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Impact of Homestead Agro-forestry on Sustaining Livelihoods of Rural Poor in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Nasrin Jahan
Ex-post graduate student
Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. H. A. Rashid
Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Tasnimun Jinan
Ex-post graduate student, Department of Agricultural Finance, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

S. Islam
Ex-post graduate student, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study determines the impact of homestead agro-forestry on livelihood of rural households in Mymensingh district. In total 100 homestead agro-forestry practicing farmers from three upazilas namely Mymensingh Sadar, Bhaluka and Muktagachha of Mymensingh district were randomly selected for this study following a purposive sampling technique. Analysis was done considering the pre (before) and post (after) homestead agro-forestry practicing condition of farmers. The major findings of the study showed that per hectare net returns for vegetables and fruits cultivation were Tk. 6,703.62 and Tk. 14,532.61 respectively considering all farms. On an average, the contribution of vegetables and fruits in total homestead income was 20.23 per cent in before and 22.46 per cent in the after homestead agro-forestry practicing situation indicating enough potentiality to generate income from homestead agro-forestry. It was found that vegetables cultivation was much better for small farmers compared to medium and large farmers. For fruits and vegetables enterprises, the performance of large farmers was better than small and medium farmers. Large farmers were more efficient than medium and small category in case of fruit production. Most of the variables included in the Cobb-Douglas production function model had significant impact on homestead agro-forestry. The study revealed that homestead agro-forestry had positive impact on improving the status of rural households and women empowerment.

Keywords: Homestead, Agro-forestry, Livelihood, Women empowerment.

Location: Mymensingh sadar, Bhaluka and Muktagachha upazila, Mymensingh district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-02-2008

End Date: 00-03-2008

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Income generation

Objectives:

To determine the overall contribution of homestead agro-forestry in rural development taking into account the activities of cultivation of homestead vegetables and cultivation of fruit trees.

Methodology:

Keeping in view the objectives of the study, three upazilas namely Mymensingh sadar, Bhaluka and Muktagachha from Mymensingh district were randomly selected for the study. In total, 100 homestead agro-forestry practicing farmers of which 78 small, 15 medium and 7 large farmers were selected and interviewed. A well structured questionnaire with open-ended and closed ended questions was used to record necessary information from the respondents. Data were collected during February to March 2008. A data base was developed using the Microsoft Excel computer package. Different database files were designed to enter data on various aspects, each file with a common field for the household/respondent identification number. Then the survey data were analyzed to obtain summaries, averages, counts, maxima, minima and standard deviations of the important data pertaining to farm families. The data so entered in Microsoft Excel, were then transferred to another computer package SPSS 11.5 to estimate the functional model. Functional analysis was also employed to estimate the effects of individual inputs used and other related factors of homestead agro-forestry production with the help of the Cobb-Douglas production function model. Y= _a X₁^b1 X₂^b2 X₃^b3 X₄^b4 X₅^b5X₆^b6 e^ui ^. The alternative form of Cobb-Douglas production function can be estimated using OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) methods as: ln Y = ln a + b₁ lnX_1i + b₂ lnX_2i + b₃ lnX_3i + b₄ lnX_4i + b₅ lnX_5i + b₆ lnX_6i + ui.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 19(1) : 169-178, 2008 ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/PA/article/view/17367

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The findings of the study confirmed that the small farmers are mostly benefited by the homestead agro-forestry such as vegetables and fruits cultivation. It also provides the opportunity of employment for a large number of laborers especially for the women in Bangladesh. After practicing homestead agro-forestry total household income of rural people were increased significantly which enabled them to spend more on basic items such as food, education, clothing, health care and housing compared to before. It indicates that livelihood and standard of living of homestead agro-forestry farmers improved to some extent. Among all farmers were the most beneficiaries of earning income from homestead agro-forestry. However, the farmers having homestead areas need to be motivated and provided with necessary logistic supports to increase production from homesteads area. Short term training programme on modern technique should be provided to make the farmers aware of modern technologies and technique of production. Necessary inputs such as HYV seed/seedlings, fertilizer, insecticides and credit should be available in time. Marketing facilities as well as fair prices of different products need to be ensured. Farm women should be encouraged more to participate in homestead agro-forestry as a means of their income generation, stronger voice in family decision making process, etc. Extension services should be provided and training should be given to the rural women by the government and non-government agencies/ organization to encourage the rural women folk for practicing homestead agro-forestry.

Knowledge Management: Journal