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Farmers Preference and Perception Towards Cropland Agroforestry in Bangladesh

Tapan K. Nath
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Makoto Inoue
Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Hla Myant
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The potentialities of agroforestry are generally investigated through their biophysiological phenomena, cost–benefit analysis, and possible impact upon poverty reduction. There have been inadequate studies on the actual impacts of agroforestry intervention on small landholders and of farmers’ attitudes toward these agroforestry programs. Drawing upon the findings of an empirical study, this article explores the effects of small-scale agroforestry on upland community development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. More specifically, the study clarifies the merits and demerits of different agroforestry systems as perceived by farmers, their impacts on the rural economy and the environment, farmers’ attitudes toward the adoption of agroforestry, and impacts of various government policies. Field data were collected by administering questions to 90 randomly selected smallholders of the Upland Settlement Project (USP), as well as from project staff. The research tools employed were semistructured interviews, group discussions, and uncontrolled observations. The results indicated that the agroforestry interventions have in fact increased farmers’ income through employment and the selling of farm products, as well as by improving the ecological conditions of these areas through reduction of soil erosion, increasing tree coverage, and maintaining soil fertility. The adoption of different agroforestry systems was governed mainly by the farmers’ interests in following these techniques, their ability to cultivate the land in the prescribed manner, and the market demand for their products. The major obstacles that prevented increased agroforestry improvements included lack of confidence in new land-use systems, inappropriate project design (e.g., top-down innovation approach), and policy issues regarding land tenure. Recommendations are proposed to strengthen social capital in local organizations to enhance the livelihoods of the upland communities.

Keywords: Shifting cultivation, Agroforestry, Ethnic communities, Social capital

Location: Khagrachari and Bandarban Hill districts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Variety and Species

Commodity: Agroforestry

Objectives:

This article highlights land-use changes on the project sites through the implementation of project activities. Specifically, attention is drawn to the response of the farmers toward the adoption of new land uses, i.e., agroforestry systems.

Methodology:

Upland Settlement Project The study was conducted in the Upland Settlement Project sites. The project was implemented in two phases. The first phase began in 1985 with the resettlement of 2000 ethnic families by the year 1993 in Khagrachari Hill district. The second phase (1994–2000) resettled another 1000 ethnic households in both Khagrachari and Bandarban Hill districts. These two hill districts, along with the Rangamati Hill district, are collectively known as Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. In total, 60 project villages have been established, with 40 of them in Khagrachari and the remaining 20 in Bandarban district. Each village accommodates 50 families. Each family was allotted permanent and inheritable rights to 2.5ha of the government’s degraded forest land in the first phase of the project: 0.1ha for homestead, 0.8ha for agroforestry development, and 1.6ha for rubber cultivation. In the second phase, the land area was reduced to 2.1ha of which 0.5ha was for homestead and agroforestry and 1.6ha for rubber plantation. However, all families of every project village developed a rubber plantation as a compact block of 81ha (1.6ha for each family). Geographically the region lies between 21°25' N and 23°45' N north latitude and between 91°45' E and 92°50' E east longitude. The rationale for implementing the USP emerged from a soil and land-use survey undertaken in 1964 by Forestal Forestry and Engineering International, Canada, which concluded that the CHTs region was unable to support its growing population despite a lower population density. As such, an alternative strategy for food and ecological security that could preserve the socioecological integrity of the tribal population was necessary. A comprehensive program was developed, with its prime goal being to rehabilitate the landless and marginal jhumias through improved agroforestry practices on the degraded government hilly land. The program also comprised support services for crop production, along with skills development in the cottage and rural industries to generate off-farm income and improvements to the road system to link the area with the wider market system. Data collection Initially, the names of all the villagers in both districts (Khagrachari and Bandarban) were collected from the office records of the CHTDB in Khagrachari. The CHTDB was the prime official agency assigned to implement the project at the field level. Fifteen villages, eight from Khagrachari and seven from the Bandarban district were selected at random. Ninety families, six from each village, were then selected for the final interview and field data collection. Farmers were provided with an equal amount of land, financial support for house construction and agroforestry development, as well as other materials such as fertilizers and tools, free of cost. Based upon our field observations and informal interviews with key persons, it was assumed that there would be no remarkable difference among farmers in their socioeconomic status. That is why they were not categorized into different groups. Data were collected by means of the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method during 2 months (October– November) of field survey in 2002. The interviewers were well equipped with different tools of this method but were also given preliminary briefings before beginning their field surveys. The head of each sampled household was interviewed. Although the head of the family was specifically targeted for the purpose of the interview, other adult family members also participated in the discussion during the interview. An open-ended questionnaire was used for each household. The questions were about the uses of allotted land for different agroforestry systems, their advantages and disadvantages, input and output of different agroforestry systems, marketing of products, etc. Farms were also visited. In each village, a group discussion with the farmers was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire that focused on farming systems, their positive and negative aspects, problems related to farming and product marketing, the future of agroforestry, etc. Officials of the CHTDB who directed the project operation were also asked to share their views about agroforestry systems implemented in the project sites, and their perception about the adoption of agroforestry by the project farmers.

Source of Information: J For Res (2005) 10:443–452

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI 10.1007/s10310-005-0171-x

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Our study suggests that this upland settlement project made a worthwhile contribution to the socioeconomics of the participant farmers and at the same time increased the tree coverage in the project areas. Although it contributed to some extent in reducing dependency on jhum, greater adoption of agroforestry systems would depend largely on the mobilization of local resources, specifically strengthening local organizations and supporting policy changes. More investment should be made to form community-accepted social organizations, which will be adequately trained to deal with community development activities. The action could be taken to modify the CHIAT model to allow it to adopt natural vegetative strips. The local farmers’ preferences should be given priority in selecting hedgerow species. Policies on land tenure should be clarified among the farmers by making interim agreements with government land settlement departments assuring them that formal land title will be offered in future. In order to follow-up with feasible recommendations on these issues, research on the effect of the project upon the livelihood of the people and their social capital should be carried out as the next step.

Knowledge Management: Journal