Background
Bangladesh has a glorious tradition in cotton and textile production. In medieval age Bengal was famous for production of `Muslin’ the finest quality cotton fabric. Cotton required for producing muslin was grown on high lands around Dhaka, where most of the muslin handlooms were located. However, the production and trading of Muslin gradually declined during the British rule ultimately resulting to closure of the industry by early nineteenth century. During Pakistani rule, there had been limited efforts to produce cotton in this part of the country. Before independence, raw cotton requirement of local textile industry was met from the then West Pakistan. Importance of local production of cotton was felt after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, when the supply of raw cotton was suspended from Pakistan. Our textile industry faced serious problems for non-supply of raw cotton. In these circumstances, Cotton Development Board (CDB) was established under the Ministry of Agriculture in 1972 to promote cotton production in the country. CDB started functioning in 1974-75 and started growing American Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) on experimental basis. Extensive program of Upland Cotton production was taken up in 1976-77 with the introduction of new variety from the USA. The responsibility of cotton research was transferred from Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) to Cotton Development Board (CDB) in 1991.
Mandate of CDB
Present mandate of Cotton Development Board is-
- To promote cotton cultivation by organizing cotton growers association or societies and ensure supply of agricultural inputs and improved seeds, fertilizers, plant protection measures, irrigation and such other related matters;
- To arrange for training of cotton farmers and establishment of demonstration plots;
- To encourage the development of ginners for processing seed cotton produced by the farmers;
- To render assistance in the marketing of seed cotton at growers level;
- To extend cotton cultivation program and conduct research for uninterrupted extended production of cotton.
Administration / Management / Organizational Structure
Cotton Development Board has a governing board headed by the Honorable Minister for Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The formation of the Board is as follows-
i) |
Minister for Agriculture |
Chairmam |
ii) |
Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture |
Vice-Chairman |
iii) |
Executive Chairman
Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) |
Member |
iv) |
Director General
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) |
Member |
v) |
A representative of Ministry of Textile |
Member |
vi) |
A representative of Private Ginners |
Member (Co-opted) |
vii) |
Cotton farmers’ representative |
Member (Co-opted) |
viii) |
Executive Director, CDB |
Member Secretary |
N.B.: The Board may co-opt other members not exceeding three.
Cotton Development Board (CDB) is functioning as a government organization under the Ministry of Agriculture. Executive Director is the chief executive of the board. Its head office is located at Khamarbari, Farmgate, Dhaka. At present the number of sanctioned posts under revenue budget is 847. CDB has four regional offices, 9 Zonal offices, 179 unit/sub-unit offices, two cotton research centres & three seed multiplication farms located in different areas of the country. The Regional offices are headed by Deputy Directors (DD), Zonal offices are headed by Chief Cotton Development Officers (CCDO) and unit offices are headed by Cotton Unit Officers (CUO). Research centres are headed by Principal Scientific Officer (PSO)/ Senior Scientific Officer (SSO) and Research, Training & Seed Multiplication Farms are headed by Cotton Agronomists.
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