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An Optimal Cropping Plan for Increasing Crop Productivity and Farm Income in a Selected Coastal Area of Bangladesh

F I M Golam Wahed Sarker
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

W M H Jaim
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study was undertaken in a selected coastal area of Bangladesh to determine the optimal allocation of farm resources among different crops for increasing crop productivity and farm income. Farm survey method was used to collect data in order to develop linear programming representative farm models. The analysis takes into account crop activities, inputs used, farm size and land types. Optimal plans show mis allocation of existing resources and indicate considerable scope for increasing farm productivity and income by reallocation of existing resources. The mis allocation of resources on large farms was greater than that of small farms. The analysis suggests that by reallocating existing resources, large farms could increase farm income and employment more significantly than the small farms. The research supports the view that the government should maintain a policy that favours optimal allocation of farm resources in coastal area and the extension and NGO workers may provide guidelines to farmers for better allocation of existing farm resources and thus increases crop productivity and farm income in coastal area of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Crop productivity, Farm income, Coastal area

Location: Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district.

Start Date: 00-03-2008

End Date: 00-07-2008

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

i) To develop representative farm level models for optimal allocation of the available resources of farmers among different crops in coastal area;

ii) To suggest planning guidelines for integrated and sustainable use of farm resources for increasing crop productivity and farm income in coastal area of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The study site is located in Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district in south western coastal region of Bangladesh, which consists of seven unions. To fulfil the objectives with minimum expenditure and time, one union (salinity affected) was chosen purposely. A total of 100 farmers in different categories (small, medium and large) were selected by using stratified random sampling method. Primary data were collected by carrying out the field survey from March to July 2008. Secondary data of agro-climatic, infrastructure and other information were collected from Bangladesh Meteorological office, Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Upazila Agriculture Office and other government publications. The survey period covered three agricultural crop seasons (Kharif I, Kharif II, and Rabi) which also covered three rice growing seasons and it was a normal year. For recording the necessary information, a well-structured and pre-tested survey schedule was used for interviewing the farmers directly. Analytical technique. Linear programming (LP) technique was used to find the profit maximizing combination of activities, subject to constraints imposed by fixed resources. The assumed objective function in the study is to maximize gross margins for an annual cycle. Gross margins were calculated by deducting the variable production costs (except labour and power tillers) from the gross return. Labour and power tillers hiring for respective periods were treated as separate activities and the cost of these activities have not been included in the gross margins of individual crops.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Rice J. 18(1&2): 65-72, 2014

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BRJ/article/view/23004/15839

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study provides farm resource optimization and cropping plans for farmers in a selected coastal area of Bangladesh. The optimal plans increased the cropped areas and thus increased the cropping intensities on farms. Cereal based cropping patterns maintained dominance in both existing and optimal plans. The plans revealed considerable scope for transfer of land from low valued crops to high valued cash crops. The MVP of land varied considerably according to land type. Model results indicate that large and medium farmers faced scarcity of family labour and thus, hired seasonal labour. But availability of family on small farms was surplus to crop demand. Farmers hired power tillers to perform land preparation on time. The MVP of power tillers was higher than the prevailing market rates. Analysis by farm size shows that small farmers had a poor resource (land and capital) base but surplus family labour in relation to their land. Therefore, necessary steps should be taken to create both farm and non-farm employment opportunities through providing credit facilities for them.

Knowledge Management: Journal