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Ecological and Environmental Sustainability of Jute Production Systems in Bangladesh: Emergy Analysis

M. M. Rahman
Corresponding Author
Jute Farming Systems Division, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

B. K. Bala
Professor
Department of Farm Power & Machinary, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Two important studies on jute production systems were conducted through field experimentations for the two consecutive jute growing seasons in 2006 and 2007 to assess the ecological sustainability and evaluate the environmental consistency indicators of the system. Emergy analysis is one of the studies to assess the ecological sustainability and economic performances of the produces using Odum,s well known emergy methodology. Two types of emergy indicators: sustainability and return on investment of jute production for (1997 to 2006) 10 years were also carefully investigated. Emergey sustainability indices for 10 years (1997 -2006) indicated a very good figure between 1 and 2. But return on investment is very low (0.10-0.114) indicating the price paid for emergy expenditure for the produce is extremely underestimated in the greater exchange market. It is concluded that the jute production system in Bangladesh is ecologically sustainable, but economically the system is highly underestimated.

Keywords: Ecological sustainability, Emergy, Jute, Return on Investment, Transfromity

Location: Central Research Station, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI), Manikgonj

Start Date: 01-01-2006

End Date: 31-12-2007

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Jute

Objectives:

To assess the ecologically sustainability and greater market performances of the produce derived from the jute production system in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The field experiment were conducted at the Central Research Station (CRS), Manikgonj, of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute in the two jute growing seasons in years 2006 and 2007. Split plot experimental design was followed with treatment: A. Variety: 2 (a. CVL-1, b. 0-9897) and B. Date of harvest: 10 with Replications : 3 For 10 harvests (plants sample collection) of different plant ages, 20 plots for 2 cultivars in each block and a total of 60 plots within 3 blocks were made for the study. Starting at the crop age of 20 days from the date of emergence, 10 harvesting dates were considered up to 110 days (at an interval of 10 days) of crop ages. Finally crop was harvested at the age of 120 days for other studies as LCA and Emergy Analysis. By means of a systematic analysis of the relationships among component of jute production systems web. The flows of energy and other resources converging to produce the output (fibre, stick and residues) are evaluated on a common basis, i.e.the content of solar equivalent energy (Odum, 1996). Associated with the agro-ecosystem, the basic indics of ecological interest for crop production process are Present Renewable (%R), Emergy Yield Ratio (EYR), Environmental Loading Ratio (ELR), Emergy Sustainability Index (ESI), Emergy Investment Ratio (EIR), Emergy Exchange Ratio (EER) and Return on Investment based on emergy flows (Odum & Odum, 1983; Ulgiati et. al., 1995; Odum 1996; Brown and Ulgiati 1997; Ulgiati and Brown, 1998).

Source of Information: SAARC JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE, Vol. 7, Issue 2, 2009, pp. 67-81, ISSN 1682-8348, SAARC Agricultural Information Centre.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The jute fibre production process did not impose any excessive load to the environment but much efficiently the process utilized the supplied emergies and at the same time the production process is sustainable for long run in developing the economy of Bangladesh. Jute fibre should be get more price emergy to compensate the emergy expenditure for the produce.

Knowledge Management: Journal