rufipogon O. sabalata O. officinalis O. nivara O. sativa O. spontanea
O. Hybrid swarm:rufipogon/ nivara
O. brevigulata O. glaberrima O. perennis O. punctata O. rhizhomatis
Total Rice
Brassica B. campestris B. hirta B. juncea B. napus B. nigra B. carinata
413
Dept. of 68 72 12 6 1 5 Genetics Plant Breeding
Total Brassica
164
37
Genebank/ Institute
Crops / species
Wheat Maize Groundnut Lentil Dry bean Country bean Pea Faba bean Soybean Tomato Bitter gourd Bottle gourd Sweet gourd Ribbed gourd

100 132 125 160 110 40 30 7 120 318 25 19 33 15
Location
Dept. of Genetics & Plant Breeding
Total Agroforestry tree species Herbs, shrubs & trees
1234 34 spp. 1200 spp.

CropBotany Botanical Gardn, BAU
38
In general a very small amount of germplasm collections have been used by breeders/ researchers in national institutes and/or by the private sector. This is attributed to weak breeding programmes, especially in non-rice crops. Even in rice only about 10% of the rice germplasm and 5% of jute have found utilization in breeding programmes. However, a good number of germplasm have been supplied outside the country to USA, Japan, West Africa, India as well as International Agricultural Research Institutes (IARCs) like ICRISAT, IRRI, AVRDC, etc. So far the outgoing germplasm have surpassed remarkably over those that have been brought inside the country (see Table 7 below).
Table 7
Crops Lentil Pigeonpea Chickpea Lathyrus Foxtail millet Okra Barley Eggplant Sesame Maize Pearl millet Sorghum Green gram Mustard Soybean Spinach Radish Amaranth Muskmelon Papaya Gear Winged bean Yambean Adzuki bean Moth bean Fenugreek Chilli Squash Rice:
The number of germplasm supplied to / received from outside Bangladesh

Germplasm sent abroad No. Country/Organization 30 ICARDA, MALDOVA 250 ICRISAT 530 ICRISAT 20 Canada 200 USA 36 NBPGR, India 1 FAO, Rome 186 NBPGR, India 68 NBPGR, India Germpl asm re ceived No. Country/Organiza tio n 4 India 3 China 2 Mayanmar 13 Thailand 2 India 6 India 6 Thailand 1 India 15 Thailand 2 Pakistan, India 2 Pakistan, India 23 USA, Thailand 1 1 Australia 3 India 1 India 2 Thailand 1 Thailand 2 Thailand 8 Thailand 1 Pakistan 4 Thailand 1 Australia
39
Crops
Oryza indica
Jute, Kenafand Mesta Total
Germplasm sent abroad No. Country/Organization 4000 IRRI 30 India 1062 USA 400 Japan 450 WARDA 15 Argentina 25 Nepal 20 Bhutan 50 UK 1026 India, China, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia 8399
Germpl asm re ceived No. Country/Organiza tio n 150 IRRI 1948 150 Japan 200 WARDA 2005 Through IJO 4557
The major sources of germplasm outside the country have been IRRI for rice, IJO for jute, and AVRDC, CIP, ICRISAT, CIMMYT, ICARDA, IITA for other crops. The genebank of BARI has a reasonable collection of the diversity that exists within the country for crops like pulses, millets, yam, sesame, eggplant, okra, etc. Organized explorations, however, are yet to be undertaken for many other crops. Once crop improvement programmes in the country are taken up vigorously (which is an urgent need), all kinds of germplasm will be needed by breeders. For this a massive collection of germplasm is essential for their utilization in breeding programmes. However, for jute and rice, the collections made so far are considered satisfactory. Even then lack of facilities like vacuum sealer, humidity control facilities, low temperature drying facilities, etc. at the genebanks hinder maintenance of germplasm according to internationally recommended standards. In Bangladesh germplasm collection programmes are seldom well planned and mission oriented. In most cases these are opportunistic. However, in the case of jute and allied fibres, collections have been better organized and random sampling techniques have often been followed. In the case rice germplasm collections, initially mission oriented explorations were undertaken. Subsequently constraints (especially lack of funds) have weakened the programme. Collections are usually made from fields, road sides, market places and from farmers houses. Collections from remote areas are seldom possible due to
40
constraints in terms of logistic supports like transport facilities, incentives to field visits, availability of trained personnel, etc. The need for organized explorations / expeditions by PGR workers, supported with anthropological studies, can hardly be overemphasized. Since in-country collections are considered grossly inadequate, and even those that have been collected have not yet been properly characterized, evaluated and documented, all collections made so far are considered important.
3.3 EX SITU FIELD CONSERVATION AND FIELD GENEBANK FOR FOREST SPECIES Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) has established ex situ field conservation stands of bamboo germplasm (36 species), rattan (7 species) in its arboretum, and conservation of a number of important tree species in clonal orchards, seedling orchards, and field genebanks. The locations and the years of plantations of these conservation stands are shown in Table 7. The ex situ field conservation stands of BFRI are mainly geared to supply seeds/planting materials of priority species required by the Forest Department /other organizations for their annual planting programmes. These stands include mostly indigenous materials and do not essentially include regional or global collections. Some exotic collections (like Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia auriculiformis) are nevertheless included in the stands. The above species and few others like Tectona grandis and Gmelina arborea have by now reached the productive stage. There is the need for establishment of ex situ field conservation / field genebanks of:
a. major plantation species, b. vegetatively propagated materials (such as tea, sugarcane), c. perennial fruit crops (like mango, jackfruit, litchies, citrus, guava, etc.) and d. annual crops (like banana, pineapple, papaya) including their wild
relatives and other wild/under-utilized species that are of potential use as fruits and nuts.
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Table 8 Information on ex situ field conservation/collection stands of forest PGR

1. Species Tectona grandis (Segun) Location Ichamati, Kaptai, Dulahazara, Hyanko, Ukhia Ichamati, Kaptai, Dulahazara, Hyanko, Ukhia Kaptai Borshijura Salna Hyauku Salna Hyanko Kaptai Borshijura Borshijura Ichamati, Dulahazara, Hyanko Ukhia Kaptai Hyanko Hyanko Ichhamati, Dulahazam, Hyanko, Salna Ichamati Salna BFRI HQ. BFRI HQ. Year of establishment 1979, 1980 1979, 1980-85 1980 1982 1981 1979, 1980 1981, 1982 1979 1979, 1980-82 1981 1985 1982, 1984 1983 1983 1985 1985 1982 1981-84 1982 1985 1983-85 1984 1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1984 1984 1984 1985 1986 1982 1972-1993 Total area (ha) 94.0
2.
Gmelina arborea (Gamar)
47.0
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Swiet enia macrophylla (Bara Mehogini) Eucalyptus camaldulensis Acacia auriculiformis (Akashmoni) Albizia procera (Koroi) Dipterocarpus t urbinatus (Kaligarjan) Syzygium grande (Dhakijam) Hopea odorata (Telsur)
10.0 8.0 4.0 0.8 10.0 4.0
12.0
10. 11. 12.
Lagerstroemia speciosa (Jarul) Toona ciliata (Pias) Chikrassia tabularis (Chikrass, Dalmara)
4.0 2.0
6.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 1.0
13. 14. 15. 16.
Xylia dolabriformis (Lohakath) Pinus curribaeae (Pine) Cane (7 species)

Bamboo (36 species)
Local names are shown in parenthesis (in bold letters)
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3.4 IN VITRO CONSERVATION
In vitro conservation efforts are practically non-existent in the country. Tissue culture facilities, in a limited scale, have however been developed in some of the Agricultural Research Institutes/universities. These facilities need to be expanded to conservation activities (e.g. cryopreservation), especially for those species that are vegetatively propagated, have recalcitrant seeds, and for propagation of disease free materials which cannot always be ensured with seed materials.
3.5 STORAGE FACILITIES Modest storage facilities have been established at some of the research institutes (BARI, BRRI and BJRI) for conservation of orthodox seed materials. However, maintenance of appropriate conditions (like temperature, humidity, etc.), essentially needed for seed storage, cannot be always ensured. Frequent electricity failures, mechanical failures/disturbances, lack of maintenance/replacement of spare parts in time, etc. pose as threats to materials stored in genebanks. As a result long term storage facilities that are available cannot be considered safe and reliable. More importantly, the genebank at BRRI does not yet have facilities for long term storage of germplasm, although this is the sole repository of rice collections of Bangladesh. The development of long term storage facilities at BRRI is one of the most urgent needs. Information on storage facilities currently available in
43
Table 9 Germplasm storage facilities in different genebanks

Institute Long-term storage Space: 30m ; temperatur: from -18 to -20 C with automatic dehumidifier.
3 0 0
Mid-term storage Space: 60m ; temperature 4 to 6 C with automatic dehumidifier.

3 0 0
Short-term storage -
BARI
Other facilities available Seed cleaner; seed grader; germinator, moisture meter, balance.
Needs
BRRI
Refrigerators: total number 21, each measuring about 10 cft.; temp: 0 t o 5 C.

0 0
Walk-in type; space 6m x 4.5m x 3m; temperature 20 to 22 C with automatic dehumidifier .

0 0
There is a fumigation room for treatment of bulk seeds; 36 sample drier.
In vitro and cryopreservation facilities; transport facilities; computer; seed drying facilities; single plant thresher; power tillers, seed counter vacuum sealer; moisture meter; seed containers; stand-by generators; aluminium foils. Long-term storage facilities; in vitro and cryo-preservation facilities; in-built device in refrigerators for detection faults; computers; vacuum sealer; seed containers; moisture meter; germinator; stand-by generators; aluminium foils, 10 additional refrigerators; transport facilities.
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Institute Long-term storage BJRI Space: about 5.08m x 13.52m x 2.5m. Temp.: 0 to -50 C and maintained at -20 C.
0 0 0
Mid-term storage Space: about 5.08m x 13.52m x 2.5m . Temp.: +20 to -20 C and maintained +4 C with a dehumidifier that maintains constant 20% relative humidity.
0 0
Short-term storage -
Other facilities available There is a control panel with circuit breakers, magnetic relay switch and auxiliary relays. Each circuit breaker is provided with a safety device. The system has an observation panel to facilitate observation from outside, especially for temperature and humidity. There is also a smoke detector indicator light and a buzzing warning system.
Needs
In vitro and cryopreservation facilities; vacuum sealer; seed containers, moisture meters; computer; germinator; aluminium foils; stand-by generator; transport facilities; low temperature and low humidity seed drier.
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Institute Long-term storage BFRI
Mid-term storage
Short-term storage Ordinary room at ambient temperatur e for bulk seed storage.
Container Two type cold refrigerat chamber ors of 9.5 with a cft. each; space 3m x temperatu 2.45m x re ranges from 20 2.25m. to 22 C.
0 0
Other facilities available -
Needs
In vitro and cryopreservation facilities; automatic stand-by generator; extended storage facilities for mid-term storage; P meter; cold incubators; stirring hot plate; thermostat control; hot air sterilizer; germinator; moisture meters, seed containers; deep freeze; thermo hygrometer; stereomicroscope; vacuum sealer; aluminium foils; low temperature and low humidity seed drier.
H
the most urgent needs. Information on storage facilities currently available in the country is summarized in Table 9. A critical look would reveal that the storage facilities at the genebanks, except at the BJRI, are not satisfactory. For examples,
1. wild rice species, some legumes and horticultural species lose seed viability
rather quickly,
2. many forest and horticultural species have recalcitrant seeds, 3. many species have short growing seasons, 4. a good number of crops grown in the country are vegetatively propagated;
and lack of adequate facilities for collection, temporary storage facilities and processing hinder their conservation activities. In many of such cases, temporary storage facilities with low temperature, low humidity and quick drying facilities are necessary. It is important that such facilities be developed for processing and subsequent conservation of these materials. This warrants an urgent attention for upgrading the facilities of the existing genebanks.
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Bangladesh germplasm collections are not yet duplicated anywhere within the country. This entails a great risk in the event of fire or such other calamities. Therefore, a national genebank or a Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources should be established where the collections of different genebanks can be duplicated and vice versa. The proposed national genebank or Bureau is also an urgent need to cater for crops or other plant species that the three existing genebanks do not or cannot cover (i. e. germplasm of medicinal, forestry, ornamental and other plants). In the absence of facilities for conservation of duplicate samples within the country, BJRI and BRRI genebanks have arrangements with the Canberra Genebank, Australia and the IRRI Genebank in the Philippines respectively, for maintaining duplicate samples. Unfortunately, in some cases, the corresponding accession numbers of samples kept in overseas genebanks are not the same as in the in-country genebanks, meaning that national collections may not be traced from the overseas genebanks where duplicate samples are being conserved. It is essential that the accessioning problem with overseas genebanks be resolved, especially in view of the new WTO/GATT regulations. It is also noteworthy that physical facilities for processing, cleaning, drying and packaging of PGR collections within the country are inadequate, and there usually is a problem of backlog of samples. These problems are due mainly to inadequate facilities in terms of infrastructure, inadequate financial support, and also lack of trained personnel in PGR activities, as highlighted earlier. Owing to limitations in facilities, collection programmes cannot always be undertaken to correspond with growing seasons of plants and the processing capacities of the genebanks. This also makes it difficult to prioritize conservation of materials. The storage facilities currently available at BJRI may be good enough for another decade. However, facilities at BARI and BRRI genebanks will most likely attain full capacity within the next few years. Proper storage facilities at BFRI are yet to be developed. The same is the case with fruit and vegetable species. These shortcomings point to the need for establishing a sound national PGR system, a national genebank or a Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources with facilities for accommodating the large number of crops, forest and medicinal plants that grow in the country. Meanwhile the existing institutional genebanks need improvement in storage facilities to maintain germplasm at internationally acceptable standards. For forest species however seed orchards, clonal orchards and field genebanks are being employed as storage measures. Since these facilities are tied with both tree improvement programmes and annual planting programmes by the BFRI,
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Forestry Department and other organizations, the continuous maintenance of these germplasm is a special problem and the regular flow of funds is a special need. In order to accommodate the conservation needs for floricultural and ornamental plants, there is the need for establishment of more botanical gardens and arboreta in the country. At the same time the few existing botanical gardens need to be reorganized to serve the ex situ conservation purposes.
3.6 DOCUMENTATION Documentation and information management of PGR activities are poor in Bangladesh. Some agronomic data are documented in institute annual reports. Computerized database for germplasm collections has not yet been developed in the country. None of the genebanks publishes catalogues. Information like passport data, evaluation data, characterization data are maintained manually. Also most of the data maintained at genebanks are not user-oriented, rather they fulfil the purpose of official reporting only. In the absence of a proper documentation system, information/knowledge about samples cannot usually be provided to users at the time the samples are supplied, whether within the country or abroad. In some cases, however, information about a few characteristics, gathered from passport data and breeders records, may accompany a sample. Most of the information on germplasm is furnished out of germplasm registers (maintained manually) by the genebanks, on request by letters from or personal visits by potential users. The establishment of an internationally acceptable and regionally compatible computerized data management system for germplasm collections and conservation can help improve documentation as well as dissemination of information, whether in the form of catalogues, news letters, bulletins or through other means. This is an area where regional and/or international assistance and collaboration would be necessary. And an improvement in the data management system and documentation facilities is expected to stimulate activities within the country and exchange/dissemination of information with users of germplasm, in-country or abroad. A PGR networking is yet to be developed within the country and in the region. In the absence of such a network, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to make a co-ordinated database available. However, the gene bank at BJRI, through the auspices of International Jute Organization (IJO), has been networking with countries like China, India, Indonesia, Nepal and
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Thailand for germplasm of jute and allied fibre crops. The success is considered commendable, resulting in mutual co-operation between jute producing countries. The documentation of in situ collections should also receive priority, especially for wild rice, forest species, perennial fruits and nuts, medicinal plants, and should be supported by taxonomic studies. However, International Legume Database and Information Services (ILDIS) is one of the pioneer steps in building a species diversity systems. A Regional Inquiry Centre of South Asia (RICOSA) at the National Botanical Institute (NBRI), Lucknow in India is currently developing a computerized database of legumes of South Asia covering eight countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In view of the poor performance in documentation of germplasm in Bangladesh, technical assistance (in the form of human resources development, computer facilities and data management systems) is urgently needed.
3.7 EVALUATION AND CHARACTERIZATION In PGR activities a distinction between characterization and evaluation is usually made but cannot always be adhered to. This is specially true for the germplasm held at the BARI genebank. The PGR workers do the job of characterization and evaluation. Respective disciplinary scientists (plant breeders, plant physiologists, plant pathologists, entomologists) are involved during characterization and evaluation. However, biochemical analysis, analysis on nutritional aspects, genetic marker study and genetic fingerprinting cannot be undertaken due to lack of laboratory facilities and also due to lack of trained personnel. For data collection, IBPGR descriptors have been followed, often with some modifications. Farmers get involved only in the process of evaluation through on-farm testing and demonstration trials of advanced breeding materials. About 50% of jute, 30% of rice and a negligible number of other accessions of other crops have been characterized according to international descriptors. A preliminary evaluation of about 30% of rice and 20% of jute accessions have been completed (Table 10). At the BARI genebank about 27% of the accessions have been characterized and an equal proportion evaluated. About 25% of jute accessions have been evaluated for location oriented programmes
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at the locations of their collections while some accessions of rice and other crops have been evaluated in simulated conditions or in greenhouses by other (i.e. non-PGR) scientists. Characterization and evaluation data do not always include information on physiological responses and microbiological characteristics, though disease and insect susceptibility is usually recorded.
Table 10
Genebank
Germplasm in genebanks with passport data, characterization and evaluation data

To tal ac ces sions No.with passport data Total % 3,069 162 10 450 4,408 48.5 70 100 10 74 No. characterised Total 1,786 1,350 2,998 % 27 30 50 No evaluated Total 1,786 900 1,231 % 27 20 21 -
BARI: Seed material Veg. material Field material BRRI BJRI BFRI
6,601 232 10 4,500 5,936 -
Characterization and evaluation data, like the documentation data, are not published in separate documents, except for reporting in annual reports of respective institutes. Characterization and evaluation data have hardly been used to guide conservation strategies. No formal feedback systems from users of germplasm have yet been developed by any of the genebanks. As a result, information from users has not been made available to genebanks. An effective feedback system from users of germplasm is considered essential and should be developed without delay. Information feedback should be made conditional for users of germplasm from genebanks. Data available on germplasm users are furnished in Table 11. Evaluation of germplasm can be enhanced both regionally and globally by encouraging need-based, mission oriented collaborative programmes involving PGR workers and PGR users on the one hand, and institutes and countries in each region on the other. Often resource constraints do not permit evaluation of germplasm at genebanks. This is especially the case with characters like biochemical analysis, genetic marker studies and genetic fingerprinting.
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Table 11 Users of germplasm from different genebanks
Crops Lentil Chickpea FoxtailMillet Greengram Sorghum BitterGourd Pigeonpea Total Rice
No.of users 2 2 1 5 5 1 1 17 100 10 5 4 15 4 50 10 5 203 17 17 50 5 10 50 25 10 150 387
Organization/Country Maldova, ICARDA Maldova, ICRISAT USA IPSA, Bangladesh Cereal Section,BARI IPSA, Bangladesh IPSA, Bangladesh
BRRI BAU, Mymensingh DU, Dhaka Chittagong University IPSA BARI, Joydebpur DAE, GOB BADC NGOs
Total Jute: Total BFRI
Breeders, Pathologists, Agronomists, Soil Scientists, Physiologists, Entomologists of BJRI.
Dept. Forests, GOB. Inst. of Forestry, Chittagong University (IFCU). Agr. Expt. Stations, NGOs: KARITAS, PROSHIKA, BRAC, Grameen Bank, etc. Tea estates Papermills, Matches Industries, etc.
Total GrandTotal
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However, such information could be relatively easily achieved through regional and/or bilateral collaboration, taking advantage of laboratories where such facilities have been developed.
3.8 REGENERATION Regeneration of collected germplasm is usually carried out when germination capacity of a sample falls below 85%. However, regeneration often becomes difficult due to lack of facilities like available human resources, lack of lab and/or field spaces, lack of funds for carrying out regeneration activities or even due to non-availability of allocated funds in time. As a result, in spite of best intentions and efforts of PGR workers, often only a small fraction of accessions can in fact be regenerated. As a result PGR workers have to make compromises between the number of samples regenerated and the germination percentage of a sample. Regeneration activities are carried out by PGR workers, plant breeders and geneticists. Efforts are made to take necessary precautions to avoid contamination, genetic drift and to maintain genetic purity of samples. However, these cannot always be ensured where a high degree of cross pollination occurs in apparently self fertilized species (like Solanum melongena, Gossypium spp., etc.) and where the knowledge about required isolation distance is often lacking. This warrants basic studies on aspects like the extent of cross pollination in such crops, required isolation distance to maintain genetic purity, minimum population size to be grown in order to avoid genetic drift, etc., as well as provision of adequate infrastructural facilities like screenhouses/ greenhouses for regeneration of samples. Such provisions are imperative in cases of cross pollinated species like Sorghum, most of the Cucurbits, the Brassicas, and many horticultural and forest species. The possibilities of genetic drift during regeneration cannot always be ruled out, particularly for open pollinated crops. Even such crops cannot be given due priority due to lack of facilities. This often compels retention of old samples, separately. Old samples are disposed off when enough new seeds are available.
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3.9 FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES A limited number of explorations aimed to determine the natural distribution of the main native forest tree species have been undertaken by the BFRI. The main purpose in such explorations was: selection of priority species in different eco-geographic zones. The selected species have been preserved in the in situ and ex situ conservation sites of the BFRI. Special emphasis were given to those species which cover both Tropical Wet Evergreen and Tropical Semi Evergreen Forests. These species are Dipterocarpus turbinatus Gaertn (Garjan), Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. (Chaplash), Swintonia floribunda Griff. (Civit), Hopea odorata Roxb. (Telsur), Toona ciliata Roem. (Piays) etc. The BFRI has selected a number of Provisional Plus Trees (PPTs) of these species in both the above eco-geographic zones, and Lagerstroemia speciosa (L) Pers. (Jarul) in Tropical Moist Deciduous Zone for in situ conservation. The establishment and conservation of Seed Stands of the BFRI involve at least one main native species, representing each of the forest types of Bangladesh. As for example, the seed stands of Dipterocarpus turbinatus Gaertn. represent the Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest, those of Szyygium grande Wall. (Dhakijam) represent the Tropical Semi Evergreen Forest, the seed stands of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. represent the Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest, while the stands of Heritiera fomes Buch.- Ham. (Sundari) represent the Tropical Littoral and Swamp Forest, especially the Tidal Swamp/Sundarban Forest. These activities are yet to be extended for conservation of more species for each of the forest types. The same is also applicable for conservation of threatened species, mentioned earlier. So far as ex situ conservation activities are concerned, the BFRI has established different orchards and genebanks involving 14 important species, representing most of the forest types of Bangladesh. Such ex situ conservation activities may also be extended to key plantation species. Moreover, suitable ecological reserves in each type of natural forests are yet to be identified and appropriate measures be taken for conservation of biological diversity of these ecological reserves. With a view to identifying suitable fast growing tree species for increasing the production of fuelwood, veneer wood, poles, timber, food and fodder, in large scale industrial plantations and in small scale village or homestead plantations, research programmes on the evaluation of different forest tree species have been undertaken. The progress in evaluation of such species is shown in Appendix 5.
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Moreover, provenance and varietal trials are being carried out to identify the best provenance/variety of tree species for a particular site or sites. A considerable amount of work has been done on the selection of provenance Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Eucalyptus). In order to evaluate the progenies of selected PPTs and to find out the best genotypes of different forest tree species, a progeny trial of Tectona grandis L. f. (Segun) was established in 1985. This involved 24 selected clones of this species. The latest available data show that Progenies K-130 and K-69 had maximum survival and maximum growth. Recently studies on natural regeneration and phenology of major forest tree species in plantations as well as in natural forest areas of Bangladesh have been undertaken. In order to increase awareness about using genetically improved seed sources among the general mass, programmes have been undertaken for the establishment of demonstration plots in different parts of the country. These involve improved as well as general collections of seeds in planting. Genetic marker studies have not yet been undertaken due to lack of trained personnel. The information system on forest genetic resources is in the process of development. The existing facilities are not sufficient to maintain internationally recommended standards. Improvement in infrastructure, laboratory and transport facilities, for field stations of the BFRI engaged in PGR activities, are urgent needs.
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CHAPTER 4
In-Country Uses of Plant Genetic Resources
The research on crop improvement in Bangladesh started towards the beginning of the century, initially with selection of promising landraces. Prior to the introduction of HYV rice and wheat in the mid 60s, most crop varieties grown in the country were selected/developed out of indigenous germplasm. The breeders in agricultural research institutes collected germplasm for their own use and in doing so they developed small scale genebanks at crop based research institutes.
4.1 USE OF PGR COLLECTIONS With new emphasis on agricultural research after the liberation of Bangladesh, breeding programmes, especially on major crops, expanded and collaborations with CGIAR institutes strengthened. It is mainly through such collaborations that many exotic germplasm were introduced and evaluated (to a limited extent). The number of varieties developed and recommended for cultivation is shown in Table 12. It is to be noted that in addition to the varieties listed in the table (Table 12), farmers cultivate many indigenous varieties of fruits, vegetables, spices and condiments; and also of rice, jute, potato, and sugarcane, pulses and oilseeds. Most of the plant genetic resources of commercial use have been derived from indigenous sources either as direct varieties or through varietal developmental programmes. For examples, (i) in rice of the 62 released varieties, 23 were from indigenous genetic resources, three verities had of the parents that was indigenous and 35 varieties were derived directly from exotic sources (from IRRI), and one variety from a mutant of an indigenous material ; (ii) in jute, 20 out of 23 varieties were derived from local landraces, one variety had one exotic parent, and two varieties were developed from introduced materials; (iii) in the case of leafy vegetables, an estimated 90 per cent of the varieties were from indigenous materials. The same is true for most other crops, with the exception of wheat (all varieties are from exotic materials) and potato (6 varieties are of local and 28 varieties are from exotic materials).
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In the case of forest trees, only a few exotic species have found commercial use in the country. These include Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Eucalyptus), Acacia auriculiformis Griseb. (Akashmoni), Hevea brasiliensis Muell.-Arg. (Rubber), Swietenia macrophylla King (Bara Mehogini), Tectona grandis grandis L. f. (Segun), etc. In the case of fruits and vegetables, almost all adaptable cultivars are farmers old varieties. Most collections in genebanks have commercial importance. They have however not been used frequently in the past, due partly to lack of information dissemination about these genetic resources and partly to lack of vigorous breeding programmes. The local plant genetic resources possess many useful traits such as adaptability to specific ecological niches (i.e. tolerance to drought, salinity, water submergence), and resistance to insect pests and diseases. These traits have potential use in crop improvement programmes needed for the countrys crop diversification efforts. There are no community genebanks in the country, and farmers obtain superior cultivars that are released from research institutes, through farmer to farmer exchanges and government seed distribution systems discussed below.
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Table 12 Number of improved varieties released for cultivation

Crop CEREALS Rice Species Institute BRRI BINA BAU BARI BARI Varietiesreleased 51 3 1 55+6 *=61 16 4 81
Oryza sativa L.
Wheat Maize Total Cereals
Total rice Triticum aestivum L. Zea mays L.
PULSES (Legumes) Lentil Mungbean Blackgram Chickpea Cowpea Lathyrus (Grasspea) Total Pulses
Lens culinaris Medik. Vigna radiata (L) Wilezck Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper Cicer arietinum L. Vigna unguiculata Lathyrus sativus
BARI BARI BINA BARI BARI BINA BARI BARI
1+2*=3 2+2*=4 1 1+2*=3 1+3*=4 1 2 1 9+9*=18
OILSEEDS Mustard
Brassica spp.
Groundnut Sesame Soybean Total Oilseeds
Arachis hypogeaL. Sesamum indicum L. Glycine max L. Merr.
BARI BAU BINA BARI BARI BARI
5 2 2 5 2 3 19
FIBRE CROPS Deshi Jute Tossa Jute Kenaf Mesta Cotton Total Fibre Crops
Corchorus capsularis L. Corchorus olitorius L. Hibiscus cannabinus L. H. sabdariffa L. Gossypium hirsutum L.
BJRI BINA BJRI BJRI BJRI BARI
17 1 8 1 1 6 34
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Crop Beverages Tea Total Beverages
Species
Institute BTRI
Varietiesreleased 8 8
Camellia sinensis L. (Kuntz)
Narcotic Tobacco Total Narcotic
Nicotiana tabacum L.
BARI
1 1
Vegetables Tomato Pumpkin Bottle gourd Chinese cabbage French bean Country bean Garden pea Okra Onion Potato Radish Cabbage Eggplant Watermelon Spices: Coriander Turmeric Black pepper Total FRUITS Guava Grand Total Vegetables
Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karst. (L. esculentum Mill.) Cucurbita maxima Duch. Lagenaria siceraria(Mol.) Stand. Brassica chinensis L. Phaseolus vulgarisL. Schrad. Lablab purpureans(L..) Sweet. (Dolichos lablab L.) Pisun sativum L. Abelmoschus esculentusL Allium cepa L Solanum tuberosumL. Raphanas sativusL. Brassica oleracea L. Solanum melongenaWall. Citrullus colocinthis (L.) Schrad. Coriandrum sativum L. Curcuma longaL. Piper nigrum L.
BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI BARI
2+1*=3 1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 2* 1* 1* 28 1 1 4 1 1* 3* 1* 37+15=52
Psidium guajava(L.) Bat.
BARI
1 228
* recently developed varieties
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4.2 CROP IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES AND SEED DISTRIBUTION Institutional breeding programmes have so far given priority to yield. Resistance to pest, tolerance to stress conditions like droughts, salinity, high or low temperatures, etc. have received considerable attention in rice and wheat, and need emphasis on other crops. At the same time, the need for widening of the genetic base and higher photosynthetic efficiency of crop varieties, quality factors like higher protein content, finer and aromatic grains (e.g. in rice), etc. deserve breeders attention. Likewise larger fruits and bolder seeds (in coarse grain legumes), high oil content (e.g. in ground nut, mustard. etc.), keeping quality in perishable commodities (like fruits and vegetables) are some of the areas where breeding programmes require emphasis on. Also diversification of crop production aimed at improving and maintaining soil fertility, checking soil erosion, addition of biomass to soils, tolerance to waterlogged conditions, etc. deserve high priority. In fruit crops and vegetables greater attention is needed to develop varieties either for improved yield and/or for quality. Many of the indigenous genetic resources can be useful in such breeding programmes. For effective utilization of genetic resources, varietal development programmes need to be diversified and strengthened. Plant breeding activities are practically confined to agricultural research institutes that are government funded. The National Seed Board has the responsibility for approval of varieties developed from research institutes. The seeds of released varieties are made available to farmers mainly through the BADC, as well as the DAE and ARIs. The government seed supply is not adequate and efficient enough to meet the needs of the large number of subsistence farmers spread over nooks and corners of country. Farmers are involved in variety evaluation programmes through On-farm Testing and Farming Systems Research (FSR) programmes. Also Farmers Days, Farmers Rallies are organized where farmers have the opportunity to express their opinions on varieties. So far BADC has been the only agency for production and distribution of improved and quality seeds, but it covers, as mentioned above, only a few major crops. The agency can cover only about 5 per cent of the total seed requirements. The seed production and distribution systems in the country need strengthening both in the public and the private sector as recommended in the National Seed Policy (1992).
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4.3 USE OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES The Bangladesh Forest Research Institute is the only organization that deals with production and supply of improved forest genetic resources. To this end the institute has both short and long term programmes, mainly for forest tree seeds. The short term activities are oriented to provide the initial seed sources of superior planting materials. For this the institute collects seeds from selected trees/stands and distributes them for planting. The long term activities comprise of selection of superior phenotypes, their evaluation in different orchards, and progeny testing of superior materials. Currently the institute makes mass collections of materials from its production orchards only. The annual collection is estimated at about 3,000 kg of seeds. This covers only about 10 - 15% of the annual requirements in the country. For some species, for example Tectona grandis L. f. (Segun), BFRI can supply up to about 50% of the seed requirement. It is expected that when all orchards will start fruiting in the near future, BFRIs seed supply capacity will increase substantially. The National Forest Seed Centre (NFSC), established under the umbrella of the BFRI in 1986, has the responsibility for setting up of a unified system for procurement, registration, handling, storage, testing and distribution of quality forest tree seeds. At the moment the centre has limited facilities and its activities are mainly confined to testing purity, moisture content, germination/viability of seeds, collected by the BFRI only. The centre has to be adequately staffed, and its infrastructural and laboratory facilities improved to perform its mandated jobs satisfactorily.
4.4 BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE USE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES The indigenous plant genetic resources have been the building block for many of the varieties of rice, jute, sugarcane, pulses and oil seeds. The improved indigenous varieties contributed directly and most significantly to increased national productivity. Their use in crossing programmes has helped the breeders to develop varieties to suit in-country needs. The nation also benefits
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directly from PGR when improved types/varieties are made available to areas where these have not been grown before. Also, non-indigenous genetic materials have contributed, as indicated earlier, to variety improvement in potato, wheat, rice, jute, sugarcane and some vegetables. As a result an increased production of these crops was possible.
4.5 IMPROVING PGR UTILIZATION An efficient use of plant genetic resources requires broadening of breeding programmes, including the use of biotechnological means. This would require human resources development, technical assistance, logistic and financial supports. Characterization, evaluation, documentation and dissemination of PGR information are also prerequisites for efficient use of plant genetic resources. Bangladesh constitutes a larger part of the South Asian Gene Centre and its genetic resources are its national wealth. Since Bangladesh has not been able to exploit these genetic resources to any significant extent in the past in spite of its rich plant genetic resources, the potential value of indigenous PGR is considered to be immense in the long term. However, for short term use of PGR, an inventory of the total genetic resources in the country, their collection, characterization, evaluation, documentation and dissemination of PGR information are vital. The initial step would be strengthening the PGR activities in all crop based institutes, in universities dealing with plants, in botanical gardens and arboreta, establishment of arboreta in each of the ecological zones where these are absent. A close collaboration between in-country genebanks for co-ordinated and mission oriented collection should be initiated without delay. Regional and international collaboration should be strengthened; and for ease of work, institutes dealing with PGR should be given greater authority and freedom to deal with such matters as deemed necessary for their smooth functioning. Exchange of information through publication of PGR bulletins, catalogues, workshops, seminars, and exchange of scientists with other PGR centres, both within and outside the country, need not only be encouraged but also be vigorously undertaken.
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A Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources with responsibilities for conservation of orthodox and recalcitrant seeds as well as vegetatively propagated materials should be established as a matter of urgency. The proposed Bureau should have facilities for a Cryo Bank and a DNA Bank, as these are going to assume greater importance in PGR conservation, exchange and use on days ahead. This Bureau should also co-ordinate the PGR activities for the country and provide leadership in PGR research and development. To achieve these, assistance is needed in the development of human resources, infrastructure, and institutional arrangements for collaborations with the CGIAR system and other centres/institutions of relevance.
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CHAPTER 5
National Goals, Policies, Programmes and Legislation
5.1 NATIONAL PROGRAMMES
There is no integrated national programmes on plant genetic resources. Collection, conservation and utilization of PGR are scattered in institutes under several ministries, each mandated to deal with specified crops/plants. Several of these institutes, dealing with conservation of PGR in one form or other, are monocrop institutes (i. e. BRRI, BJRI, SRTI and BTRI). Only BARI and BINA deal with multicrop species while BFRI, BCSIR and IFCU are involved with non-crop plant genetic resources (i.e. forest and medicinal plants). BNH has a regular programme of collecting and preserving plant genetic resources from the wild. There is the need for integration of PGR activities at the national level, between and among institutions including universities, the private sector and NGOs. National awareness on plant genetic resources is still incipient. There has been no legislation to prevent the erosion of PGR, except a ban on rampant use of trees as fuels for brick making industries and a ban on felling trees in high forests. But the impact of these bans has been minimal, if any. However, after the Biodiversity Convention (1992), there appears to be a greater awareness and a keen interest on PGR at the policy level. Programmes are under way to study the implications of the Biodiversity Convention, to seek participation of scientists and other organizations and citizens to advise the government on matters related to the implementation of the Convention.
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Up till now the agricultural policy of the country focused primarily on:
food security; self reliant economy; employment generation ( both on- and off-farm); development of agro-based industries and value added products; export augmentation; crop diversification. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) have the responsibility to coordinate agricultural research in the country vis a vis a larger share of the responsibility to conserve biodiversity. Steps are underway to ratify the Biodiversity Convention in the National Parliament and to take follow up actions. The involvement of the private sector and NGOs in matters related to the Biodiversity Convention has so far been minimal, but is considered crucial for the success of PGR conservation. The Heads of PGR programmes in an institute are answerable to the Institute Head, who, in turn, is accountable to the concerned Ministry (i.e. the Ministry of Agriculture in the cases of BARI, BRRI, BJRI, SRTI, BINA and IPSA; the Ministry of Commerce in the case of BTRI; the Ministry of Environment and Forest in the case of BFRI and BNH; the Ministry of Science and Technology in the cases of BCSIR and IFCU, and the Ministry of Education in the cases of the Universities). And it is the concerned Ministry which holds the power to abolish or establish the post in a Division or a Department. In all research institutes the positions of PGR scientists are vulnerable. Similarly the institutional programmes and budgets are also controlled by the concerned Ministries, the Ministry of Planning as well as the Ministry of Finance. There is no separate budget line for PGR activities in the country. The funds for such activities, without exception, come from the Annual Development Budget. The development budget funds are often subject to pruning. As such funds for PGR are insecure. Bangladesh is yet to formulate legislation to protect its PGR wealth. It is practically the PGR workers who have been concerned about genetic resources and who consider them as valuable national assets. For all practical purposes, an understanding of the importance of PGR at the policy level has so far been rather low.
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It is important and urgent that PGR activities in the country are streamlined with trained personnel and their career opportunities, with infrastructural facilities, with authority vested on technical personnel to make decisions on technical matters, and at the same time making them responsible/accountable for their performance.
5.2 TRAINING The PGR programmes, in general, are understaffed and lack sufficient trained personnel. In most cases such activities are carried out by personnel drawn from other disciplines. Currently about 30 scientists and 15 technicians are directly involved in PGR activities. In addition, many more are working in germplasm evaluation, seed processing, genebank management, data management, etc., but without proper training in relevant fields. The priority areas for PGR training are as follows: Documentation and Data Management; Seed Production of Open Pollinated Species (including trees); in vitro Preservation; Taxonomy; Monitoring Stability and Dynamics of in situ Populations; Genebank Management; Seed Health and Processing; Genetic Diversity Assessment; Genetic Marker Study and Genetic Fingerprinting; Cryopreservation. Current PGR personnel and future training needs are shown in Table 13.
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Table 13
Institute
Current PGR strength and future training needs o f different institutes

Approved number of posts Scientist Technician 12 6 7 3 3 31 7 6 2 2 17 Short 16 6 6 2 7 2 2 41 Training needs Scientists Medium 6 4 4 3 10 3 3 33 T echnicians Long 10 3 3 2 12 2 2 34 2 2 3 2 2 2 13
No. PGR personnel currently available Scientist Technician 8 6 3 12 29 6 2 3 3 14
BARI BRRI BJRI BINA BFRI BTRI SRTI Total
At the moment no organized training courses are available in the country. However, potentials for developing training courses are there but international/regional assistance will be required. It may be noted here that BJRI has already offered training courses to PGR workers from India, China, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia with assistance from IJO. Courses on PGR are not subjects in educational institutions in the country, except that the Institute for Postgraduate Studies (IPSA) has recently introduced a course on PGR management. It is important that awareness about PGR be created as extensively as possible and for this, courses on genetic resources should be included as a subject of education from the university down to the primary school where both men and women would be equally involved. This aspect could well be considered at regional and global levels. The staff recruitment for PGR in Bangladesh is too low to sustain PGR activities and often staff trained in PGR are posted elsewhere. Transfers of PGR staff should necessarily be avoided by creating career opportunities for PGR workers. It is felt that commitment for biodiversity conservation should be conditional for international assistance in agriculture, forestry, urbanization, and other major construction projects.
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5.3 NATIONAL LEGISLATION Quarantine Laws, as currently being practised in the country, cannot be considered as conducive to exchanges of PGR materials, especially for live materials such as plant parts, recalcitrant seeds, etc. There are instances where live PGR materials, imported after years of efforts, were destroyed due to delays in delivery to concerned research institutes. There should be separate quarantine regulations for research materials. New quarantine laws are, however, about to be implemented. Special legislation is required for in vitro materials because the future exchange of genetic materials is likely to be undertaken more through in vitro systems for better safeguard from pathogen contamination and also for economy of spaces, especially in cases of vegetatively propagated materials. In Bangladesh four classes of seeds (Breeder Seeds, Foundation Seeds, Certified Seeds, Truthfully Labelled Seeds) are currently recognized. The National Seed Policy of Bangladesh has recently been framed but the subsequent Seed Rules, in coherence with the Seed Policy though have been formulated, are awaiting gazette notification by the government. The Seed Policy has recommended free import and distribution of seeds other than rice, wheat, jute, potato and sugarcane. These five crops have been identified as controlled or notified crops and their import and distribution are subject to stringent regulations. The Seed Policy allows free trade of farmers varieties. Although the Seed Policy allows free trade in seeds, some essential precautions are needed in import, sale and distribution of seeds, no matter whether they fall under controlled/notified crops or not. The IPR legislation is yet to be formulated in Bangladesh. This however requires an in-depth study. The implications of GATT/WTO accords need to be thoroughly studied before formulation of the IPR legislation, the legislation on exchange of genetic materials, and import/export of plant materials. In drawing up such regulations, due recognition to farmers rights must be ensured. Further regional / international dialogues and collaborations may prove useful in this regard. National awareness on biodiversity has so far been rather low to the extent that even among scientists an opportunity to study and understand the Biodiversity Convention has not yet arisen. A National Committee of PGR has recently been proposed at a meeting held at BARC (3 April 1995) where an eminent agricultural scientist has been nominated to act as the Chairman of the Committee. A National Workshop on PGR is now being planned.
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Bangladesh has so far followed friendly and liberal exchange of PGR materials, mainly through bilateral arrangements. Also joint explorations/expeditions with overseas/ international missions have been allowed in the past without imposing restrictions. In view of IPR and GATT/WTO accords, the situation warrants a fresh study. Possibilities do exist for changes in current national policies.
5.4 OTHER POLICIES No incentives are provided in Bangladesh for production and marketing of improved varieties/certified seeds. Development, production and marketing of improved seeds have until recently been confined to the public sector where these activities have been considered as routine work, without any incentive. However, the private sector has now started seed production in the country. PGR workers are not involved in planning any major agricultural development projects. However, during initiation of a new project, the Ministry of Planning demands a statement as to the impact of a new project on the environment, and not essentially on PGR.
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CHAPTER 6
International Collaboration
6.1 UNITED NATIONS INITIATIVES
UNCED Bangladesh, a risk prone and yet a gene rich region, faces serious threats of erosion of plant genetic resources. The country has much to expect from Agenda 21, particularly in Meeting Agricultural Needs without Destroying the Land, and Sustaining Biological Diversity. The message in Agenda 21 (adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, UNCED), We can better manage and protect the ecosystem and bring about a more prosperous future for us all and that No nation can achieve this on its own but Together we can ... , has been a call for international/global collaboration. Bangladesh responded to the call and adopted Agenda 21 at the Earth Summit in June, 1992 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Although Bangladesh has not yet developed its National Agenda 21, it has set up a National Environment Committee under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister and has recently completed a National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) through a nation-wide consultative process. However, the country has not been able to make much progress in implementing Chapter 14 G (Conservation And Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Sustainable Agriculture) and Chapter 15 (Conservation Of Biological Diversity) of Agenda 21 since the Convention in 1992. Even though Bangladesh signed the Biodiversity Convention at Rio in 1992 and ratified it in 1994, the level of participation in the negotiations through Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) has been minimal. It is hoped that concrete plans and actions on the implementation of Biodiversity Convention (covering Chapter 14 G and Chapter 15) will follow. (Similar is the case with Convention on Climate i. e. Bangladesh signed it, but the level of participation has been minimal). The United Nations, for over a decade, has taken initiatives in mobilising a global consensus on PGR through its International Undertaking on Plant
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Genetic Resources, Intergovernmental Commission on Plant Genetic Resources, etc. These helped ensure commitments of countries to Agenda 21 and the Biodiversity Convention. These set the stage for developing a A Global Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources at the first meeting of ICPPGR to be held in 1996. While the FAO Commission helped develop consensus and commitment of Governments to PGR, helped facilitate policy issues for international exchange of plant genetic resources and facilitate steps towards developing the Global Plan of Action, the Convention of Biological Diversity forum is apparently expected to translate these initiatives into a reality. In this context, we view the roles of FAO Commission and the Convention are certainly complementary and mutually strengthening. However, if the Convention is expected to translate the vision of the Commission, it is axiomatic that there would be some distinct / separate roles of the two bodies, even though the two are mutually complementary.
FAO Global System Bangladesh is a member of the FAO Commission and the reasons for joining the Commission has been stated above. The foremost benefit(s) the country gained from joining the Commission has been:
a. a greater awareness, beyond the PGR workers to the policy makers of the
country, about the need for PGR conservation,

b. a concern for and an oppor tunity to participate in developing
regional/global action plans for PGR,

c. an opportunity to learn from others who have gone ahead with
PGR activities. Our major expectation from the Commission during the next decade include:
a. assistance in developing a National PGR system for Bangladesh (not only
for orthodox conservation of PGR but also for conservation through advanced techniques/methods including Cryopreservation, Genetic Marker Studies and Genetic Fingerprinting),
b. facilitating easy, fair and equitable exchange of plant genetic resources,
taking into consideration the Farmers Rights and the Breeders Rights. Even though Bangladesh signed the Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, unfortunately information on the matter hardly trickled downward. Except some government regulations (i.e. declaration of (a) a ban on the use of fuelwood for brick industries and (b) a ban on tree felling in
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high forests), hardly anything tangible for conservation of PGR has taken place in the country. However, we envisage
1. a judicious land use policy in the country, 2. an inventory of PGR of the country (at an early date) under the guidance
of professionals in relevant fields,

3. a moratorium on tree felling in all reserved forests (for a specified period), 4. identification of in situ conservation sites and their preservation measures, 5. establishment of ex situ conservation sites that will include a larger number
of national parks and arboreta in different ecological zones of the country,

6. a moratorium on export of PGR without the consent of a National
Committee of on Plant Genetic Resources (already proposed in a meeting held recently at BARC),
7. establishment of a Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and strengthening
and streamlining existing the PGR activities currently scattered under various ministries, institutions /organizations,
8. the ratification of the Biodiversity Convention by the National Parliament
soonest, and
9. large scale involvement of the private sector and NGOs in PGR activities.
To accomplish most of the above Bangladesh will need assistance, both technical and financial, to help conserve the countrys rich genetic resources. An international fund for such activities is very much the needed. FAO/UNDP, either alone or in association with other organizations, have in the past helped Bangladesh in the following PGR collaboration projects:
the establishment of the Genebank at BARI; the establishment of the Genebank at BJRI, in association with the Asian
Development Bank and UNDP;

the Mango Project of BARI; the Integrated Maize Promotion Project (IMPP) of BARI; and the Forest Tree Improvement Programme (FORTIP) of BFRI.
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6.2 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTRES The CGIAR The CGIAR commodity centres have contributed significantly to the countrys plant genetic resources through the following national plant genetic resources programmes:
1. IRRI contributed to rice improvement programme of BRRI; 2. IBPGR (IPGRI) contributed to the establishment of the Genebank at
BARI (in association with FAO/UNDP);

3. ICRISAT contributed to the Pulses (legumes) Improvement Programme of
BARI;
4. CIMMYT contributed to the Wheat and Maize Improvement Programmes
of BARI;
5. CIP contributed to the Potato improvement Programme of BARI; 6. AVRDC contributed to the Vegetable Improvement Programme of BARI; 7. ICARDA contributed to Barley and Wheat Development Programmes of
BARI;
8. IITA contributed to Maize and Grain Legume Programmes of BARI.
The CGIAR centres have provided plant genetic materials: a. as finished products, b. in the form of advanced breeding lines, c. as parental stock for breeding programmes already undertaken/to be
undertaken within the country. The CGIAR supports generally came through CGIAR staff located in the country/region. For this the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and ARIs have, in most cases, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with GCIAR centres.
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National staff have received training from the following CGIAR centres: IRRI; CIMMYT; CIP; ICARDA; ICRISAT; IITA; IPGRI (IBPGR).
In some cases the training received were through in-service training at CGIAR centres, and in some cases through attendance of courses at the centres. In most of the cases, training received at CGIAR centres have been based on the slots offered to the country, rather than on country-driven needs. As such it is difficult to comment on if CGIAR centres failed to provide training sought from them. In the absence of a strong national PGR programme, it is difficult to envisage transfers of CGIAR genetic resources functions to our national programmes. The IRRI has received a huge number of rice germplasm from Bangladesh but their identity numbers are not known to Bangladesh. We would like the IRRI to take initiatives to convey these identity numbers to concerned research institute in Bangladesh (BRRI). Similarly all CGIAR centres and other genetic resources centres (whether national, regional or international), that obtained germplasm through joint explorations undertaken on bilateral arrangements or otherwise, may convey the identity of and information on germplasm to the country(ies) of origin to be fair with Farmers Rights. The mechanisms of communication between national programmes and CGIAR centres, as mentioned above, are mainly based on MOUs. Collaborations with CGIAR centres without an MOU, that passes through a long government channel and often is time consuming, does not seem easy. Often the process takes not only months but years. However, information of, say, results of characterization, evaluation and use of the countrys indigenous germplasm from overseas users of PGR germplasm, have not been forthcoming. Such information dissemination may be established as a matter of routine for the recipient PGR centres (whether national, regional or international).
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CGIAR scientists located in the country/region extended support and helped in programme execution and exchange of information. They often helped expedite execution of programme activities.
IPGRI IPGRI, with its regional centres, is certainly better poised to help identify national needs and opportunities, and help solve regional vis a vis national problems. Similarly, it can initiate and organize regional programmes (in coherence with national programmes) including training of PGR personnel, workshops, seminars and mass awareness drives on PGR, in addition to conservation activities. All these would obviously be based on global perspectives. These activities we regard as the most important functions of IPGRI. IPGRI, in the same vein, can play a catalytic role in international collaboration, developing/strengthening national capabilities in PGR activities, in disseminating information on PGR and their uses (whether in-country and abroad) not only to scientists, but also to administrators, policy makers and most importantly to the general mass at the grassroot level. It is the later three groups whose awareness and interests on PGR matter most in the implementation of conservation programmes. IPGRI regional offices may take initiatives to document exchanges of germplasm that have taken place within and from respective regions in the past, publish information on their characterization, evaluation and uses so far, and convey such information to all interested in the region and outside the region. A similar documentation of current exchanges of germplasm may be taken up as a routine work. This may also include PGR materials held in CGIAR centres, regional genebanks as well as national genebanks. IPGRI may also help promote NGOs and the private sector for activities on PGR. These may include private sector parks, arboreta, in situ conservation sites, etc.
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Other International Centres

IDRC
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada provided assistance in pulse crops survey in Bangladesh.
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) - the World Conservation Union, has helped Bangladesh in the preparation of the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) entitled Towards Sustainable Development, with financial assistance from NORAD. The conservation strategy focused on inter alia Rural Development, Land Resources, Environmental Awareness and Genetic Resources. The recommendations of the NCS are considered important and the pertinent recommendations (of the NCS) are given in Appendix 6.
ODA
The Overseas Development Agencies (of United Kingdom) provided assistance in Tea Improvement as well as Pulse Improvement Programmes.
Regional Research Centres
IJO
The International Jute Organization (IJO) with its base at Dhaka (Bangladesh) has undertaken, since its inception in 1984, 23 projects. Of these the Germplasm Project at BJRI, started in 1987, has to its credit the following:
1. Increased the supply of germplasm substantially for breeding programmes
on jute (Corchorus spp.), kenaf and mesta (Hibiscus spp.). These germplasm are being shared by jute producing countries (Bangladesh, India, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Nepal, etc.).
2. In spite of limitations, a good progress has been made in characterization,
evaluation and conservation of germplasm at the genebank located at the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute.
3. Workshops and training programmes, with participation of member
countries, contributed to exchange of information and helped in human resource development in the region.
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4. The pressure on lands for growing food crops increased with the increase in
population in the region. This pushed jute to marginal lands. This has created the need for developing varieties suitable for marginal lands. While varieties with high yield and quality fibres are lacking, pushing jute to marginal lands warrants a greater effort to develop varieties that suit poorer soils and yet produce higher yields. Thus conservation of germplasm for new breeding programmes has become ever more a critical matter, and the genebank at BJRI, Dhaka is capable to supply most of the needed germplasm for future breeding programmes.
5. The Genebank at BJRI has been designated as the Centralized Germplasm
Repository (CGR) for maintaining base collections of jute and allied fibres crops, collected by IJO since August 1990. This, no doubt, reflects the capabilities and potentials that exist in the country in terms of PGR activities.
AVRDC
Bangladesh has a MOU with AVRDC. The resident scientist of AVRDC has initiated a good number of programmes on vegetable development in Bangladesh and has already completed some training programmes on vegetables, including Germplasm Collection, Evaluation, Documentation and Conservation. Bangladesh has exchanged a substantial number of vegetable germplasm with AVRDC. In fact Bangladesh lagged behind abysmally in undertaking vegetable breeding programmes in the past and it is AVRDC which initiated, in some meaningful way, vegetable breeding in the country. The activities need to be sustained and strengthened, and expanded to fruit crops, if possible. It is a fact in Bangladesh that research institutes have no authority to deal with regional centres, for that matter with any centre, without the consent of the concerned government ministries. As such a formal agreement between the government and the centre is essential to the success of the collaboration/relationship.
Regional Intergovernmental Initiatives
Bangladesh has not yet established collaboration with ECPGR, IICA and RECSEA. It is important that collaboration with such regional initiatives, especially with RECSEA and IICA be established at an early date in the interest of Bangladesh. It is strongly felt that a SAARC Plant Genetic Resources Centre should be established with a view to initiating regionally integrated plant genetic
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resources programmes. Such a regional PGR centre would not only strengthen regional PGR activities, but also would help create awareness beyond the scientific arena, to policy makers, administrators and farmers in the region in general. It may also help initiate regional approach to include PGR courses in educational institutions with a view to creating awareness of and equipping younger generations on PGR conservation. The International Jute Organization (IJO), with its headquarters in Bangladesh, has contributed to the development of the Germplasm Division of BJRI, training of PGR personnel and a greater cooperation and collaboration among member countries of IJO.
Bilateral Intergovernmental Initiatives
Bangladesh has bilateral arrangements with the following countries:

Australia, China, India, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey.
The exchanges of germplasm with these countries, on a reciprocal basis, is included in the bilateral arrangements. Recently BRRI received some financial assistance for collection and conservation of rice germplasm from Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). The assistance has been channelled through IRRI for a four-year project (1995-98) entitled Safeguarding and Preservation of Biodiversity of the Rice Genepools.
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CHAPTER 7
National Needs and Opportunities
7.1 OPPORTUNITIES
Bangladesh is remarkably rich in genetic variability of field crops, fruits, nuts and forest species. It is also the secondary centre of origin of many important vegetables and fruits. People here have lived for millennia on naturally endowed genetic diversity of these plant species, and very little of the diversity has yet been exploited scientifically to the benefit of the people. This provides the scope for utilization of these yet untapped genetic resources, not only for the benefit of the people in the country but also around the globe. Much of the future agricultural cum economic development lies hidden in these untapped resources. But this calls for collection, and conservation and utilization of these resources before they are lost or threatened with extinction. Bangladesh constitutes the larger part of one of the Vavilovian Mega Centre of Genetic Diversity, the South Asian Gene Centre sharing with India. The country has a large number of plant scientists and technicians working in agricultural research institutes, universities and the Bangladesh National Herbarium. For an efficient utilization and exploitation of these resources and opportunities, a sound national programme on plant genetic resources is not only desirable but essential. This warrants a national commitment at the highest level and promotion of greater collaborations both at the regional and the global level.
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7.2 NATIONAL NEEDS
An assessment of genetic diversity, the rate and extent of PGR erosion, and prioritization of PGR activities based on the information gathered from such studies - (urgent need). Establishment of a Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources with appropriate infrastructure for conservation of orthodox and recalcitrant seeds, vegetatively propagated materials, including facilities for a Cryo bank and a DNA bank - (urgent need). Strengthening and integration of national PGR network including field genebanks. Development of PGR documentation and data management systems to facilitate local and Regional use of PGR information. Development of human resources necessary for national PGR programmes. Formulation of national legislation to implement the Biodiversity Convention -(urgent need). Development of biotechnological capabilities to upgrade the national PGR programme, especially for bilateral and collaborative research. Strengthening of national varietal improvement programmes and an integration of such programmes with PGR activities.
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CHAPTER 8
Proposals for a Global Plan of Action
In order to facilitate the process of assigning high priority for PGR activities in national policies, and to create a conducive environment for free and fair exchange of germplasm with a view to resolving problems of food production programmes: Facilitate collaborative efforts between and among countries and regions on collection, evaluation, utilization and other PGR activities. Facilitate exchange of PGR information. Establish regional PGR fund to promote regional PGR activities. Ensure global involvement for sharing crop genetic and other natural resources (including water) for the benefit of each country. Facilitate global action and assistance in creating awareness, both at the national and the international level, on the importance of PGR, environment and habitat conservation. This may include introduction of course curricula on PGR at all levels of education and mass awareness drives/campaigns. Undertake global action to minimize any adverse effect/implications the Biodiversity Convention and GATT/WTO accords on the economies of developing countries. Take global approaches, where necessary, to prevent / reduce habitat destruction and environmental pollution accruing from development programmes, especially by a national government with the involvement of international organization(s). In other words, international assistance in national projects for protection of habitats, conservation of genetic resources, reduction in environmental pollution may be made conditional. Facilitate global assistance to strengthen national varietal development programmes. The list has been prepared in order of priorities.
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APPENDIX 1
Cultivated crop plants of Bangladesh
Crop Cereals Rice Wheat Maize Barley Pearl Millet Fox Tail Millet Triticale Pulses (Grain legumes) Grasspea Lentil Chickpea Mungbean Blackgram Pigeonpea Cowpea Oilseeds Mustard Groundnut Sesame Linseed Niger Safflower Coconut Vegetables Brinjal (Eggplant) Radish Bottle gourd Tomato Squash Pumpkin Cucumber Marfa, Phuti Bitter gourd Teasle gourd Snake gourd Amaranth Spinach Lima bean French bean Scientific Name Growing Season Rabi and Kharif Rabi Rabi and Kharif Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi and Kharif Rabi and Kharif Rabi Rabi and Kharif Rabi and Kharif Rabi Rabi Rabi and Kharif Round the year Rabi and Kharif Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi and Kharif Rabi Kharif Rabi Kharif Kharif Kharif Rabi and Kharif Rabi Rabi Rabi Status Major Major Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor Major Major Major Major Minor Minor Minor Major Major Major Minor Minor Minor Major Major Major Major Minor Major Minor Major Minor Minor Major Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor
Oryza sativa Triticum aestivum Zea mays Hordeum vulgare Panicum miliaceum Setaria italica Triticale Lathyrus sativus Lens culinaris Cicer arietinum Vigna radiata Vigna mungo Cajanus cajan Vigna unguiculata Brassica spp. Arachis hypogea Sesamum indicum Linum usitatissimum Guizotia abyssinica Carthamus tinctorius Cocos nucifera Solanum melongena Raphanus sativus Lagenaria siceraria Lycopersicon esculentum Cucurbita moschata/pepo Cucurbita maxima Cucumis sativus Cucumis melo Momordica charantia Momordica dioica Trichosanthes anguina Amaranthus spp./gangeticus Spinacea oleracea Phaseolus lunatus Phaseolus vulgaris
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Crop Country bean Ribbed gourd Songe gourd Indian spinach Okra Ash gourd Cheena sak Bathua Water melon Kalmi sak Winged bean Potato Sweet potato Arum Yam bean,Shak aku Yam Spices Chilli Turmeric Coriander Black cumin Fenugreek (Methi) Black pepper Cuminseeds (Jeera) Ginger Onion Garlic Join Fruits Jackfruit Mango Litchi Guava Watermelon Lime Lemon Pomelo Mandarin Sweet orange (Malt a) Carambola (Kamranga)
Scientific Name Dolichos purpureus Luffa acutungula Luffa cylindrica Basella alba Abelmoschus escunletus Benincasa hispida (B. cerifera) Brassica spp. Chenopodium album Citrulus vulgaris Ipomea aquaric a (I . re ptans) Psophocarpus tet ragonolobus Solanum tuberosum Ipomoea batatus Colocasia esculenta Pachyrrhizus tuberosus Dioscorea spp.
Growing Season Rabi Rabi Kharif Kharif Kharif Kharif Rabi Rabi Kharif Kharif Rabi Rabi Rabi Round the year Round the year
Status Major Minor Minor Minor Major Major Major Minor Major Minor Minor Major Major Major Minor Minor Major Major Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor Major Major Major Minor
Caps icum annu m/ fru tes cens Curcuma domestica/longa Coriandrum sativum Nigella sativa Trig onel la foenum-g rac eum Piper nigrum Cuminum cyminum Zingiber officinale Allium cepa Allium sativum Carum capticum Artocarpus heterophyllus Mangifera indica Litchi chinensis Psidium guajava Cit rul lu s l anatus (C. vul garis) Citrus aurantifolia Citrus limon Citrus grandis Citrus reticulata Citrus sinensis Averrhoa carambola
Rabi and Kharif Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi Rabi A tree, A tree, A tree, A tree, Rabi A tree, A tree, A tree, Rabi A tree, A tree, fruits fruits fruits fruits in in in in Kharif Kharif Kharif Kharif
fruits in Kharif fruits in Kharif fruits in Kharif fruits in Rabi fruits in Kharif
Major Major Minor Minor Major Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor Minor
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Crop Fibre crops Cotton Jute Mesta and Kenaf Sunnhemp Sugar crops Sugarcane Date palm Beverage Tea Narcotics Tobacco Green manuring crops Sunnhemp Sesbania (Shon pat)
Scientific Name
Growing Season Rabi and Kharif Kharif Kharif Rabi Rabi and Kharif A tree, fruits in Kharif
Status Minor Major Minor Minor Major Minor
Gossypium spp. Corchorus spp. Hibiscus spp. Crotalaria juncea Saccharum officinale Phoenix sylvestris Camellia sinensis
A tree, harvested in Kharif Major Minor Minor Minor
Nicotiana t abacum, N. rustica Rabi Crotalaria juncea Sesbania spp.

Rabi Kharif
Source: Mondal, M. H. 1990. Plant genetic resources activities in Bangladesh. Proc. South Asia National Coordinators Meeting, 21-24 March, 1990, held at IBPGR Regional Office for South Asia, NBPGR Campus, Pusa, New Delhi - 110 012, India.
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APPENDIX 2
Edible fruit species in Bangladesh forests
SL. No. 1. Species Alangium salvifolium (L.f.) Wangerin (Aikha, Ankura, Akarkanta) Anthocephalus chinensis (lamk.) Rich ex Walp. (Kadam) Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn. (Khudijam) Family Alangiaceae Description Small deciduous tree or straggling shrub Tall deciduous tree Distribution Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, village groves Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Dinajpur Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Coxs Bazar, Dhaka, Dinajpur Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Madhupur Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Madhupur Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet (usually in shady places) Dhaka, Mymensingh, (small forests)
2.
Rubiaceae
3.
Euphorbiaceae
Deciduous shrub or small tree Large deciduous tree
4.
Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. (Chaplash, Chambal)
Moraceae
5.
Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. (Dewa)
Moraceae
Medium sized deciduous tree
6.
Baccaurea ramiflora (Roxb.) Muell-Arg. Lour. (B. sapida) (Latka)
Euphorbiaceae
Small to medium sized evergreen tree
7.
Bauhinia vahlii W. et A. (Chehur)
Caesalpiniaceae
8.
Buchanania lanzan Spreng. (B. latifolia Roxb.)
Anacardiaceae
9.
Bauea burmanica Griff.
Anacardiaceae
Gigantic tredrillar woody climber (attaining 35 m and 60 m diameter Medium sized evergreen tree (Trunk looks like crocodile skin) Medium sized evergreen tree
Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sundarbans Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka,Mymensingh,Sylhet . Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka,Mymensingh Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet Chittagong, HillTracts, Sunamganj,Sundar-bans Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mymensingh,Sylhet Chittagong (Andhermanik & Dhoom) growing in Savanas, Madhupur sal forest, Dinajpur (Singra).
10.
Bridelia retusa Spreng. (Kamkui, Kantakhasi, Kosoi) Calamus erectus Roxb. (Kadam Bet) Calamus rotung L. (Chanci Bet) C. tenuis Roxb. (Bhandari Bet) Carallia brachiata (Lour.) Merr. ( C. lucida Roxb.) (Rajcow, Khenargachh) Cleistocalyx operaculatus (Roxb.) Herr. & Perry ( Eugenia operculata Roxb.) (Tepajam, Thengajam, Batijam)
Euphorbiaceae
Small to medium sized deciduous tree Erect, tuft, very thorny cane Slender climbing cane with long stem Medium sized to tall evergreen tree with horizontal branches green thick leaves Small to medium sized tree, thick leaves with small of jam (?) when bruised and turn red or purplish when shedding
11. 12. 13.
Palmae Palmae Rhizophoraceae
14.
Myrtaceae
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SL. No. 15.
16.
Species Cordia dichotoma Forest f. ( C. myxa Roxb.) (Bahanari, Laskkara) Dillenia indica L. (Chalta)
Family Ehretiaceae
Description Medium sized deciduous tree Medium sized semi deciduous tree with redish smooth bark Medium sized to large deciduous tree
Dilleniaceae
17.
Dillenia pentagyna Roxb . (Hargoja, Akshi, karkota. Ajugi)
Dilleniaceae
18.
Diospyros peregrina Gaertn,. (D . embryopteris Pers.) (Deshi Gab) Diospyros toposia (Buch.) Ham ( D. racemosa Roxb.) (Gabgulal) Ehretia acuminata R. Br. (E. serrata Roxb.) (Kaloaza, Kulaza) Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume. (Belphol) E. robusta Roxb . (Jalpai) ( E. tectorius (Lour.) Poir.) Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Phyllanthus emblica L.
Ebenaceae
19.
Ebenaceae
20.
Ehretiaceae
21.
Elaeocarpaceae
22.
Euphorbiaceae
23.
Erioglossum rubiginosum Blume. E. edule Blume (Amlaki)
Sapi ndaceae
24.
25.
Ficus auriculatus Lour. F. Roxb urghii Wall. F. macrophylla Roxb. (Dumur) Ficus racemosa L. ( F. glomerata Roxb.) (Jagdumur)
Moraceae
Moraceae
Small to medium sized evergreen tree fluted lofty black trunk Medium sized to large evergreen tree with black rough bark Small to medium sized semi evergreen tree Medium sized evergreen tree with alwayas some crimson redish old leaves Small to medium sized deciduous tree with beautiful pinnately compound leaf-like foliage although the leaves are simple Evergreen large shrub or small to medium sized tree with young parts densely covered by rusty golden tomentum Small to medium sized very silky evergreen tree Medioum sized tree, deciduous for short time with redish broen smooth bark
Distribution Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mymensingh,Sylhet Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, in villages throughout Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dhaka, Mymensingh,Sylhet (usually growing inSavanas) Grows wild in different forests
Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, usually growing in moist places Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet, Mymensingh
Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet, Dhaka, Mymensingh. Dinajpur
Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, and villages
Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sitapahar, on Kaptai Road. Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Coxs Bazar and throughout the country
BANGLADESH country report SL. No. 26. Species Ficus hispida L. (Tkoska, Kakdumur) Family Moraceae Description Large shrub or small tree with l;arge opposite, very coarse (hairy) leaves. Medium sized deciduous tree Small to medium sized deciduous tree with compound branched spines on the main trunk Much thorny bushy deciduous shrub to small tree Tall evergree glabrous tree with drooping branches and exuding yellow latex Medium sized semideciduous tree with copious yellow latex Medium sized deciduous tree Medium sized deciduous tree with white latex and large leathery leaves crowded at the end of branches Large evergreen tree Bushy shrub with purple coloured flowers Small to medium sized tree or shrub Stemless Spiny scandant shrub with recurved spines
85 Distribution Grows in all forest areas and in waste places throughout the country
27.
28.
Firmiana colorata Roxb. R. Br.(Sterculia colorata Roxb.) (Faisa Udal, Pata Gota) Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch, (Paniala, Kukluki) F. cataphracta Roxb. ex Willd. (Ujal) Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. ( F. ramontchii (L.) Heritt.; F. sepiaria Roxb. ) (Beuchi, Paniala) Garcinia cowa Roxb. G. kydia Roxb. (Kaglichu)
Sterculiaceae
Flacourtiaceae
Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet, Dhaka, Mymensingh Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Coxs Bazar, Sylhet.
29.
Flacourtiaceae
Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Sylhet. Mymensingh, Dhaka Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet
30.
Guttifereae
31.
Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.f. (Tamal, Dambel) Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl.(Dhaman) Madhuca indica J.F. Gmell. M. latifolia Roxb. Bassia latifolia Roxb. (Mahua)
Guttifereae
Chittagong Hill Tracts
32. 33.
Tiliaceae Sapotaceae
Chittagong, Hill Tracts Forests of Dinajpur (Dharmapur, Santal Village)
34.
Mangifera sylvatica Roxb. (Jangli Am) Melastroma malabathricum L. (Datranga, Lutki) Microcos paniculata L. Grewia microcos Wall. ex Mast. (Asar, Patka) Nypa fruticans Wurmb.(Golpata) Paramigyna citrifolia Hook. f. (Ban Nebu, Karipa)
Anacardiaceae
35.
Melastomaceae
Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Coxs Bazar, Sylhet Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Sylhet, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Coxs Bazar, Sylhet Chittagong, Hill Tracts, Sylhet Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet
36.
Melastomaceae
37. 38.
Palmae Rutaceae
BANGLADESH country report SL. No. 39. Species Parkia Roxb urghii G. Don. P. javanica Merr. (Sapota) Family Mimosaceae Description Tall unarmed tree, bipinnate leaves and small leaflets. Soboliferous gregarious palm (bushy when young) can grow stem up to 6m Small deciduous tree or large shrub Small to medium sized tree or large shrub with redish brown bark Small to mid- sized tree with leathery leaves ,stilt roots Glabrous trwining shrub Lartge deciduous tree with much fluted knotty trunk Small deciduous tree with large leaves corowded at the end of the branchlets Mid-sized semideciduous tree Small to medium sized evergreen tree with yellow drooping branches Medium sized to large deciduous tree Tall deciduous tree with nearly horizontal whorled branches and digitate Large unarmed woody climber Medium sized evergreen tree
86 Distribution Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bandarban) Mangrove forests of Sundarbans.
40.
Phoenix paludosa Roxb. (Hintal)
Palmae
41.
Randia spinosa Poir. R. dumetorum Lam.(Mainphal) Randia uliginosa DC. (Piralu)
Rubiaceae
42.
Rubiaceae
Chittagong, Hill Tracts, Coxs Bazar, Sylhet,Dhaka,Dinajpur Sylhet, Chittagong Hill Tracts
43.
Rhizophora mucronata Poir. (Haoa, Khamo, Jhanna) Sarcolobus globosus Wall. (Baolilata) Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken. S. trijuga Willd. (Kusum, Lakkha) Semicarpus anacardium L. (Beula, Bhelatuki)
Rhizophoraceae
Sundarbana o\and other tidal forests Sundarbans and tidal creeks of Chgittagong Dhaka, Chittagong, Mymensingh Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts Dhaka, Mymensingh, Comilla, Sal;illa of Sylhet Sundarbans and other coastal areas
44. 45.
Asclepiadaceae Sapindaceae
46.
Anacardiaceae
47. 48.
Shorea robusta Gaertn. (Gajari) Sonneratia caseolaris L. ( S. acida L.) (Orali, Choila) Spondias pinnata (L.) Kurz. (Amra) S. mangifera Willd. (Amletung) Sterculia foetida L. (Jangli Badam)
Dipt erocarpaceae Sonneratiaceae
49.
Anacardiaceae
50.
Sterculiaceae
Chittagong, Dhaka, Coxs Bazar and villages throughout the country Coxs Bazar and Chittagong
51.
Stixis suaveolens (Roxb.) Pierre. ( Roydsia sauveolens Roxb.) Syzygium claviforum Roxb. Wall ex Cowan & Cowan. (Nalijam)
Caparidiaceae
Chittagong Hill Tracts and Chittagong Chittagong, Coxs Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracts
52.
Myrtaceae
BANGLADESH country report SL. No. 39. Species Parkia Roxb urghii G. Don. P. javanica Merr. (Sapota) Family Mimosaceae Description Tall unarmed tree, bipinnate leaves and small leaflets. Soboliferous gregarious palm (bushy when young) can grow stem up to 6m Small deciduous tree or large shrub Small to medium sized tree or large shrub with redish brown bark Small to mid- sized tree with leathery leaves ,stilt roots Glabrous trwining shrub Lartge deciduous tree with much fluted knotty trunk Small deciduous tree with large leaves corowded at the end of the branchlets Mid-sized semideciduous tree
87 Distribution Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bandarban) Mangrove forests of Sundarbans.
40.
Phoenix paludosa Roxb. (Hintal)
Palmae
41.
Randia spinosa Poir. R. dumetorum Lam.(Mainphal) Randia uliginosa DC. (Piralu)
Rubiaceae
42.
Rubiaceae
Chittagong, Hill Tracts, Coxs Bazar, Sylhet,Dhaka,Dinajpur Sylhet, Chittagong Hill Tracts
43.
Rhizophora mucronata Poir. (Haoa, Khamo, Jhanna) Sarcolobus globosus Wall. (Baolilata) Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken. S. trijuga Willd. (Kusum, Lakkha) Semicarpus anacardium L. (Beula, Bhelatuki)
Rhizophoraceae
Sundarbana o\and other tidal forests Sundarbans and tidal creeks of Chgittagong Dhaka, Chittagong, Mymensingh Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts Dhaka, Mymensingh, Comilla, Sal;illa of Sylhet
44. 45.
Asclepiadaceae Sapindaceae
46.
Anacardiaceae
47.
Shorea robusta Gaertn. (Gajari)
Dipt erocarpaceae
Source: Das, D.K. 1987. Edible fruits of Bangladesh forests. Bull. No. 3 Plant Taxonomy Series, BFRI, 16 pp. Local name(s)in parenthesis (bold letters)
88
APPENDIX 3
Medicinal plants available in Bangladesh

Sl. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Species name Abroma augusta L. Abelmoschus esculentus W & A .(Hibiscus esculentus L.) Abrus precatorius L.. Local name Ulatkambal Bhindi, Dheras, Okra Kunch, Rati, Chanyi, Kaich, Gungchi, Gujna Petari, Jhampi, Jhumka Muktajhuri, Biral hatchi, Swetbasanta Apang, Upatlangra Bach, Gharbach, Swetbach Basak, Bakas, Adulsa Bel Bakphul, Agasta, Buko, Bak, Agati Baghankura, Dhalakura Ghritakanchan, Gheekachu, Ghritakumari, Musabbar Kanta Notey, Kanta Denga, Katamiris Kalomegh, Mahatita Lemonghas, Gandhatrina Ata, Sharifa, Sitaphal, Luna Shial Kanta, Bara Shial Kanta, Kengrabiji Iswarar Mul Shata Muli, Hilum Punarnava, Gandhapurna, Swetpurna Family Sterculiaceae Malvaceae Location All over the country All over the country Dhaka, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mymensingh,Sylhet All over the country\ All over the country All over the country All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur Dinajpur, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh, especially in Chittagong, Hill Tracts Madhupur, Sylhet, Chittagong Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Dinajpur
Leguminosae Malvaceae Euphorbiaceae Amaranthaceae Araceae Acanthaceae Rutaceae Leguminasae Alangiaceae Agavaceae Amaranthaceae Acanthaceae Gramineae Annonaceae Papavaraceae Aristolochiaceae Liliaceae Nyctaginaceae
Abutilon indicum (L.) (Sweet.) G. Don Acalypha indica L. Achyranthes aspera L. Acorus calamus L. Adhatoda vasica Nees. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa Agati grandif lora Desv. (Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.) Alangium salvifolium Thw. Aloe vera Tawin. ( A. barbadensis Mill.) Amaranthus spinosus Willd. Andrographis paniculata (Burm f.) Wall ex Nees Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf Annona squamosa L. Argemone mexicana L. Aristolochia indica L. Asparagus racemosus Willd Boerhaavia repens L. ( B. diffusa L.)
BANGLADESH country report Sl. No. 21. 22. Species name Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. Caesalpinia crista L. ( C. nuga L.) Local name Patharkuchi, Patiapuri, Kafpata Let Kanta Family Crassulaceae Leguminosae
89 Location All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh, Chittagong, Hill tracts, and estuarine areas Along the sea shore and inland in Barisal district All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh
23.
Calophyllum inophyllum L.
24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Calotropis gigantea R. Br. Canna orientalis Rosc.(C. indica L.) Canscora decussata (Roxb.) Roem & Schultz Cassia alata L. Clerodendrum viscosum Gaertn. Clitoria ternatea L. Coccinea cordifolia (L.) Cogn. ( C. indica W & A.) Curcuma amada Roxb. Curcuma aromatica Salisb. ( C. zeodaria Roxb.) Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. Datura innoxia Mill. ( D. metel (L.) Sims. Datura stramonium L. Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. Eclipta erecta L. (E. p at a L.) rost Eupatorium odoratum L. Euphorbia antiquorum L. Eupatorium ayapana Vent. Ficus hispida L. Heliotropium indicum L. Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. Holarrhena antidysenterica (Heyne ex Roth.) Wall. Hydnocarpus kurzii (King) Warb. ( Teraktogenes kurzii King) Hydrocotyle asiatica L. Ipomea digitata L. Ipomea hederacea Jacq. (I. nil Meissn) Ipomea turpethum (L.) R. Br. Ixora coccinia L. Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. Jatropha curcas L. Jatropha gossypifolia Roxb. Lawsonia inermis L. (L. alba Lamk.)
Sultan Champa, Punnag, Kannyal, Nag Champa, Gulab, Kath Champa, Panial Bara Akand, Gur Akand Sarbajaya, Phena Daukuni Dad Mardan, Dadmari Bhant, Ghetu, Ghetuphul Aparajita, Nila Aparajita Telakucha, Vinbu, Kak Jhinga, Kawoaluli, Kanduri, Kuchila, Mamakola, Makal Amada, Faliya Ban Haldi, Jangli Haldi Shathi, Ekangi, Phaulga, Kachuri Dhutra Dhutra Kesuti, Kesaraj, Keoti, Kalo Keshi, Bhangra, Bhimraj Assam Lata, Bara Shialmuti, German Lata, Pishab Tesra Mansha, Nerasij, Sibgach, Tiktasij, Bajbaran Ayapan Kak Dumur, Dumur, Dhungri, Thoska Hati Sur, Hatisud Anantamul Kurchi, Kuteswar, Kuruz, Kuruchi, Indrejab, Grimallika, Kutuz Chaulmoogra, Bolgach, Hiddigach Thankuni, Thulkuri, Brahmanbuti ? Nil Kalmi Noapata, Tori, Cheuri, Dudh Kalmi Rangan (Lal), Rajana Beli, BanaMallika, M alshi, Mogra Baghverenda, Banbherenda Lalbherenda, Nikunta Mendi, Mehedi, Hena, Sudi
Guttifereae
Asclepiadaceae Cannaceae Gentianaceae Leguminseae Verbenaceae Leguminosae Cucurbitaceae
31. 32. 33. 34, 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44.
Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae Zingiberaceae Solanceae Solanaceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Euphorbiaceae Asteraceae Moraceae Boraginaceae Asclepiadaceae Apocynaceae
All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh M ymensingh, Sundarbans, Sylhet Dhaka, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Dinajpur Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All All All All All All over over over over over over Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh
45.
Flacourtiaceae
46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.
Umbellifereae Convolvulaceae Convolvulaceae Convolvulaceae Rubiaceae Oleaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Lythraceae
90
Sl. No. 55. 56.
Species name Leucas aspera (Willd.) Spreng Mollotus philipinensis Muell. Arg
Local name Dulfi , Dandakalash, Swetadrone Kamela, Sindur
Family y Labiateae Euphorbiaceae
57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Menth a spicata L. (M. viridis L.) Mimosa pudica L. Mirabilis jalapa L. Moringa oleifera Lam. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ( Nelumbium speciosum Willd.) Nerium indicum Mill. (N. odorum (Ait.) Soland) Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. Ocimum sanctum L. Ocimum basilicum L. Opuntia dillenii Haw. Phyllanthus emblica L. ( Emblica officinalis Gaertn,) Piper longum L.
Pudina Lajjabati, Lajak Sandha Malati, Sandhamoni, Krishnakoli Sajina, Sanja Padma, Raktapadma Karabi, Rakta Karabi Seuli, Shephalika, Singhra, Harshinghra, Shefali Kalo Tulsi, Tulsi Babui Tulsi, Dulal Tulsi, Sada Tulshi, Sabja Phani Mansha, Nagkana, Nagphana, Bidar Amlaki, Amla, Aula Pipla, Pipul
Labiateae Leguminaseae (Mimosae) Nyctaginaceae Moringaceae Nymphaeaceae Apocynaceae Oleaceae Labiateae Labiateae Cactaceae Euphorbiaceae Piperaceae
Location g All over Bangladesh Sylhet, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dinajpur, Dhaka, Myemsnsingh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mymensingh, Dinajpur Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mymensingh, Dinajpur, mostly in Sylhet All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh Chittagong, Sylhet, M ymensi ngh All over Bangladesh Chittagong Chi ttagong, Chittagong Hi ll Tracts All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh
69. 70. 71. 72.
Plumbago indica L. ( P. rosea L.) Plumbago zeylanica L. Portulaca oleracea L. Randia dumetorum Lamk.
73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80.
Rauwolfia serpentina Benth Rauwolfia canescens L. Ricinus communis L. Sapindus trifoliatus L. Saraca indica L. Sida acuta Burm. Sida cordifolia L. Smilax macrophylla Roxb.
Raktachita,RaktachitraAgnichit a, Lalchita, Chita, Chitra, Chitrak Bara Laniya, Bara Nunia Mankanta, Manphal, Mainkanta, Belong, Mainphal, Pendel Sarpagandha, Chhota Chadar, Chhota Chand Bara Chadar Venna, Bherenda, Reri, Gab Bherenda Bara Ritha Ashoke Kureta, Urisia Berela, Bola Kureta Bulkumia, Kumari Lata, Bara Kumari Lata, Kamarika Muktajhuri
Plumbaginaceae Plumbaginaceae Portulacaceae Rubiaceae
Apocynaceae Apocynaceae Euphorbiaceae Sapindaceae Leguminoseae Malvaceae Malvaceae Liliaceae
BANGLADESH country report Sl. No. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. Species name Solanum nigrum L. Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. & Wend. Streblus asper Lour Local name Kakmachi, Gurkamai, Phuti Begun Kantakini, Kantakiri Ash sheora, Harbi, Khirnasta, Harbon, Hekra Bannil, Lohamori, Sarpunkha Gulancha Anantamul Nishinda, Bara Nishinda, Sabdbhalu, Nigunda, Samalu Harina, Arsol, Baruna, Goda Harbhanga Lata, Harjora, Marmaria Lata Dhaiphul, Dhain, Urisia Ghagra, Lehra Chhota Ghagra, Bichaphal, Banokra, Khagra Family Solanaceae Solanaceae
91 Location All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh Dhaka, Chittagong All over Bangladesh Dhaka, Chittagong All over Bangladesh Chittagong, Hill Tracts All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh
Tephrosia purpurea Pers. Tinospora cordifolia ( Willd.) Hook f Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) M err. (T. asthmat ica Wt. & Arn.) Vitex negundo L. Vitex peduncularis Vitis quadrangularis Wall Woodfordia floribunda Salis. Xanthium indicum Koenig ( Xanthium strumarium L.)
Urticaceae (Moraceae) Leguminaseae Menispermaceae Asclepiadaceae Verbenaceae Verbenaceae Vitaceae Lythraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae
92
APPENDIX 4
Crop plants and their wild relatives allied species available in Bangladesh
Sl. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Species name Abroma augusta L. Abelmoschus esculentus W & A .(Hibiscus esculentus L.) Abrus precatorius L.. Local name Ulatkambal Bhindi, Dheras, Okra Kunch, Rati, Chanyi, Kaich, Gungchi, Gujna Petari, Jhampi, Jhumka Muktajhuri, Biral hatchi, Swetbasanta Apang, Upatlangra Bach, Gharbach, Swetbach Basak, Bakas, Adulsa Bel Bakphul, Agasta, Buko, Bak, Agati Baghankura, Dhalakura Ghritakanchan, Gheekachu, Ghritakumari, Musabbar Kanta Notey, Kanta Denga, Katamiris Kalomegh, Mahatita Lemonghas, Gandhatrina Ata, Sharifa, Sitaphal, Luna Shial Kanta, Bara Shial Kanta, Kengrabiji Iswarar Mul Shata Muli, Hilum Punarnava, Gandhapurna, Swetpurna Patharkuchi, Patiapuri, Kafpata Let Kanta Family Sterculiaceae Malvaceae Location All over the country All over the country Dhaka, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mymensingh,Sylhet All over the country\ All over the country All over the country All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur All over the country, especially in low lying areas of Dinajpur Dinajpur, Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh, especially in Chittagong, Hill Tracts Madhupur, Sylhet, Chittagong Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Dinajpur All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh, Chittagong, Hill tracts, and estuarine areas Along the sea shore and inland in Barisal district All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh All over Bangladesh
Leguminosae Malvaceae Euphorbiaceae Amaranthaceae Araceae Acanthaceae Rutaceae Leguminasae Alangiaceae Agavaceae Amaranthaceae Acanthaceae Gramineae Annonaceae Papavaraceae Aristolochiaceae Liliaceae Nyctaginaceae Crassulaceae Leguminosae
Abutilon indicum (L.) (Sweet.) G. Don Acalypha indica L. Achyranthes aspera L. Acorus calamus L. Adhatoda vasica Nees. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa Agati grandif lora Desv. (Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.) Alangium salvifolium Thw. Aloe vera Tawin. ( A. barbadensis Mill.) Amaranthus spinosus Willd. Andrographis paniculata (Burm f.) Wall ex Nees Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf Annona squamosa L. Argemone mexicana L. Aristolochia indica L. Asparagus racemosus Willd Boerhaavia repens L. ( B. diffusa L.) Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb. Caesalpinia crista L. ( C. nuga L.) Calophyllum inophyllum L.
23.
24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
Calotropis gigantea R. Br. Canna orientalis Rosc.(C. indica L.) Canscora decussata (Roxb.) Roem & Schultz Cassia alata L. Clerodendrum viscosum Gaertn. Clitoria ternatea L.
Sultan Champa, Punnag, Kannyal, Nag Champa, Gulab, Kath Champa, Panial Bara Akand, Gur Akand Sarbajaya, Phena Daukuni Dad Mardan, Dadmari Bhant, Ghetu, Ghetuphul Aparajita, Nila Aparajita
Guttifereae
Asclepiadaceae Cannaceae Gentianaceae Leguminseae Verbenaceae Leguminosae
93
Family Camelliaceae (contd.)
Crop
Cannaceae Caricaceae Chenopodiaceae
Indian Shot Papaya Beet Quinoa
Allied species Hybrids (involving assamica, sinensis, combodiensis ) C. caudata C. japonica Camellia kissi C. irrawadiensis C. sesanquc Thea wallichi Canna indica L.
Local name
Status Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Cultivated/ Wild Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild? Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild/ Cultivated
Sarbajaya Pepe Beet, Beet Palong Betosok, Batua Shak Chandan Beto Palong, Palong Shak Misti Alu Halkalmi,Dudh Kalmi Kalmishak, Kalmi Chgalkuri, Dupati Lata Rail Lata Dholkalmi, Ddaru Kalmi, Policelat Nil Kalmi Pravatrani Bhuikumra, Muralia Lata Bankalmi Languli Lata, Taru Lata, Kunja Lata Kamla Lata, Gote Lata Noa Pata, Tori, Cheuri Karma Lata, Kam Lata Sadasarisha, Dhuprai Sarisha Tori, Sarisha Keel Rai Rai Sarisha, Bara Rai, Jhuni, Chanchi
Carica papaya L. Beta vulgaris L. Chenopodium album L. C. ambrosioides L. Spinacea oleracea L. Ipomoea batatus Lamk. I. alba L.( I. bonanox L.) I. aquatuca Forsk. ( I. reptans Poir) I. pescaprae (L.) R. Br. ( I. biloba Forsk.) I. cairica (L.) Sweet I. fistulosa Mart. ex Choisy ( I. crassicaulis (Benth) Roxb) I. hederacea Jacq. ( I. nil Meissn.) I. indica (Burm. f. Merr. ( I. learil Lam.) I. mauritiana Jacq. ( I. paniculata (L.) Br.) I. maxima (L. f.) Don ( I. sepiaria Koen. ex Roxb.) I. pestigridis L. I. quamoclit L. ( Quamoclit pinnata Boj.) I. turpethum (L.) R. Br. I. vitifolia Bl. Brassica alba Hook. B. campestris L. var. sarsoon Prain B. campestris L.var . toria Duthie & Fuller B. integrifolia (West.) Schultz.(B. juncea var. agrostis Prain) B. juncea L.
Convolvulaceae
Spinach Sweet potato and allies
Crucifereae
White Mustard Mustard Mustard
Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated
Brown Mustard
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Rapeseed Black Mustard Cauliflower Broccoli Allied species B. napus L. B. nigra (L.) Koch. B. oleracea L. var. botrydis B. olerecea L. var. italica B. rapa L. B. rugusa Prain var. cunefolia
94 Local name Maghi, Tori, Sarisha Kalo Sarisha Phul Kopi Brocoli Shalgam Lahisag Halim, Halim Shak Mula Chal Kumra Telakucha, Kakjhinga Bangi, Kakri, Kharbuj, Khermia Khira, Shasha, Mome Kumra, Misti Kumra Safra Kumra Dhada Kadu, Kumra, Khetpapra Makal. Indrayan Tarmuj Makal Lau, Kadu, Pani Lau Jhinga, Ghosa Lata Tita Dhundul Bidal, Ghosa Lata Dhundul, Purul, Totpola Korola, Kerala Karola Kakrol Kakrol Chichinga Makal Bhui kakra Ban Patol, Ban Chichinga Patol Ban Chichinga Makal Shora Alu Roth Alu Sushni Alu, Mou Alu Jhum Alu, Jhunihana Alu Status Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild .. Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Cultivated Wild Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Cultivated Wild Wild Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated
Garden Cress Radish Wax Gourd Coccinia Melon Cucumber Sweet Gourd Squash Squash Colocynth Watermelon Hodgsonia Bottle Gourd Ribbed gourd
Lepidium sativum L. Raphanus satiivus L. Benincasa hispida L. (Thunb.) Cogn.(B. cerifera Savi.) Coccinia indica L Cucumis melo L. Cucumis sativus L. Cucurbita maxima Duch. Cucurbita moschata Duch. Cucurbita pepo DC Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mans. ( C. vulgaris Schrad.) Hodgsonia macrocarpa (Bl.) Cogn. (H. heteroclita HK. f. ) Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Stan. ( L. vulgaris Ser.) Luffa acutangula Roxb. L. amara Roxb. L. echinata Roxb. L. cylindrica (L.) Roem ( L. aegyptiaca Mill.) Momordica charantia L M. cochichinensis Spreng. Momordica dioica Roxb. Trichosanthes anguina L. Trichosanthes bracteata (Lam.) Voigt. T. cordata Roxb. T. cucumerina L. T. dioica Roxb. T. lobata Roxb. T. palmata Roxb. Dioscorea belophylla (Prain) Haines D. bulbifera L. ( D. sativa Thunb.) D. esculenta (Lour.) Burk. ( D. aculeata (Lour) Burk) D. pentaphylla L.
Cucurbitaceae
Sponge Gourd Bitter Gourd Teasle Gourd Snake Gourd Trichosanthes
Dioscoreaceae
Yams and allies Aerial yam Lesser yam
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Allied species D. pubera Bl.(D. aguina Roxb.)
95 Local name Kukur Alu, Kaku Alu Goantia Alu Japhal Akhrot Shimul Alu, Kasava, Tapoica Status Wld/ Cultivated Widl/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated
D. wallichi Hook Euphorbiaceae

Tung Cassava
Aleurites molluccana Willd. Manihot esculenta Crantz. ( M. ultissima Pohl.) Ricinus comminis L. Coix gigantica Roxb. C. lachryma-jobi L. Echinocloa colonum (L.) Link E. crussgalli (L.) P. Beauv. E. stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv. Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. Hordeum vulgare L Pennisetum typhoides (Burm) Stap f.(P. typhoidum) Panicum milliaceum L. Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. S. glauca (L.) P.Beauv . ( Panicum flavescens Sw.) S. pallide-fusca (Schum) Stapf. S. verticillata (L.) P.Beauv . Hordeum vulgare L. Oryza sativa L. O. minuta O. nivara O. officinalis O. rufipogon Griff. (O. fatua Koen. ex Trin.) Porteresia coarctata ( Oryza coarctata Roxb.) Oryza hybrid Swarm: ( rufipogon/nivara) S. officinarum L. Saccharum bengalense Retz. ( S. munja Roxb.) Sclerostachya fusca (Roxb.) Camus ( Sacharum fuscum Roxb.) S. spontaneum L.
Castor
Reri, Bheranda, Venna Denga Gurgur Tasbi, Gurgur, Gurguri, Kalo kunch, Kawoa kathi Shyama Ghas Bara Shyama Ghas Dul, Parua Marna, Marua Malanga Kuri, Malan Kuri Koni Jab Bajra Cheena Kaon, Kangu, Kangui, Kora, Kaknidana, Shyamdhat Kauni, Banaspati Ghash Pinginatchi Dorabiari Jab, Barley Dhan, Chaul Buno Dhan Buno Dhan Buno Dhan Buno Dhan. Jhara Dhan Harkata Aakh, Kushur, Kushail, Gendari Munja Ghas Khuri Kash, Kaicha, Khag, Khagra, Kaisha
Gramineae
Adlay, Jobs Tears Japanese millet BarnYard millet Finger millet
Wild/ Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild? Wild Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Widl/ Cultivated Wild Cultivated Wild Wild Wild
Gramineae (contd.)
Fowl-foot grass Teff Barley Bulrush millet Pearl Millet Foxtail millet Foxtail millet allies
Barley Rice Rice allies
Sugarcane Sugarcane allies
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Sorghum Johnsons grass Triticale Wheat Maize Bermuda grass Other Grasses Allied species Sorghum bicolor ( S. vulgare Pers.) S. halepense (L.) Pers. Tritico secale Triticum aestivum L. ( T. vulgare L.) Zea mays L. Cynodon dactylon (Pers.) Panicum flavescens Sw. P. paludosum Roxb. P. punctatum Burm. P. satigerum Retz. Paspalidium flavidum (Retz.) A. camus Paspalidium punctatum Burm. A. camus ( Panicum punctatum Burm) Paspalum scrobiculatum Boj G. mangostana L. Garcinia cowa Roxb. G. morella Desr. G. xanthochymus Hook. f. Acacia nilotica (L.) Del. ( A. arabica (Lam.) Willd.) A. catechu Willd. Local name Joar Kanta Much Triticale Gom
96 Status Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild
Bhutta Durba, Bubla,Durba Ghas Bashpati Ghas Barti, Barati, Kalam Karing Ghas Bara Jalgenti Bolai Mandi, Karing Ghas Petinar
Guttifereae
Kodo millet Mangosteen Garcinia
Leguminaseae
Wattle
Goicha, Khoda Dhan Mangostin Kau, Kaglichu Swarna Khiri Tamal, Dambel Babla, Kikor Khair, Katha, Khadira, Khair babul Khair Banritha, Lat babul, Kuchui Gokul, Belati Babul Kuchai Akashmoni, Sonajhuri Aila, Bisoal, Sembi Sami, Sankata, Laingach, Chaikanta, Saukanta Salsai Babla Cheen Badam Arhar, Arhar Dal Chola, Chana, Boot Shon Pat, Shon, Ghore Shon Chhoto Jhunjhuna
Wild Cultivated
Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild Wild/ Cultivated Wild Wild Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild
A. catechuoides Wall. A. concinna DC. A. farnesiana (L.) Willd. A. intsia Willd. A. monoliformis Griseb. A. pennata (L.) Willd. A. suma Ham A. tomentosa Willd.
Groundnut Pigeon pea Chickpea Sunnhemp Sunnhemp allies
Arachis hypogea L. Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth. ( C. indicus Spreng) Cicer arietinum L. Crotalaria juncea L. C. incana L.
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Allied species C. prostrata Roxb. C. retusa L. C. saltiana Andr. C. spectabilis Roth ( C. sericea Retz.) C. verrucosa L. Deris elliptica Benth. D. indica (Lamk.) Benth. D. robusta Benth.
97 Local name Chhoto Jhunjhuna Atasi, Bil Jhanjhana Chhoto Jhunjhuna, Jhanjhani Pipli Jhanjhani Jhanjhania Tubamul Makrigilla Koroi, Jangaria, Jumurja, Miringa,Jamruja Noa lata, Kamiria lata, Maora gota, Noshoth Kali Lata Felia Lata, Pan Lata, Pan Gota, Gila lata, Goali Lata Soybean, Gari Kalai Bhangara Nil Musur, Musuri Dal Moyna Shak Alu Ban moog, Gaheri, Birimoog Ban Barbati Ghora Moog Rakhal Kalai, Magani, Mugani Bakla, Faras Bean, Kalo Basak Chhto Motor Motor, Kabuli Motor Pakhal Sim, Kunari Sim, Karat Sim Tetul, Amli Bara Sim, Bakla Sim Masur Chana Ankari Lalsha, Barbati Mashkalai. Tikhakalai Jhikrai, Malkenia Sona Moog, Moog, Hani Moog Barbati, Lalsha Barbati Status Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild/ Ciultivated Wild Wild Cultivated Wild Wild Cultivated Wild Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated
Derris and allies
D. scandens Benth. D. trifolia Lour. ( D. uliginosa Benth.) Glycine max (L.) Merr. ( G. soja (L.) Swieb. & Zuce) Indigofera linifolia Retz. I. tinctoria L. Lens culinaris Medik. ( L. esculenta Moen.) Medicago denticulata Willd. Pachyrrhizus erosus (L.) Urban Phaseolus acontifolius Jacq. P. adenanthus Mey. P. sublobatus Roxb. Vigna sublobatus ) P. trilobatus ( Vigna trilobatus ) P. vulgaris (L.) Schr. Pisum arvense L. P. sativum L. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus DC. Tamarindus indica L. Vicia faba L. V. hirsuta Coch. V. sativa L. Vigna catjang Walp. var. sinensis V. mungo (L.) Hepper ( Phaseolus. mungo L.) V. pilosa Bak. V. radiata (L.) Wilezck ( P. radiatus L.) V. sinensis Endl. ex Hassk ( V. catjang Walp var. sinensis Prain ) V. unguiculata Endl. ex Hassk
Soybean Indigo Leguminaseae Lentil
Yam Bean Beans
Pea Winged Bean Tamarind Field Bean
Blackgram
Mungbean
Cowpea
BANGLADESH country report Family Liliaceae Crop Onion Garlic Asparagus Flax/Linseed Okra Tree cotton Comilla Cotton Khaki cotton Kenaf Allied species A. cepa L. A. sativum L. Asparagu racemosus L. Linum usitatissimum L. Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moen. (Hibiscus esculentus L) Gossypium arboreum var. conansis L. G. arboreum/herbaceum L. G. arboreum/herbaceum L Hibiscus abelmoschus L. H. cannabinus L. H. ficulenus L.
98 Local name Piaz Rasun Satamuli, Hilum Tishi, Chikna, Masina Dheras, Bhindi, Kapas, Karpas Tula Khaki Tula Mushak Dana, Kalo Kasturi Kenaf, Mesta pat, Bimli Jangli Bhindi, Jangli Dheras, Ban Dheras Lal Surjamukhi Kashipala, Kashiaudal, Chania Gajasuddhi, Dumbula, Paresh, Palas Pipul, Paresh Pipul Joba, Jaba Phul, Rakta Jaba, Daru Jhumko Joba, Latkan Joba Mesta Pat, Kenaf, Mesta Chukair, Chukur Sada joba, Nil Joba Bolai, Bhola, Belapata, Chewla Ban Karpas Araroot, Takhur Kanthal Chaplash, Chambal, Cham Deua, Deo Phal, Dephal, Deo Cham, Barta, Dalo Dalo Madar Siddhi, Bhang, Kef, Ganja Bot, Prab Krishna Bot Status Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wid Wild
Linaceae Malvaceae
H. hirtus L. H. macrophyllus Roxb. H. manihot L.

China rose China rose Roselle Roselle
H. rosa-sinensis L. H. schizopetalus L. H. subdariffa L. var. altissima H. sabdariffa L. var. subdariffa H. syriacus L. H. tiliaceus L. H. vitifolius L. Maranta arundinacea L. Artocarpus heterophylluys Lamk. (A. integrifolia L. f.) A. chaplasha Roxb. A. lakucha Buch- Ham ( A. lakoocha Roxb.) Cannabis sativa L. ( C. indica Lamk.) Ficus altissima Bl. F. benghalensis L. var. krishnae (C. DC.) Corner ( F. krishnae C. DC.) F. comosa ( F. bejamina L.) (Roxb. ) Kurtz F. carica L F. cunea Buch.-Ham. F. elastica Roxb. F. glaberrima Bl. F. glomerata Roxb.
Marantaceae Moraceae
Arrrowroot Jackfruit Chaplash
Hemp Ficus & allies
Pakur, Jir, Kamruo Dumur Anjir Jaga Dumur, Sadimadi, Joya Dumur Bor, Ata Bor, Bharatio Rubber Kakri Jaga Dumur, Gulang Dumir
Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild
Ficus and allies
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Allied species F. hederaceae Roxb. ( F. scandes Roxb.) F. heterophylla L. f. var. heterophylla L. F. heterophylla L. f. var. repens F. hispida L. f. F. hirta Vahl Local name Dumur, arkath
99 Status Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild
Musaceae
Mulberry Bananas
Myristicaceae
Nutmeg and allies
F. infectoria Roxb. F. krisnnae C. DC F. lacor Buch.-Ham. ( F. infectoria Roxb.) F. lanecolata Ham F. lepidosa Wall. F. nervosa Roth F. racemosa L. ( F. glomerata Roxb.) F. religiosa L. F. rostrata Lamk. F. rumphil Bl. F. semicordata Buch.-Ham. ex Smith ( F. cunea Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Morus indica L. ( M. alba L.) Musa ornata Roxb. M. paradisiaca L. var. paradisiaca M. paradisiaca L. var. sapientum M. sapeentum L. var sylvestris Myristica fragrans Houtt M. longifolia Wall. M. malabarica Lamk.
Ghati Shaora, Bala Dumur,Balam Dumur, Bolalat Bhui Dumur Kak Dumur, Dhungri Dangra, Khanda Dumur, Pakur, Khuska Dumur Pakur Krishna Bot Pakur Buti Dumur, Eri Gachh Katgularia, Jir, Kamrup Batrella Jaga Dumur, Gulang Dumur Asswath, Pipal, Pan Bot Paraboha Hijulia, Gaya Asswath Jaga Dumur, Sadimasi
Tut, Tunt Ram Kola, Bamanigi Kola Kach Kola Kola, Kathali Kola Aitta Kola, Aite Kola Jaiphal, Jayatri Amboala Jayatri Jambo Ekdarya Hijli Menadi Nali Jam, Lamba Nali Jam Khoir Jam Phul Jam Para Jam Chalta Jam Boti Jam, Thenga Jam, Patia Jam, Dhepu Jam
Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated
Myrtaceae
Clove and allies
Eugenia aquea Burm. f. E. balsamea Wt. E. bracteata Roxb. E. claviflora Roxb. E. cymosa Ram. E. formosa Wall. E. lancaefolia Roxb. E. macrocarpa Roxb. E. operculata Roxb.
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Allied species E. wallichi Wt. Local name Kharkhara Jam
100 Status Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated
Guava
Psidium guajava (L.) Bat. ( P. guayava L.) Syzygium cumuni (L.) Skeel ( E. jambolana Lam.) S. jambos L. Oxalis corniculata L. Arecha catechu L. A. triandra Roxb. Borassus flabellifer L. Cocos nucifera L. Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. Ph. caerulea Ph. dactylifera L. Ph. paludodsa Roxb. Sesamum indicum L. ( S. orientele L.) Piper betel L. P. chaba Hunter P. cubeba Vahl P. longum L. P. nigrum L. P. peepuloides Roxb. Fagopyrum esculentum Moen. Punica granatum L. Zizyphus mauritania Lamk, Z. oenoplea (L.) Z. rugosa Lamk Rubus tinctorium L Rubus hexagynus Roxb.
Peyara, Gaya, Sabri
Jam, Jaman, Kalo jam Golap Jam Amrul, Amboli, Chukatripati Supari, Gua Ban Gua, Ban Supari Tal Narikel, Dab Palm Tal Khajur, Khejur, Khagi Khejur Jhumko Arabi Khejur Pindi Khejur Hintal, Hital, Hantal Til, Jangli Til, Sanki Til, Kalo Til Pan, Tambuli Choi, Chab Kababchini Pepul, Pipla Gol Marich Pepul Dhanchi Dalim, Anar Kul, Boroi, Ban Boroi, Gram Boroi, Shea Kul, Got Boroi Anai, Jangli Boroi Manjistha Hira Chhara, Hira Chura Cinchona, Quinine Kafi Bannya Kafi kagji Labu Nebu, Nimbu, Lebu Kamala, Kamala Lebu Jambura, Batabi Lebu, Moha Nembu Mitha Nebu Gora Lebu, Karna Lebu
Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated
Oxalidaceae Palmae
Oxalis Betel Nut Palmyra Palm Coconut Oilplalm Date Palm and allies Date Palm
Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Cultivated Wild Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild/ Cultivated Wild/ Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Wild Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated
Pedaliacveae Piperaceae
Sesame Piper
Polygonaceae Puniaceae Rhamnaceae
Buckwheat Pomegranate Jujuba and allies
Rosaceae
Berries
Quinine Coffees Citrus
Cinchona officinalis L. Coffea arabica. L C. benglanensis Roxb. Citrus aurantifolia (Christ. & Panz.) Sw. C. chrysocarpa Lush. C. grandis (L.) Osdbeck C. limettoides Tanaka C. limon (L.) Burm. f. ( C. medica var. limon L.)
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Allied species C. reticulata Blanco ( C. chrysocarpa Lush) C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck Nephelium litchi Lamb. N. longana Camb. Manilkara zapota ( Achras zapota L..; Manilkara achras Mill. ) Manilkara hexandra (Mill.) Fosb ( Mimusips hexandra Roxb.) Capsicum annuum L. C. frutescens L.
101 Local name Kamla, Kmla Lebu Malta, Moushandhi Lichu Ash Phal Chabeda, Chiku, Safeda Status Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated
Sapindaceae
Litchi Sapodilla
Khir Khejur Kancha Morich, Kacha Lanka, Marich, Lanka Morich, Dhani Lanka, Dhani Morich Tomato, Bilati Begun Gur Begun Deshi Tamak Tamak Ban Tamak, Begun ,Bagun Kuli Begun Tit Begun, Goth Begun, Hat Begun Gota Begun, Ram Begun, Bagh Gota Phutki Begun, Baikur, Tit Begun, Brihati Begun Gurkamai, Kakmachi, Phuti begun Bagua Kanti Kiri, Kantakini ??????? Alu, Gol Alu Urusa Koko, Chokolet Pat, Tita Pat, Bogi Pat, Sada Pat, Nalte, Nalita Pat, Maricha, Naricha Tosha Pat, Mitha Pat, Bogi Pat Tita Pat, Jangli Pat Jangli Pat, Bil Nalita Chiruti, Chiluri Kankhura, Kankura. Ulichara Alinga Lata Amasha Lata Goda, Guaria Horinia lata Cultivatd Cultivatd Cultivatd Cultivatd Cultivatd Wild Cultivatd Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild
Solanaceae
Peppers
Tomato Tobaccos
Egg plant and allies Eggplant and allies
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ( L. lycopersicum (L) Karst N. rustica N. tabacum L. N. plumbaginifolia Viv. S. melongena Wall S. m elon gena Wall. var. esculenta Solanum filicifolium Ort. ( S. torvum Sw.) S. ferox L. S. indicum L. S. nigrum L. S. spirale L. S. surrat tense Burm. f. (S. xant hocarpum Schrad.Wendl.) S. sysimbrifolium S. tuberosum L. S. verbascifolium L. Theobroma cacao L. Corchorus capsularis L.
Potato Sterculaceae Tiliaceae Cocao Jute
Cultivated Wild Cultivated Cultivated
Umbeliferae Urticaceae Vitaceae
Celery Ramie Grape & allies
C. olitorius L. C. aestuans L. ( C. acutangulus Lamk.) C. fascicularis Lam. Apium graveolens L Boehmeria nivea (L) Gaud. B. platiphylla D. Don. Vitis adnata Roxb (Wall.) V. assamica Laws. V. glabrata Heyne V. lanceolaria Laws.
Cultivated Wild Wild Cultivated Cultivated Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild
BANGLADESH country report Family Crop Allied species V. latifolia Roxb. V. pedata Vahl V. quadrangularis Wall V. setosa Wall. V. trifolia (l.) Don
102 Local name Govila, Panibel Goali Lata Har Bhanga Lata, Harjora, Goali Lata Anal Lata, Amal Lata, Sonekeshar Angur, Kismis Halud, Haldi Shathi, Ekangi, Phaulga, Kachuri Elachi, Chhoto Elachi Ban Ada, Baumurga Gach Ada Murga Gach Mahabaribach, Narkasur Status Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated/ Wild Cultivated Wild Cultivated Wild Wild
Zingiberaceae
Grape Turmeric
V. vinifera L. Curcuma longa L. ( C. domestica Vahl) C. zodoria Rosc. Elettaria cardamomum Maton. Zingiber purpureum Rosc. ( Z. casumnar Roxb.) Zingiber officinale Rosc. Zingiber rubens Roxb. Zingiber zerumbet Sm.
Cardamom Ginger allies Ginger Ginger allies
Sources: Huq. A. M. 1986. Plant Names of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Natuional Herbarium, Dhaka. Purseglove. J. W. 1974. Tropical Crops. Monocotyledons. The English Language Book Society & Longman. London. Purseglove. J. W. 1974. Tropical Crops. Dicotyledons. The English Language Book Society & Longman. London. Simmonds. N. W. (ed.). 1979. Evolution of Crop Plants. Longman, London & New York.
103
APPENDIX 5
Research progress in evaluation of forest species
Category A. Species introduced Species name Acacia catechu Willd. Local name Khair, Katha, Khadira, Khair Babul Babla, Kikar Kaju, Kaju Badam, Hijli Badam Shishu kath Seed origin probably India Sri Lanka India & Pakistan Malaysia not known perhaps Honduras Burma & India Pettord, Australia Ipil-Ipil The Philippines India & Pakistan Hondurus Burma Garo Hills, India Sadhya (?) & Assam Malaysia Malaysia Central India Western Ghat, India Uganda Darang/ Assam, India India Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia Andamans, India Malaysia Thailand Thailand Honduras Tanzania Kachar, India South India S. India Andamans, India Hondurus ?
A. nilotica (L.) Del. ( A. arabica (Lam.) Willd.) Anacardium occidentale L. Dalbergia sisso Roxb. Mevca brasiliensis Paraserianthes falcatara Swietennia macrophylla King. Tectona grandis L. f. Eucalyptus camaldulensis Leucaena leucocacephala (Lamk. ) de Wit. Norus indica Pinus carribeae UAI hondurensis Xylia dolabriformis Benth. Acacia feximifolius Alianthus grandis Aleurites fordii A. montana Anogeissus acuminata Wall. Artocarpus acuminata A. hirsuta Chlorophora excelea Chukrassia labudaris Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. Eucalyptus alba E. botryaides E. citriodora Hook. E. robusta E. grandis (?) E. saligna(?) Eugenia alba Lagerstroemia hypoleuca Melia azadarach L. Pinus kesiya P. merkusii P. occarpa P. radiata Podocarpus nerifolia Don. Plerocarpus marsupium P. sanialinus Sterculia campanudata Swietennia mahagoni (L.) Jacq.
Bara Mehogini Segun, Teak
B. Reccommended species
Pine Loha Kath, Pinkado
C. Species under arboreta trial
Chakua, Esri, Hiuri
Shitshal
Eucalyptus
Poma, Moha Nim,Bokain
Jinaru, Banspata
Mehogini
BANGLADESH country report Category D. Species per formed poorly in arbor et a t rial Species name Acacia senegal Local name
104 Seed origin West Africa
E. Species that failed to grow
Arancaria angustifolia A. cummuhumii ? Canarium emphyllum Dipterocarpus griffithii Eucalyptus globulus E. marculata E. sideropholia E. umbellata ? Greviollot robusta Manglietia insignis ? Mansomia altissima Michelia clifolia M. oblonga Wall. M. insignis Pancevia rulignosa Phoehe gosparensis Pinus ellilii P. insularis P. longifolia P. sinensis P. thunbergii Palygala arillata Sanilalum album Shorea assamica Acacia cyanophylla A. karoo Agathes pahnerstonii ? Calamus seipionan Pinus ayacahuite P. canariensis P. douglasiana P. michoacana P. monlezumae P. pinaster Pinus pseudostrobus Podorecarpus falcatus ? Populus clone 214 Populus clone 262 Populus nigra ? Populus trihocarpa ? Populus wisdengii Salix grees Texalian grees
Sundi
not known not known Andamans, India Bhutan Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia Lakhshmipur ? Nigeria India Tejpur, Assam, India Tejpir, Assam, India Assam, India Assam, India USA not known India Mauritius not known Sri Lanka South India Assam, India not known not known not known Mullaca, Indonesia not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known not known
Source: BFRI
105
APPENDIX 6
Some of the recommendations made in the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) of Bangladesh (NCS was prepared under the auspices of IUCN with financial assistance from NORAD)
Inclusion of conservation of the environment and the resource bases and their sustainable use in the national Constitution: redefinition of the goals of rural development, conservation and sustainable development in the medium and long term perspectives; bottom up approach for planning for rural development for appropriate reflection of local needs, resource endowments, socio-psychological aspects, environmental considerations and sustainable use of resources; environmental impact assessment as a component in planning from the grassroot level; joint mass awareness programmes on conservation and sustainable development by the Government and NGOs; Incentives for conservation of scarce resources, both renewable and nonrenewable by easily making available alternative resources or finances; focus of conservation and sustainable development in the research and training programmes of government agencies and NGOs; amendment of existing laws relevant to environmental aspects, conservation and sustainable resource base to cover specific related problems in the rural sectors; enactment of new laws in appropriate sectors of rural resource management and development; and priority in implementation of existing laws. (Source: Huq, M. F. 1991. International Union for Conservation of Nature Natural Resources - The World Conservation Union, National Conservation Strategy of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. Towards Sustainable Development: Rural Development and NGO Activities in Bangladesh. Dhaka, 1991)
106
formulation of a comprehensive National Land Use Policy; detailed land resource assessment; prevention of activities leading to land degradation; proper allocation of land for urban and rural areas; formulation of a comprehensive National Land Use Policy; detailed land resources assessment; prevention of activities leading to land degradation; proper allocation of land for urban and rural areas; inclusion of resource conservation studies at every level of education curricula to make the future generations more conscious to the adverse result of extravagances; awareness creation on and public participation in resource conservation for their own welfare and for their children. (Source: Rahman, M. R. 1991. International Union fore Conservation of Nature Natural Resources - The World Conservation Union, National Conservation Strategy of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. Towards Sustainable Development: Land Resources in Bangladesh, Dhaka 1991).
updating the syllabi of environmental education at various stages; greater emphasis on research on environmental issues in universities and research institutes of the country; creation of inter-disciplinary Centres or Institutes of Environmental studies in universities; training on Environmental Impact Assessment for personnel involved; organization of mobile song and drama tr oupes to popularize environmental issues. (Source: Sharafuddin, A. M. 1991. International Union for Conservation of Nature Natural Resources - The World Conservation Union, National Conservation Strategy of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. Towards Sustainable Development: Environmental Awareness and Education in Bangladesh, Dhaka, 1991.)
107
lands regarded as unproductive, whether under government ownership (khas land), protected forests or unclassified state forests be allotted to dedicated environmentalists who have prepared the ground for future afforestation; the legislation concerning living resources in Bangladesh is marred by failures to implement laws, lack of coordination among agencies responsible to look after genetic resources. The problem is further accentuated by inadequate training facilities and low salaries of field staff. Before promulgation of legislation, it is important to ensure that the law is ecologically, economically and socially feasible. Public education programmes should precede and also follow the enforcement of laws to help the public to understand and support it; the institutional capacity of Ministry of Environment and Forest, established only in 1989, and the Forest Department to promote and administer conservation activities is yet to be developed to the required mark; Constraints limiting private forestry has restricted private sector involvement. The Government should encourage private enterprizes interested in afforestation and adequate khas land allotted to those who have already done satisfactory spade of work in the venture; severe restrictions should be imposed to harvest important medicinal plants from the wild; cultivation of such species on commercial scale should be encouraged. (The number of medicinal plants in a revised list by the National Herbarium exceeds 500); forestry projects managed by local people may be the solution to the problems caused by deforestation; conversion of natural forests to plantation of exotic species needs to be carefully assessed; inland and coastal flood control measures should take cognizance of the protection of local flora and fauna; conservation of wild genetic resources, both ex situ and in situ is now a matter of urgency; coordinated conservation action will depend on development on at least a primary cross sector inventory of wild genetic resources, thus allowing identification of species in need of attention; categories of wild plants of high priority for in situ conservation include the wild relatives of fruit and oil crops, commodity and industrial crops, timber species and plants used as forage and fibres;
108
there is strong basis for in situ genebanks in the region; field programmes on in situ conservation should be guided by priorities identified at the country level, taking into consideration the biological and economic needs; systematic, ecological and geographic data are stressed as a background to germplasm collection and conservation; attempts at in situ conservation are likely to fail where there is intense pressure for land, weak legislation and implementation of laws, and public opinion unaware of the need for conservation; preferred efforts ate collection of as much reproductive materials as possible as ex situ conservation before the resources are destroyed (other countries in the region e.g. Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc. have already established ex situ collections of medicinal plants: FAO, 1984); adequate storage facilities for seeds or vegetative stocks are necessary with a duplication of collections to prevent risks of loss; recalcitrant seeds, to which belong fruit and nut species and many timber species have to be maintained as living plants (in situ genebanks) to protect wild gene pools of value for plant breeding; national botanic gardens can serve as centres for maintenance of genetic diversity, and the preservation of genetic materials located within the gardens provide the best chance for long time survival; information on the biology and variation on species will help decide the suitable type of conservation ( in situ, ex situ as living trees, ex situ as reproductive materials or a combination of all three); there is need to maintain Natural Regeneration Plots (NRPs) in the hill forests for sustainable development of natural stands and to provide pasture for the wildlife; the orchid flora constitute one of the richest genetic resources in Bangladesh. Their preservation;
a. through protection of natural habitats as National Parks, b. specialization in orchid species in institutions like Botanic Gardens, c. public awareness through displays and information shows, mass media
and orchid societies should be promoted; the major constraint in the implementation is a lack of trained personnel. There is a clear need for a major push in training personnel in various aspects of conservation of genetic resources;
109
immediate studies on biological diversity should concentrate on perennial plants with poorly known and are of potential value for production of food, fibre, oils and pharmaceuticals; the awareness for the need of conservation has to be created even at the preschooling stage to be continued at primary and secondary levels emphasising on the production of low cost educational; materials (posters with graphic designs, photography, audio-visual); this should go hand in hand with the creation of Nature Clubs are children will be taught and encouraged to identify common useful plants and flowers, birds and other animals and to learn their ecosystem; marshes and wetlands of particular significance as special biotic reserves should be managed including inventorying, research, monitoring and evaluation, and planning for their sustainable development . An ecologically and socio-economically acceptable basis for managing wetlands including their fisheries have to be developed and applied to promote the conservation of their genetic resources through quantifying their benefits; data bases on wild key species of ecological and socio-economic value are urgently needed. Regional information ser vice on survey and authentication of indigenous germplasm of potential economic value such as legumes should be developed. Collaboration with National Botanical Research Institute of India at Lucknow and International Database System at Kew should be sought. This is prerequisite for taking up field studies on important wild resources like legumes. Training courses on computer database for documentation and information system linkage have to developed and implemented at the National Herbarium and other relevant institutions. (Source: Khan, M. S. 1991. International Union fore Conservation of Nature Natural Resources - The World Conservation Union, National Conservation Strategy of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. Towards Sustainable Development: Genetic Resources in Bangladesh, Dhaka 1991).
110
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BANGLADESH: COUNTRY REPORT TO THE FAO INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES

Prepared by: M. Sujayef Ullah Chowdhury Dhaka, April 1995

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

CHAPTER 3 NATIONAL CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

CHAPTER 4 IN-COUNTRY USES OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES

BANGLADESH country report

CHAPTER 5 NATIONAL GOALS, POLICIES, PROGRAMMES AND LEGISLATION

CHAPTER 6 INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

CHAPTER 7 NATIONAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

BARC, Dhaka 12 April 1995

M. K. Bashar M. G. Hossain (contact person) H. Islam P. Nandy M. A. Sobhan

BANGLADESH country report

Introduction to Bangladesh and Its Agriculture

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

FIGURE 1 AGRO-ECONOMICAL ZONES OF BANGLADESH

BANGLADESH country report

population (especially since the introduction of HYV rice and wheat);

BANGLADESH country report

4. intensive crop cultivation throughout the year without adequate nutrient

inputs for crop culture.

Table 2 Farmers category and farm holding size

Source: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 1994

BANGLADESH country report

Table 3 Estimates of seed supply (% of requirements) by BADC

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

Indigenous Plant Genetic Resources

2.1 FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

Table 4 A tentative list of threatened angiosperms in Bangladesh

Malakkha Jhangi Agar

Ajay Ghas, Rukhs Ghas

Bamun Katha paharia Gulancha, Basakpata, Chhota arusa

Jitti, Reyong Ganja kuli Pitul pata Kantabatana, Kalibatna

Swintonia floribunda Griff. Tamarindus indica L.

Civit, Amchundul Tentul

Bhela, Bhelatuki, Beula,Bhalao, Bhelama Lemchi, Lemshi Palaya lata

BANGLADESH country report

2.2 MEDICINAL PLANTS

tolerant varieties of crops, etc.),

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

BANGLADESH country report

Table 5 Some old cultivars of selected crops of Bangladesh

Medium to Deep Water Aman rice

Transplanted. Aman rice

Rajashail, Nonashail, Hogla Pata, Nonakuchi, Patnai-23, etc.

Transplanted Aman rice

Tossa Jute ( C. olitorius)

BANGLADESH country report