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Changes of Land Use in Fulbaria and Trishal Upazila of Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Jahida Akter
MS Student
Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

Mukhlesur Rahman
Scientific Officer
Soil Resource Development Institute Mymensingh, Bangladesh

M. Shawkhatuzzaman
Soil Resource Development Institute Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was undertaken to estimate the present land use pattern and to calculate the changes in land use of agricultural and non-agricultural field over time using aerial photographs of Trishal and Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh district. Two series of aerial photographs of both upazilas from 1983 and 2000 at scales of 1:40,000 and 1:25,000, respectively, were studied. Land use categories were calculated by random line drawing method on effective areas of aerial photograph. In 1983, Total agricultural and non-agricultural land of Trishal upazila were found 29,505 and 4,095 ha accounting 87.81 and 12.2% of total land area, respectively. In Fulbaria upazila for the same year, it was 35,611 and 4,258 ha accounting 89.3% and 10.7% of total land area, respectively,. An amount of about 3545 and 3637 ha agricultural land was transformed into non-agricultural land in Trishal and Fulbaria upazila, respectively, within a period of 17 years. The rate of decreasing agricultural land to non agricultural land in Trishal and Fulbaria upazila was estimated to be 0.62 and 0.54% /annum, respectively. Land use analysis shows that conversion of agricultural land into settlement, transport network and water body contributed 88.07, 5.3 and 6.63% of the land loss, respectively in Trishal upazila and 98.45, 1.3 and 0.12% of the land loss, respectively in Fulbaria upazila. If similar trends in loss of agricultural land remain constant, there will be no land available for cultivation after around 200 years. Therefore, it is very crying need for the country to make a land use policy for food security of the rapidly growing population.

Keywords: Land use, Changes of agricultural land to non-agricultural land

Location: Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-00-2010

End Date: 00-00-2012

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Land management

Objectives:

To estimate the present land use pattern and to calculate the changes in land use of agricultural and non-agricultural field over time using aerial photographs of Trishal and Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh district.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in the district office of Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), Mymensingh in the year 2010-2012. The study areas were two upazilas of Mymensinghviz; Fulbaria and Trishal. The experimental site Fulbaria and Trishal are comprised of 39,870 and 33,601 ha of total lands, respectively. Two series of aerial photographs of both upazilas from 1983 and 2000 at scales of 1:40,000 and 1:25,000 respectively were collected for this study. Due to unavailability of 2010’s photographs most recent data could not be gathered in this study. The photo survey was designed to acquire 60 percent forward overlap (between photos along the same flight line) and 15-25 percent lateral overlap (between photos on adjacent flight lines). Effective area was the main area of a photograph by deducting the overlapped area. At first the centre of two adjacent aerial photographs, called the principal point, was marked. Secondly, the principal point of the right image was plotted in its position on the left image. At the same time the principal point of the left image was also plotted on the right image. Analysis phase deals with delineating different categories of land cover and land use in the study area. This study resorts to human skills in photo interpretation to identify and delineate land use and cover classes. Each of those land use categories was discerned from the others by a combination of tone and texture. Random line drawing method was followed for the measurement of land use in Fulbaria and Trishal upazila. In this method, firstly effective area of a photograph was drawn on aerial photographs by using sharp pencil. Then several parallel lines were drawn on the rectangular effective area on photo maintaining a distance of 1 cm between the parallel lines. Finally, land uses were calculated for each parallel line drawn on the effective area. The linear distance of each land use category was calculated from the parallel lines drawn on the rectangular effective area of an aerial fig. The cumulated linear distance of each land use category was summed again to calculate the total linear distance. Then the cumulated linear distance of each land use category was divided by the total linear distance and multiplied by 100 to convert each land use into percentage. For example, if there are 8 lines on an effective area having 10 cm length, then the total length is 80 cm. In these 80 cm, if water body covers 2 cm then the percentage of water body is 2/80×100= 2.5 %.

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 12(1): 13–18, 2014

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Rate of decreasing agricultural land to non agricultural land in Fulbaria upazila was 0.54% or 213.9 ha/annum, whereas 0.62% or 208.5 ha/annum was in Trishal upazila. From this study, it can be concluded that agricultural land of Trishal and Fulbaria upazilahas been decreasing day by day which is similar to our national scenario. Majority of agricultural land in both upazila was converted to settlement for accommodating the rapidly growing population. On the other hand, many business enterprises were established in Trishal and Fulbaria upazila in recent past. With the economic advancement of the country there was an improvement of communication and transport facilities. Thus, the transport network was also increased. If similar trends in loss of agricultural land remain constant, there will be no land available for cultivation approximately after 200 years. The result of this study will be very helpful for the nation because there is no solid information available till now based on scientific basis. Decreasing rate of agricultural land is alarming for our national economy particularly to feed the rapidly growing population.

Knowledge Management: Journal