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Livelihood Pattern of Betel Leaf Cultivators: a Case Study at Fakirhat Upazila in Bagerhat District of Bangladesh

Tuhin Roy*
Sociology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Chowdhury Anowarul Alam
Sociology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

M.M. Abdullah Al Mamun Sony
Sociology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Betel leaf is a traditional cash crop in Bangladesh. Betel leaf cultivation is such like traditional agro-based occupation. This cash crop is locally known as pan and it’s scientific name is Piper betel that is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family. This study makes a modest attempt to know the livelihood pattern of betel leaf cultivators of south-west region of Bangladesh. The data were collected from Maskata Village in Betaga Union and Piljanga Village in Piljanga Union under Fakirhat Upazila in Bagerhat District, Bangladesh. This study was descriptive in nature. The paper is based upon qualitative approach which includes analysis of existing secondary sources of data. It also deals with primary data collected through Case Studies, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informants Interview (KII) methods. The data were analyzed into five categories including: natural capital, financial capital, social capital, physical capital and human capital. Betel leaf cultivation is an ancestral occupation of the respondents. Most of the family structure is nuclear and have strong bonding within community. Poor socio-economic conditions include lack of sanitation, unavailability of pure drinking water and lack of health care center creates pressure on their health status. On the contrary, low education, poor savings and poor credit facilities with high rates of bank interest makes them more vulnerable. Water logging and rot diseases are other challenges of this cultivation. The children who are involved in tertiary education, they mostly not come back their ancestral occupation. From the study it is revealed that, integrated as well as comprehensive intervention program with social awareness and safety net program should be run by the Government Government and NGOs for the betterment of this vulnerable vulnerable occupation. Moreover, Moreover, health worker should provide medicine and other health incentives for physically vulnerable groups. This paper would contribute to the policymaking and taking necessary initiatives, especially for these occupational groups.

Keywords: Betel leaf, Cultivation, Economy, Livelihood, Occupation

Location: Maskata village of Betaga unions and Piljanga village Piljanga union at Fakirhat Upazila (sub-district) in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-02-2018

End Date: 00-03-2018

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Livelihood

Objectives:

None of the researchers identified the livelihood pattern of the betel leaf cultivators, considering these points of view this research was intended with following specific objectives-

i. To identify the livelihood pattern of the betel leaf cultivators; ii. To analyze the socio-economic conditions of the betel leaf cultivators; and iii. To investigate the hindrances they are facing to lead their livelihood.

Methodology:

The nature of this study is descriptive. Basically data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected from Maskata village of Betaga unions and Piljanga village Piljanga union at Fakirhat Upazila (sub-district) in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh. The Betel leaf cultivators are the unit of the study. The qualitative instruments, i.e., case study, focus group discussion (FGDs) and key informants interviews (KIIs) were adopted to get the intensive information about the livelihood pattern of betel leaf cultivators in this study area of Bangladesh. To illustrate the current situation, by using case study it was tried to point out the living mechanisms that betel leaf cultivators use to cope with the environment. On the other hand, FGDs and KIIs were used to get an in-depth and comprehensive data about the problems and prospects of the cultivators. To fulfill this purpose, four case studies, two FGDs and two KIIs in each village (total 8 case studies, 4FGDs and 4 KIIs) were conducted by using purposive sampling. Each of the respondents was betel leaf cultivator and head of the household. The respondents were purposively selected. Each of the selected respondents was informed formally to attend a particular place to participate in the FGD group. They were also informed about the objectives of the study in details before the meeting. Moreover, to conduct the focus group discussion, along with chief researcher, two research assistants were also present there as a note taker. However, to conduct KII especially knowledgeable persons such as teachers, a union parishad chairman and a union parishad member were selected. After conducting this study, data were processed and analyzed.

Field work of this study was conducted between February to March of 2018. In this study the livelihood pattern was analyzed by five capital assets which represented all of materials, services, and opportunities available to people to use in meeting their basic needs, and in mitigating or adapting to disruptive changes. Natural Capital: land, water, biological resources (biodiversity); Financial Capital: stocks of money or assets in liquid form; Social Capital: rights or claims derived from group membership; Physical Capital: infrastructure; resources created through economic production; Human Capital: quantity and quality of labor available (Scoones, 1998). The study therefore aims at to assess the livelihood pattern of betel leaf cultivators in Bangladesh. Secondary data were collected from several Bengali and western literatures, research papers, dissertations, newspapers, magazines and so on.

Source of Information: South Asian J. Agric. Vol. 7, No. 1&2, 2016-’19 : 34-37

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Today is the age of modernization; people all over the world are being facilitated by education, science and the development of modern technology. The betel leaf cultivators at Fakirhat Upazila in Bagerhat District involves traditionally in this occupation. They hardly change this occupation though they have lots of challenges. Due to lack of special attention like community clinics, complications during pregnancy are very common and they are not even conscious about family planning. Poor child nutrition made their future generation vulnerable. Poor market conditions push them to shift their occupation and sell the lands too. Through this occupational group contributing a handsome number in GDP of Bangladesh but graved little attention to protect this occupation. They need to develop their housing structure so they need financial supports. Attention is necessary to combat diseases and natural disasters hindering the cultivation of betel leaf. They are facing many problems in cultivating betel leaf. They traditionally combat natural disasters but hardly overcome this situation. Lack of social awareness and superstation make them remain step-asides. Their socio-economic conditions are being vulnerable day by day.

Knowledge Management: Journal