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Farmers' Awareness Regarding the Consequences of Homestead Deforestation in Two Selected Villages of Tangail District

M.A. Momen Miah
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education, BAU, Mymensingh

M.F. Alam
Technical Officer, CARE, Bangladesh, Bogra.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The main purpose of the study was to determine the awareness of the farmers regarding the consequences of homestead deforestation. Attempts were also made to assess the existing homestead plant population along with trends and causes of homestead deforestation. The relationship between the farmers' awareness on consequences of homestead deforestation and 10 selected characteristics of the farmers were also explored. Fifty farmers from village Golabary. a non-forest area and 50 from Casabary, a village adjacent to forest area were selected through stratified random sampling from a population of 906 farmers. Data were collected by using an interview schedule through face to face interviewing, which took 30 days from 20 December 1995 to 19 January 1996. Data were coded. compiled, tabulated and analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the study. Appropriate methods and procedures were followed to measure the dependent and independent variables. Almost one-thirds (35 percent) of the farmers had high awareness. 60 percent medium and only 5 percent farmers had low awareness regarding the consequences of homestead deforestation. In the homestead of forest area. an average or 39.46 number of trees and in the non-forest area 32.10 number of trees were found. The number of homestead plant population was found to have a decreasing trend during 1981-1990 in both the areas and took an increasing trend later. The problems as perceived by the farmers indicate that air pollution, decrease in zinger and turmeric cultivation, shortage of fuel wood and house building materials were the major consequences of homestead deforestation. Out of 10 characteristics, the family size and farming experience of the farmers were not significantly related to their level of awareness regarding consequences of homestead deforestation. To maintain a sustainable increase of afforestation in the homestead. motivational activities of Go and NGOs on plantation programmes need to be strengthened.

Keywords: Awareness, Homestead, Deforestation and environment

Location: Two villages under Modhupur Upazila of Tangail district

Start Date: 00-00-1999

End Date: 00-00-2000

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Non-commodity: Impact

Objectives:

1. To determine farmers awareness regard ing the consequences of homestead deforestation, 2. To identity the existing plant population in homestead area, 3. To find out the trend of increasing or decreasing plant population in the homestead area for a certain period, 4. To identify the reasons for cutting trees from homestead area, and 5. To describe some of the selected characteristics of the farmers. The selected characteristics are age, level of education, farm size, homestead area, family size, annual income, organizational participation, communication exposure, farming experience, knowledge on homestead forestry

Methodology:

Two villages under Modhupur Upazila of Tangail district were selected purposively as the locale of the study. The two villages were Golabary and Gasabary- a non-forest and a forest area respectively. The farmers of both the villages were the population of the study. Fifty farmers out of 456 of Golabary and 50 from 450 of Gasabary were the sample of the study and selected randomly. Face to face interviewing by using a structured interview schedule was used to collect data. One-month ( 20 December 1995 to 19 January 1996) time was needed to collect data from 100 selected farmers of the study area. The methodology followed for measuring the dependent and independent variables are described. Measurement of Dependent Variable - Awareness of the farmers regarding the consequences of homestead deforestation was the dependent variable of the study. The farmers were asked to give their opinion on 20 statements, which were identified during pre-testing of the questionnaire containing information on various consequences of homestead deforestation. A 3-point modified Likert-type scale was used to measure the extent of awareness of the farmers. An appropriate score such as 2 for 'fully aware', 1 for 'partially aware' and 0 for 'not aware' was assigned to each of the scale to measure the level of awareness of the farmer. By adding the assigned scores of 20 statements of a respondent together, the awareness of a farmer on consequences of homestead deforestation was obtained. Thus, the awareness score of a respondent could range from 0 to 40, 0 indicating no awareness while 40 indicating full awareness of a farmer regarding the consequences of homestead deforestation. For determining the individual consequence-wise awareness of the farmers on homestead deforestation, the Farmers' Awareness Index (F AI) was computed. The F AI was calculated by multiplying the frequency counts of each cell of the scale of individual consequence with its corresponding weights. The F AI could range, in case of forest and non-forest areas, from 0 to 100, 0 indicating no awareness and 100 indicating full awareness regarding the consequence of homestead deforestation. In case of the forest and non- forest areas taken together, the F AI could range form 0 t-o 200. Attempt was also made to measure the existing plant population as well as trend of plant population increases or decreases in the homestead areas. In measuring the existing plant population as well as their trend of increase or decreases, the year 1975 was considered as the base line year. Every 5 years duration from 1975 was considered as a unit, so from 1975 to 1995 constituted four units. Therefore, counting of plant population was made on the basis of units starting from 1975. In the existing plant population, the plants were classified into two ways such as types of plant and their age. The trend of plant population was expressed in both numbers and in percentage. In expressing farmers' opinion regarding the causes of deforestation, number and percentage of citation made by the farmers were used. Measurement of Independent Variables - The characteristics of the farmers such as, age, level of education, family size, farm size, homestead size, annual income, organ izational participation, communication exposure, farming experience and knowledge on homestead forestry were the independent variables of the study. The age of a respondent was measured on the basis of actual length of his life and expressed in years. The family size was calculated according to number of members living together and sharing their earnings. The number of years of schooling was the basis for measuring the level of education of a respondent. The areas possessed by the farmers under farm and homesteads were the basis for calculation of farm and homestead size and were expressed in hectare. Statistical measures such as number, percentage, frequency distribution, range, mean, and standard deviation were used in describing the variables of the study. Pearson Product- Moment Correlation was used to find out the relationship between the selected characteristics of the farmers and their awareness regarding the consequences of homestead deforestation. Five percent level of probability was used as the basis for judging the level of significance of the variables of the study.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, VOL. 11 &12. No. 1&2, 1999-2000, 1-12; ISSN 1011-3916

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

To fulfill the growing demand of timber and wood of the people as well as for healthy and pollution free environment, the country has to rely exclusively on homestead afforestation. In doing so, motivational activities on new plantation as well as better management for existing plantations need to be ensured.

Knowledge Management: Journal