40 research outputs found
Palawija newsletter. Vol.28, No.3, December 2011
No full textReducing postharvest losses and crop diversification are the two critical issues highlighted in this issue of Palawija News. Lisa Kitinoja in “Developing and promoting sustainable postharvest technologies for India and Africa” demonstrates that the majority of projects implemented in India and Africa still emphasize increasing food production, despite growing awareness that postharvest losses are significant and reducing them could greatly enhance efforts towards sustainable development. The second article, by Monayem Miah, points out that crop diversification along with crop rotation can enhance farmers' incomes and help maintain better soil structure, thus contributing to long-term agricultural sustainability.RESEARCH ARTICLEDeveloping and Promoting Sustainable Postharvest Technologies for India and Africa / By Lisa Kitinoja ... 1
EDITORIAL ... 2
SHORT ARTICLECrop Diversification in Bangladesh: Past Initiatives and Future Research and Policy Needs / By M. A. Monayem Miah
BOOK REVIEWWorld Livestock 2011 : Livestock in Food Security / McLeod, A. (ed.), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2011. 128 pp. ISBN 978 9 25107 013 0 ... 9
NEWS AND ACTIVITIES ... 10</p
From Slash-and-Burn to Sustainability – A Study from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh
No full textbecause their traditional ‘slash and burn’ agriculture is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Farmers in these communities have to farm more intensively and this is causing a whole host of environmental and social problems. This challenge is not limited to this region, but is being experienced by traditional farmers across the developing world. To help find a solution to this crucial problem, a new SANDEE study looks at the economic and social feasibility of replacing shifting cultivation in the hill district of Khagrachari with settled agriculture and new soil conservation techniques based around orchard growing.agriculture, bangladesh, farmers, soil conservation, shifting cultivation
CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF FRUITS IN A SELECTED AREA OF BANGLADESH
No full textThis study was an attempt to examine the consumption pattern and the factors affecting consumption of fruits in an area of Gazipur district. Consumption of fresh fruits in rural area was higher than that of urban area. Rural people mainly consumed fruits from their own production, whereas urban peoples' main source was purchase. Sharp seasonal variation in consumption was found in the study area; peak period consumption was about twenty one times higher than that of slack period. Urban consumers consumed proportionately more amount of banana, papaya, pineapple and citrus fruits than their rural counterpart. Fruit consumption was affected by the amount available from own production and income of the consumer. Education and knowledge about fruits had little or no impact on fruit consumption
STATUS OF PULSES VARIETIES ADOPTION IN BANGLADESH: A FARM LEVEL STUDY
No full textThe study was conducted in pulse growing areas of Bangladesh during November 2003 to April 2004 for assessing the farm level adoption status of improved pulse varieties with farmers' attitudes toward pulse production. The overall adoption of pulse varieties was very encouraging since 44% of the farmers adopted improved pulses, and 52% of the total pulse area was devoted to its production. The highly adopted varieties were BARI Mash 1, 2 and 3; BARI Lentil 4 and BARI Mung 4 and 5. Indigenous mungbean had completely been replaced by improved varieties in the study areas. The adopters plowed lands and sowed seed according to the recommendation, but could not follow the recommended sowing method and fertilizer doses. The significantly higher probability of adopting improved pulse varieties exists in extension services, influence of family member and encouragement of neighbour. Farmers' attitude toward improved pulse production was very positive since 63% of the adopters wanted to increase their present area for improved pulse production in the next year. On the other side, various agro-socio-economic constraints made many farmers pessimistic toward pulse production. The scarcity of improved pulse seed was identified as a crucial problem for its higher adoption at farm level
Economic Impact of Climate Change on Wheat Productivity in Bangladesh: A Ricardian Approach
No full textProfitability analysis and comparative advantage of lentil production in Bangladesh
No full textThe study estimated the profitability and comparative advantage of lentil production in Bangladesh. It analyzed 360 household’s data collected from 240 improved variety users and 120 non-users spread in the six lentil growing districts namely Faridpur, Magura, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Manikganj, and Sirajganj. Along with descriptive statistics, different models were used for analyzing the data. The yield of improved variety (1.664 t/ha) was much higher than local cultivars (1.08 t/ha). The highest yield was found in medium-intensive growing areas due to the use of better variety and a higher level of inputs. Improved lentil cultivation was profitable from the financial point of view (Tk. 48,165/ha) and an economic perspective (Tk. 15,083/ha). The prices of pesticides, seed, cowdung, and DAP fertilizer were common factors that had a negative significant effect on the net return of both improved and local variety lentil production. The domestic production of improved lentils had a comparative advantage (DRC= 0.72). Some lentil farmers wanted to decrease lentil cultivation due to lack of suitable land, biotic and abiotic stresses, and lack of improved lentil seeds. Farmers should be encouraged to expand their lands for improved lentil cultivation to increase their benefit, improve soil fertility, and for a better comparative advantage of production
ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION OF SELECTED EXPORTABLE VEGETABLES AND FACTORS AFFECTING THEIR PRODUCTION IN BANGLADESH
No full textThe study was conducted at the districts namely Rangpur, Comilla, Tangail, and Narshingdi during 2003 for estimating the profitability of exportable vegetables production and identifying the factors influencing their production. The vegetables were French bean (FB), yard long bean (YLB) and bitter gourd MG). In total, 224 purposively selected vegetable farmers were interviewed for collecting. The study revealed that the commercial production of above vegetables was profitable both on cash cost and full cost basis. Per acre net returns for FB, YLB and BG were Tk. 8,107, Tk. 13,117 and Tk. 22,344 on full cost respectively. The estimated BCR for FB, YLB and BG were 1.22, 1.36, and 1.63 on full cost respectively. The output elasticity of land preparation, seed, manure & fertilizer, irrigation, and farm size were positive and significant implying that vegetable production could be increased through balanced application of inputs
Shifting Cultivation and its Alternatives in Bangladesh: Productivity, Risk and Discount Rates
No full textThis study evaluates the economic feasibility of replacing shifting cultivation (Jhum) with settled agriculture and new soil conservation technology based on an assessment of the farmers’ risk and corresponding discount rates in the Khagrachari hill district of Bangladesh.soil erosion, MSFO, rate of return, discount rate, property rights, Bangladesh, economic, feasibility, soil, conservation, technology, farmer's, agriculture, Shifting (Jhum) cultivation,
RETURNS TO INVESTMENT IN SUMMER ONION RESEARCH AND EXTENSION IN BANGLADESH
No full textThe study estimated the rates of returns to investment on research and development of summer onion in Bangladesh. The Economic Surplus Model with ex-post analysis using secondary data was used to determine the returns to investment and its distribution between the production and consumption. Several discounting techniques were also used to assess the impact of summer onion research. The results revealed that the growth of area and production of onion increased manifolds due to farm level adoption of summer onion. The summer onion adoption rate was found increasing trend over the period. The yield of summer onion was 57.04% higher than the local variety. The internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV), and benefit cost ratio (BCR) were estimated to be 25%, Tk.35.29 million and 3.09 respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed that under various assumptions IRR ranged from 20 to 41%, NPV from Tk.18.37 to Tk.64.05 million, and BCR from 2.31 to 5.95. The results indicated that investment in research and development of summer onion was a good investment
The impact of crop diversification on food security of farmers in Northern Bangladesh
No full textAbstract Background Crop diversification is the potential for greater dietary diversity, and reduced micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. Despite the increasing global concern of improving food security, the nature and extent of food security at the household level in rural areas are not well-documented. This paper determines the factors that influence crop diversification and its association with food security which helps policy maker to take proper steps in norther part of Bangladesh. Methods The effect of crop diversification on household food security in northern Bangladesh was measured by adopting the Herfindahl index (HI). Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Household Food Insecurity Access Score (HFIAS) were used to determine the food security status. The binary logistic regression model and multinominal logit model were performed to identify the factors influencing crop diversification and food security, respectively. All these analyses were performed based on 609 household samples collected from six northern districts of Bangladesh. Results Descriptive statistics show that the majority of farmers in the study districts reported 12–13 different crops, while only farmers in Bogura mentioned 19 different crops grown in their field. After calculating crop diversification using HI index, it is apparent that about 64% respondents irrespective of region produced different types of crops and around one third of them possessed in the middle categories neither they were fully crop diversified nor non crop-diversified. About 40% households had better Food Consumption Score lead to only 3.28% belonged to below poverty line and rest of the household fall in borderline. The analysis confirm that the crop diversified households were found to be more food secured or marginal food secured then that of less crop diversified households. Conclusion and policy recommendation We may infer from the factor analysis that, in line with the government policy to raise significantly the standard of living of the farmers, government should facilitate and encourage farmers to grow several crops rather than just one and provide training opportunities. In addition, food insecure people as well as the low food secure group might overcome their circumstances if the government places greater emphasis on education, training, and off-farm activities by providing financial support
