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Economics of the Plant Species Used in Homestead Agroforestry on an Offshore Sandwip Island of Chittagong District, Bangladesh

R. U. Momen
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

S. M. S. Huda
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

M. K. Hossain*
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

B. M. Khan
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study was performed in five villages of Sandwip Upazila, Chittagong district with a view to identify the tree resources, utilization pattern and economic return of major fruit and timber tree species. Information collected from a total of 60 households ranging from marginal, small, medium and large categories. Number of plant species increased with the increase of homestead area. A total of 33 plant species were recorded from the homegarden, of which 19 were fruit and 14 were timber tree species. A considerable number of vegetables was also planted under the shade of the homestead trees. The investment analysis showed that average benefit-cost ratios were greater than one, net present values were positive and internal rate of returns were more than 10%. Long term investment on horticulture and timber tree species is highly profitable if species like Artocarpus heterophyllus, Cocos nucifera, Tectona grandis and Swietenia macrophylla are planted.

Keywords: Agroforestry; Fruit tree; Timber tree; Economics; Homegarden; Sandwip

Location: Five villages of Sandwip Upazila, Chittagong district

Start Date: 00-10-2004

End Date: 00-01-2005

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Agroforestry

Objectives:

The present work was an initiative to identify the plant diversity, utilization pattern and to evaluate the relative profitability of homestead trees through investment analysis at Sandwip Upazila in Chittagong district, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in Sandwip Upazila, the biggest offshore Island in Chittagong district during October 2004 to January 2005. The climate of the area is tropical with a mean annual rainfall of 3600 mm and average maximum temperatures from 25.4° C to 31.6° C. Among the 19 Unions of the Upazila, 5 Unions (Maitbhanga, Harishpur, Haramia, Mogdhara and Santuspur) were selected randomly for the study. Socio-economic survey was carried out for categorizing the households. All the households were stratified into marginal (>0.02–0.08 hm2 ), small (>0.08-0.14 hm2 ), medium (>0.14-0.20 hm2 ) and large (>0.2 hm2 ) based on homestead areas (Millat-e-Mustafa 1997). Sixty households for socio-economic survey were selected randomly and interviewed with the help of semi-structured questionnaire. Out of these samples, 15 households were surveyed for marginal household category, 20 for small, 15 for medium and 10 for large household category. Data were also collected through both direct observations and interviews with rural household members, Union Parisad (local government unit) personnel and village leaders. In order to evaluate the profitability of fruit and timber trees, financial analysis were carried out considering the timing of benefit and costs throughout the rotation period of specific trees. Three discounted measures were used in the present study.

In investment analysis, total cost and total return per tree was calculated by visual assessment of trees and farmer’s idea about the year of planting. Total cost of fruit and timber trees involves purchase of seeds, seedlings, manure, fertilizer, pesticides and labour wage. All fruit and timber trees were estimated for 25 years rotation whereas Psidium guajava and Citrus spp. were estimated for 15 years and Musa spp. for one year.

Source of Information: Journal of Forestry Research, 17(4): 285-288 (2006)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Homestead vegetation of Sandwip area typically exhibits in a layered vertical structure of diversified economic crops of immense value and domestic usage. The upper stratum comprises of timber and some fruit trees, middle stratum is usually occupied by fruit trees and bamboo clumps and the lower stratum is occupied by seasonal vegetable and small bushes. The distribution of land among the farmers was highly unequal causing poverty to a group of landless peoples. But the poor farmers tried to use their small land very effectively. Financial analysis of horticultural and timber trees showed that, average BCRs were greater than one, average NPVs were positive and average IRRs were more than 10%. This indicates that long term investment on fruit and timber trees is profitable. Though it was revealed from the study that timber species yield more economic return than the horticultural species, farmers show a particular preference to horticultural species because fruit trees provide immediate cash return and contribute to household food and nutrition requirement. Whereas Large and medium households preferred timber trees for greater economic return despite of the longer rotation.

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