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Crop Production in the Haor Areas of Bangladesh: Insights from Farm Level Survey

M. Shahe Alam
Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M.A. Quayum
Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

M. A. Islam
Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A study was conducted in the haor areas of Bangladesh to assess the land utilization status, delineate the productivity and profitability of growing modern rice, evaluate the existing cropping patterns and assess the prospect of possible cropping patterns. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Applying the conventional descriptive statistics, the study revealed that, there are about 1.26 million hectares of cultivated lands in seven haor districts, of which 66% falls under haor area. In Kishoregonj and Hobigonj, nearly 94 and 87% areas were devoted to MV Boro rice production. Both BRRI dhan 28 and 29 were being the widely adopted rice varieties. On an average, about 33% of the haor areas were under mechanized irrigation, but in Kishoregonj, the coverage of mechanized irrigation was 87% that helped increasing cropping intensity. The cost of production for MV Boro was almost double than that of LV rice. The yield of MV Boro was 79% higher than that of LVs and the return from MVs was 82% higher. Rabi-Fallow-T. Aman, Vegetable-Aus-T. Aman and Rabi-B.Aman patterns were the potential cropping patterns in some selected areas and this could increase both cropping intensity and productivity in those areas. According to the farmers' assessment, lack of flood control dam and lack of short duration varieties etc. are the major hindrance to the adoption of potential cropping patterns. Construction of community harvest and threshing facilities and flood control devices could be the important public interventions for enhanced agricultural productivity in the haor areas.

Keywords: Haor areas, Potential pattern, Productivity, Mechanization, Profitability.

Location: Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sylhet, Habiganj, Maulavibazar and B. Baria.

Start Date: 00-00-2008

End Date: 00-00-2009

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

i) To understand the land utilization pattern and assess the level of adoption of modern rice varieties in the selected haor areas of Bangladesh,

ii) To delineate the productivity and profitability of growing modern Boro rice in the haor areas,

iii) To evaluate the existing cropping patterns and assess the prospect of possible improved patterns ; and

iv) To ascertain the constraints to MV rice cultivation in the haor areas and derive policy implications from the study.

Methodology:

Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. In selecting the study locations, multistage sampling technique was followed. At first, seven haor districts namely, Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sylhet, Habiganj, Maulavibazar and B. Baria were purposively selected. Seven upazilla (taking one upazilla under each of those districts) were also purposively selected. Then one village under each upazilla was selected randomly. From a comprehensive list of farm households in the village, forty sample farms from each village were selected for data collection following random sampling technique. Data were generated using structured questionnaire. In total 280 sample farmers in the haor areas were selected under the study. Data were generated through directly interviewing the sample farmers during Boro season of 2008-09. Necessary secondary data were collected from different published reports of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Mainly descriptive statistics were employed in analyzing the data. To examine the mean differences for different items of input use, productivity and profitability between modern and indigenous rice production in the haor areas, T-test was employed.

Source of Information: The Agriculturists 8(2): 88-97 (2010) ISSN-1729-5211, A Scientific Journal of Krishi Foundation

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/AGRIC/article/view/7582/5721

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The haor areas under seven selected districts of Bangladesh covered almost 0.68 million hectares of land of which 66% area is devoted to crop cultivation. In the haor areas of Sunamgonj and Kishoregonj, more than 80% of the total cropped areas were covered by Boro-Fallow-Fallow cropping pattern. In most of the haor areas BRRI dhan 28 and 29 were the prominent Boro varieties. Farmers in the haor areas applied lower amounts of fertilizers than the recommended rate, possibly because of better soil fertility. The cost of production for MV Boro was almost double than that of LV rice. The yield of MV Boro was almost 79% higher than that of LV Boro. Similarly, the return from MV boro was about 82% higher than that of LVs. Rabi - Fallow- T. Aman, Vegetable-Aus-T. Aman and Rabi -B. Aman patterns emerged as the potential cropping patterns in the haor areas and these would help increase both cropping intensity and productivity in those areas. Higher price of inputs, lack of short duration modern rice variety and lack of flood control dam were the major constraints to modern rice production in the haor areas. Availability of short duration MV seeds and development of physical infrastructure as well as availability of different agricultural machineries such as power tiller, irrigation equipment, threshing machines, drying machines etc. could be immensely useful for horizontal expansion of cropped area in the haor areas of Bangladesh which would eventually increase the level of food productivity in the country.

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