Report of the Media Briefing Workshops Addressing Barriers to Rice Seeds Trade between India and Bangladesh (RISTE Project) 1. Background 1.1 CUTS International has implemented the RISTE project, since January 2013 in collaboration with four partners in India and one in Bangladesh with the support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is being implemented in four eastern states of India namely; Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal and in Bangladesh with the objective ‘to develop an enabling environment to promote seeds’ trade and knowledge- sharing on High Yielding Variety (HYV) rice seeds between India and Bangladesh.’ 1.2 The project seeks to facilitate understanding of two interrelated issues: firstly, major factors that hinder formal trade and knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and India in rice seeds, particularly in HYV rice seeds; and secondly why is there lack of consensus among the relevant stakeholders with regard to potential benefits and constraints relating to HYV rice seeds’ trade and knowledge-sharing between the two countries. 1.3 The project, since its inception, has achieved several milestones. These include identifying disabling factors that hinder trade and cooperation in rice seeds between India and Bangladesh. Several enabling factors, which could lead to improvement in rice seeds availability and accessibility in the two countries, have also been identified. These findings are duly reflected in the reports and other research papers produced under the project. Major findings and recommendations are summarised in the form of ‘Joint Communique’ and ‘Recommendatory Paper’. These could be accessed at http://cuts-citee.org/riste/Outputs.htm. 2. Media Briefing Workshops 2.1 For dissemination of major findings and outreach among the relevant policy makers, research institutions, seed producers and traders and the end users i.e. the farmers, altogether five media briefing workshops were organised – four in India (Aurangabad in Bihar, Kendrapada in Odisha, Kolkata in West Bengal, and Ranchi in Jharkhand) and one in Bangladesh (Dhaka). Table 1: Media Briefings in India and Bangladesh Date Partner Organisation Location April 25, 2014 Bihar Water Development Society, Bihar Aurangabad, Bihar April 28, 2014 Samrudhi, Odisha Kendrapada, Odisha June 5, 2014 Mukti, West Bengal Kolkata, West Bengal May 12, 2014 Indian Grameen Services, Jharkhand Ranchi, Jharkhand June 28, 2014 Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh 1 | P a g e 2.2 The approach towards the organisation of media briefing workshops is premised on the understanding that media can potentially play an instrumental role in raising policy debate and awareness on public policy issues, and can bring policy changes on issues, such as formalisation of trade in rice seeds, particularly HYV. Media could also play a significant role in ushering in a regime of cooperation and knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and India on larger issues of agriculture development. Further, a strong association with print and electronic media is expected to lead to an effective dissemination of the research findings, stimulate policy debate, promote endorsement of research findings and create conducive environment for the necessary policy and practice changes in enhancing rice seeds trade and knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and India on larger issues of agriculture development. 3. Objectives of Media Briefing Workshops a. Generate awareness among local and national level media on the issue of informal rice seeds trade between India and Bangladesh b. Enable interaction between and among the local and national media on project findings and its importance for Bangladesh and India and c. Sensitise the local and national media on scope and potential of formalisation of trade in rice seeds and knowledge sharing between Bangladesh and India. 4. Media Outreach and Participation 4.1 Five media briefing workshops at five locations drew the participation of more than 80 media persons from electronic and print media and both of regional and national languages including English. Out of these, about 40 media channels prominently covered the event. Media coverage can be assessed at the online RISTE webpage: http://www.cuts- citee.org/RISTE/In_media.htm. Table 2: Some Selected Media Channels that Covered the Workshops in India and Bangladesh States/Country Name of Newspaper and TV Channel Bihar Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Rashtriya Sahara and ETV (Bihar) Jharkhand Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Sanmarg, Dainik Bhaskar and AAJ Odisha Suryapravah, Dharitri, Sambada, The Samaj, Samay, ETV (Odia) and Doordarshan (Odia) West Bengal Financial Express, Sambad Pravah, The Statesman, Hindustan Times, Dainik Jagran, Salaam Dunia, Prabhat Khabar, Press Trust of India and The Economic Times, Business Standard Bangladesh Daily Sun, Jai Jai Din, Banikborta, Janakantha, Yugantar, Samakal, Prothom Alo 5. Media Coverage 5.1 As indicated above, nearly 40 media channels, both electronic and print, prominently covered the media briefing workshops organised during April 25to June 28, 2014. The media 2 | P a g e (print and electronic) covered issues, such as flourishing of Bangladeshi rice seeds varieties in India and vice versa; quality of rice seeds available in Bangladesh and India; barriers to formalisation of trade and cost and the benefits therein; lack of awareness and loss of productivity among others. A list of selected coverage is provided in Table 3. Other media coverage can be accessed at http://cuts-citee.org/riste/In_media.htm. Table 3: List of Selected Coverage of the Media Briefing Workshops (Organised during 25 April to 28 June) S. No. Media/Channel Name Title of Coverage* 1. Banikborta, June 29, 11 Bangladeshi rice seeds’ varieties 2014 flourishing in India 2. Janakantha, June 29, 13 Bangladeshi rice seeds’ varieties popular 2014 in India 3. Samakal, June 29, 2014 Barriers impacting rice seed trade 4. Yugantar, June 29, 60 percent rice seeds’ low quality in 2014 Bangladesh 5. Prothom Alo, June 29, Consultation on HYV rice seeds’ trade 2014 between Bangladesh and India 6. Financial Express, June Research proposes formal Indo-Bangla trade 06, 2014 in rice seeds 7. Sambad Pravah, June Rice seeds trade between India and 06, 2014 Bangladesh affected 8. The Statesman, June 06, NGO Stresses on Bilateral Rice Trade 2014 9. Hindustan Times, June Global warming taking toll on paddy 06, 2014 cultivation 10. Dainik Jagran, June 06, Problem in rice seeds causes losses to farmers 2014 11. Salaam Dunia, June 06, Benefits from Cooperation between India and 2014 Bangladesh 12. Prabhat Khabar, June Formal trade of rice seeds between India and 06, 2014 Bangladesh should happen 13. Press Trust of India, Research proposes formal trade in Indo- June 06, 2014 Bangla rice seeds 14. The Economic Times, Research proposes formal trade in rice seeds June 05, 2014 between India and Bangladesh 15. The Samaj, May 25, Indian farmers on the mercy of Bangladeshi 2014 middleman 16. First News Magazine, Informal trade surges between Bangladesh May 17, 2014 and India 3 | P a g e 17. Prothom Alo, May 14, Formalising Indo-Bangla rice seed trade 2014 underscored 18. Dainik Jhagran, Ranchi, Farmers of Jharkahnd depend on May 13, 2014 conventional rice seeds 19. Hindustan, Ranchi, May Jharkhand Lacks quality rice seeds 13, 2014 20. Sanmarg, Ranchi, May Farmers of Jharkahd lack awareness about 13, 2014 quality rice seeds 21. Dainik Bhaskar, Farmers of Jharkahd lack awareness about Ranchi, May 13, 2014 Quality Rice Seeds 22. AAJ, Ranchi, May 13, Farmers of Jharkahd lack awareness about 2014 quality rice seeds 23. Daily Observer, May India, Bangladesh should collaborate in HYV 11, 2014 rice seed development 24. UNBconnect, May 10, Study stresses Indo-Bangla collaboration on 2014 HYV rice seeds 25. Press Trust of India, Formalise trade in rice seeds between India May 06, 2014 and Bangladesh: Study 26. Suryaprava, April 29, Surplus seeds of farmers will be sold in 2014 Bangladesh 27. The Samaj, April 29, Farmers surplus seeds will be used in other 2014 countries 28. Sambada, April 28, Discussion on quality rice seeds production 2014 29. Samay, April 28, 2014 CUTS International organised farmers meeting 30. Dharitri, April 28, 2014 Odisha produces quality rice seeds 31. National Sahara, April Quality rice seeds produced in Aurangabad 26, 2014 will go to Bangladesh 32. Hindustan, April 25, Crop productivity will increase 2014 33. Dainik Jagran, April 25, Increase the production of rice: DAO 2014 34. Press Trust of India, India, Bangladesh need cooperation in rice April 20, 2014 seed trade: Study *Title of coverage in local/regional languages has been translated into English. 4 | P a g e 6. Some Media Clippings Daily Sun, Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 29, 2014 Nayi Duniya, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014 5 | P a g e Aaj, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014 6 | P a g e Hindustan, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014 Dainik Bhaskar, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 13 May, 2014 7 | P a g e 8 | P a g e The Samaj, 29 April, 2014 Sambada, 28 April, 2014 9 | P a g e Janakantha, Dhaka, 29 June, 2014 Yugantar, Dhaka, 29 June, 2014 10 | P a g e .