CIC Seeds breaks new ground with export of hybrid chilli seeds to Bangladesh

FOLLOWING the successful production of hybrid seeds in Sri Lanka, CIC Seeds has exported a consignment of hybrid chilli seeds to Bangladesh where trials will be carried out to investigate the feasibility of its growth in the South Asian country.

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The Department of Agriculture (DOA) provided the much-needed technical support and guidance for CIC to initiate this venture. The export of hybrid seeds from Sri Lanka is the first of its kind and if proven to be successful will open the door for Sri Lanka to export hybrid seeds to Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries.

Sri Lanka is a net importer of agricultural seed. The country imports over 90% of high value hybrid Seeds to support local cultivation. The DOA, after many years of research, developed a few promising local hybrids in vegetables and maize that are comparable with imported hybrids. The DOA then invited the private seed companies in the country to join hands and undertake the Commercial seed production of these locally developed products with a view of reducing imports. CIC Seed Ltd., the premier private seed company in the country, was the first to take up this challenge and was quick in making the necessary investment and initiated a formal local hybrid seed production program.