By Ohidur Rahman from Netrakona
Farmer-researcher Syed Ahmed Khan from Netrokona received the Bangladesh Agriculture University Research System (BAURES) Award 2026 for his outstanding contribution to collecting, conserving, and promoting local seed varieties.
The award was presented during the annual research progress workshop at the Syed Nazrul Islam Conference Center of Bangladesh Agricultural University.
Syed Ahmed Khan was born in Rameshwarpur village beside the Tushai River in Atpara Upazila of Netrakona. He has been working on collecting, conserving, improving, and expanding local rice varieties since 2005, while sharing agricultural knowledge with farmers.
Currently, he has conserved around 540 local rice varieties. Through research and cultivation, he distributes these seeds among farmers. He also established research plots for Aus, Aman, and Boro rice seasons to select and preserve suitable varieties.
To support seed conservation, he established a seed exchange center at his home. Farmers collect seeds from the center and later return seeds after harvest. This system encouraged farmers from 23 villages to participate in seed exchange and conservation activities.
Over time, these locally selected rice varieties spread from farmer to farmer and district to district. His seed conservation initiative has expanded to 25 districts across Bangladesh, including Mymensingh, Sunamganj, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Satkhira.
In Atpara, where only 4–5 rice varieties were cultivated before, farmers are now growing around 68 varieties of rice.
Currently, Syed Ahmed Khan has conserved 24 Aus, 459 Aman, and 57 Boro rice varieties. He continues to conduct farmer-led rice research and variety selection activities in several villages of Netrakona, Mymensingh, and Sunamganj districts.
Inspired by his work, BARCIK arranged a study visit for him to the Philippines to observe the activities of MASIPAG, an organization working on farmer-led seed conservation and rice breeding. After returning to Bangladesh, he trained ten more farmers on rice breeding and conservation.
Expressing his feelings after receiving the award, Syed Ahmed Khan said, “For the last 21 years, I have traveled across the country collecting local rice varieties like a passionate man. I cultivated them and shared the best varieties with farmers. I am happy to see farmers growing these seeds today.”
His initiative demonstrates how farmer-led seed conservation can reduce market dependency, protect farmers from seed fraud, and preserve agricultural biodiversity.
