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An Opimal Cropping Plan for Farmers in Shallow Tube Well Irrigarted Area in Bangladesh

F I M Golam Wahed Sarker
Senior Scientific Officer
Irrigation and Water Management Division, BRRI, Gazipur

John Lingard
Professor
Department of Agricultural Economicsw and Food Marketing, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was undertaken in an area of Bangladesh to assess the impact of shallow tube well (STW) irrigation on different farm sizes and determines the optimum allocation of resources of large and small farms. Farm survey method was used to collect data in order to develop linear programming (LP) representative farm models. The analysis takes into account crop activities, inputs use,farm sizes and soil types. Optimal plans show mis-allocation of existing resources and indicated considerable scope for increasing farm income by reallocation of existing resources. The mis-allocation of resources on large farms was greater than on small farms. The analysis suggests that by reallocating existing resources , large farms could increase farm income and employment more significantly than small farms. The research supports the view that the government should maintain a policy that favour private sector investment and operation of STW irrigation and the extension workers may direct farmers to allocate their resources in better way.

Keywords: Crop Plan, Optimization, Irrigation

Location: Shibganj, Bogra

Start Date: 10-03-1999

End Date: 15-10-1999

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

To develop representative farm level models to assess optimum allocation of the available resources of small and large farmers; and
To provide planning guidelines for better utilization of available farm resources.

Methodology:

A group of farmers from 10 shallow tube wells from 5 agricultural blocks of Shibganj Upazila of Bogra district were chosen randomly. All farms in the study area were listed according to their land holdings to identify farm size. Field level primary data were collected by carrying out a survey from April to June 1999. To record the information, a well-structured and pre-tested survey schedule was used to interviewing the farmers and tube well owners directly. The questionnaire had sections for obtaining general information relating to investment and operating capital requirements and technical aspects of the irrigation system. Linear programming (LP) was used to deter the optimal cropping plan for small and large farms. LP is the simplest form of mathematical technique used at the farm level to find the profit maximizing combination of activities, subject to constraints imposed by fixed resources.The assumed objective function is to maximize gross margins for an annual cycle. Gross margins were calculated by deducting the variable production costs from the gross return. Labour, bullocks, power tillers and irrigation water hiring for respective periods were treated as separate activities in LP and the cost of these activities have not been included in the gross margins of individual crops.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agric. Econs. XXIV, 1&2 (2001)39-55

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The optimal plans indicted increased the cropped area and thus increased the cropping intensities on farms. The optimal plans revealed considerable scope for transfer of land from low valued crops to high valued cash crops.Labour employment increased in the optimal plans. Large farmers faced scarcity of family labour in the months of February to May. But for small farms, availability of family labour was surplus to crop demands and sufficient to meet all farming activities. Both farms hired in power tillers to perform land preparation operations on time. The marginal value product (MVP) of power tillers is greater on large farms than small farms. The plans used 29,383 m³ and 6,543 m³ of irrigation water on large and small farms, respectively. The respective MVPs of irrigation water were Tk. 0.58 and Tk. 0.60, which were greater than the prevailing market price for irrigation water. Regarding capital, the plans indicate that MVPs of capital were Tk. 0.19 and Tk. 0.22 for large and small farms, respectively, which imply that there is a need to provide credit facilities to introduce irrigation and high valued cash crops as well as optimal utilization of resources. Optimal plans increased farm income by 27% and 3% on large and small farms, respectively, which shows mis-allocation of resources and considerable scope for increasing farm income by reallocating the resources.

Knowledge Management: Journal