Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Cropping Systems and Land Use in Sylhet Region

M A Muttaleb
Rice Farming Systems Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701

S M Shahidullah
Rice Farming Systems Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701

M Nasim
Rice Farming Systems Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701

A Saha
Rice Farming Systems Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Towards the sustainable food security for a particular area, the policymakers, researchers, extension and development agents need the detailed information of cropping patterns, cropping intensity and crop diversity. Sylhet, a potential region of enormous potentiality of growing crops across the haor area lying below the northeastern Himalyan foothills experience the highest rainfall in the world to make the basin prone to flashflood. That is why, a study was conducted in the region considering all the upazillas during 2016 using the pretested semi-structured questionnaire and validated by appropriate informants with a view to documenting the existing cropping patterns, cropping intensity and crop diversity in the region. As per the study the region is dominated by the rice based cropping pattern. The non-rice based cropping pattern are either few or the area under those cropping patterns are not enough to satisfy the non-rice food requirement of people of the region. Beside these, the cropping patterns and crop diversity appeared as below the expected level. Therefore, much thrust is needed to initiate research and development activities to diversify the single or double-cropped cropping pattern with the introduction of appropriate crops and crop varieties even other non-crop agricultural commodities.

Keywords: Cropping pattern, Land use intensity, Diversity index, Sylhet basin

Location: Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Maulvibazar districts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Cropping pattern

Objectives:

The study was conducted to determine the Cropping Systems and Land Use in Sylhet Region

Methodology:

Thirty-eight upazilas of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Maulvibazar district under Sylhet agricultural region were the locale of this study. Data were collected using double stage procedure through semistructured questionnaire. At the initial stage, data were collected through pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire from 38 pre-assigned Sub- Assistant Agriculture Officers (SAAO) of each upazila during September 2016 at upazila level. The SAAOs were purposively selected by Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) or Additional Agriculture Officer (AAO) or Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO) or their united decision. Prior to data collection, the pre-tested questionnaire was explained along with proper guidelines to the AEOs or UAOs or both and handed over to them at each Deputy Director’s office of Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE) during monthly meeting for the sake of accurate data collection. The filled questionnaires were collected, checked and analyzed to find the inconsistencies of the supplied data before validation workshop. All the inconsistencies among the information were documented. Second stage of data collection was a daylong data validation workshop at district level during 23 to 26 October 2016. Participants of validation workshop were one SAPPO and three SAAOs experienced and engaged in crop-based data documentation, all officers from all upazilas viz UAOs, AEOs, AAEOs, DD (DAE), DD (Horticulture), DD of Seed Certification Agency, DTO and ADDs, one representative from Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and scientists of BRRI regional station, Habiganj. The number of participants of validation workshop ranged from 59 to 88. All the participants were divided into three to four groups for data validation. Each group was facilitated by two RFSD scientists. After thorough discussion on collected data along with documented inconsistencies by each group, authenticated data were captured. Crop diversity index was calculated by using the following equation described by Kshirsagar et al. (1997). The index is zero for a land area growing only one crop. It approaches unity as the level of diversity increases. Compilation and processing of collected data were done using Micro Soft Excel programme. Descriptive statistics were used to facilitate the presentation of the findings.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Rice J. 21 (2) : 273-288, 2017

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The net cropped area of the Sylhet region is 773,480 ha. Crops occupied the particular land for around the year were considered under annual crops. Crops that completed life span within one year were regarded as annual crops (Martin and Leonard, 1953). The major annual crops reported in the region were pineapple, sugarcane, banana, papaya, betel leaf, ginger and turmeric. The coverage of annual crops varied from zero to 1,040 ha accounted to only 0.60 % of the net cropped area (NCA) in the region. The coverage was exclusively poor compared to those of the other crops due to the mal-adjustment with the land type and climatic conditions. The annual erratic and uneven distribution of rainfall is responsible for the varying intensities of flood from the natural to the extreme (flash flood in March-April). At a glance, the region possesses 57% single cropped area (SCA), 37% double cropped area (DCA), 6% triple cropped area (TCA). All the upazilas were dominated by SCA followed by DCA except three upazilas (Table 1). These type of cropping patterns are due to the availability of adequate water or excess water that does not permit cultivation of more crops in this region. Another cause may be conservativeness of absentee landowner. Mean cropping intensity of Sylhet region was 148%. According to BBS cropping intensity of Sylhet agricultural region is almost stagnant at around 150% for last few decades and much lower than the national average 192%. The area that could not be defined under SCA, DCA, TCA or QCA was considered as others whose coverage is less than 1% of the NCA. An overwhelming majority of single or double cropping pattern with exclusive rice due to land type and class along with the environmental and climatic factors that is unsuitable for non-rice crops (FAO, 1988).

Knowledge Management: Journal