The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), operating under the Ministry of Agriculture, is the apex body of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). BARC plays a central role in enhancing the national agricultural research capacity by strategically planning, coordinating, and integrating resources across institutions and sectors. It serves as the umbrella organization for agricultural research in Bangladesh, promoting a unified and effective approach to addressing national agricultural priorities.
BARC's mandate extends across multiple ministries, facilitating cooperation and research integration in areas such as Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, Fisheries and Livestock, Rural Development, Education, Industries, Commerce, and Science and Technology. This cross-sectoral coordination ensures a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to agricultural development.
Policy guidance for BARC is provided by a Governing Body, chaired by the Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture, with the Hon’ble Ministers for Fisheries and Livestock and Environment and Forest serving as co-chairpersons. The governing body also includes Members of Parliament, senior government officials, leaders from research institutes, renowned scientists, and representatives of the farming community. The responsibility for implementing these policies lies with the Executive Chairman of BARC, supported by Member-Directors and Directors overseeing specific research disciplines.
Among its core responsibilities, BARC prepares the national vision document and the National Agricultural Research Plan, which serve as strategic guides for research activities across NARS institutes. Based on these frameworks, individual research institutes develop their own master plans.
BARC is also tasked with:
Coordinating research initiatives among NARS institutes
Promoting inter-institutional collaboration
Monitoring and evaluating research programs
Supporting institutional capacity building
Establishing system-wide operational policies and management standards
Ensuring good governance across all affiliated research organizations
Through these functions, BARC plays a pivotal role in shaping Bangladesh's agricultural innovation landscape, ensuring that research efforts are aligned with national goals and deliver tangible benefits to farmers and the broader economy.
As per circular
