Premium Quality Rice Value Chains in Bangladesh: Linkages, Constraints, and Opportunities

Little is known about the value chain of premium quality rice (PQR), the actors, linkages, constraints, and opportunities in Bangladesh. This study fills these knowledge gaps. A stacked survey of PQR value chain actors was conducted in some selected areas of Bangladesh through focus group discussions (FGDs) with farmers and in-depth interviews with value chain actors. The results showed that the structure of the PQR value chain is intermediationally long. The actors integrate their activities into various segments of the PQR value chain. Pest infestation and diseases, low price of paddy, lack of storage facilities, price fluctuations, and the admixture of varieties were the key constraints confronted by PQR value chain actors. The findings suggest that disease and pest-resistant varieties should be developed, storage facilities should be improved, and market monitoring should be implemented to control price volatility and ensure the quality of PQR in Bangladesh.