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Commercial Cultivation by Farmers of Medicinal Plants in Northern Bangladesh

A. Z. M. MANZOOR RASHID*
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

HAKAN TUNON
NAPTEK, Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

NIAZ AHMED KHAN
Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

SHARIF AHMED MUKUL
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Medicinal plants (MPs) are an important component of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), which are traditionally used in healthcare and source of livelihood all over the world. In an over-populated country like Bangladesh, the pressure on natural forests is immense; thus the cultivation of MPs can significantly contribute towards improving the livelihood of poor people, reducing the pressure on natural forests and enhancing biological diversity. Notwithstanding the growing recognition of its importance and economic and ecological potential, there has been little research on MPs, especially the cultivation, management and marketing aspects, in Bangladesh. Based on extensive fieldwork in a northern district of Bangladesh, this study explores various aspects of the cultivation, management and marketing of MPs. How collective efforts have brought economic and social benefits to communities was also examined in this study. It assesses the major processes and elements of management, identifies key problems and challenges and indicates ways of maximizing the potential of this important sector. The issues covered in this research include: farmers’ perceptions and experiences; existing research and policy-making processes related to the MP sector; constraining factors (such as lack of processing technology, inadequate transportation, logistics, financial and storage infrastructure, lack of institutional capacity); markets, finance and networking; land use; pattern of livelihood and value chain issue.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Bangladesh, Cultivation, Farmer, Marketing, Policy, Conservation

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

This study aims to determine the current status and management of the MP sector in Bangladesh with a view to suggesting a better way of sustainably cultivating MPs. More specifically, it attempts to determine the field level practices and challenges in terms of overall management of the production of MPs, which will ensure a successful future for this promising sector.

Methodology:

This study mainly focused on practices at field level and challenges faced by farmers in terms of cultivation, management and related issues of research and policy based on a questionnaire and review of secondary information.

Study Site This study addressed specific target groups i.e. farmers, traders and traditional healers. The views of respondents to a questionnaire and field visits to farmers to determine their experiences of cultivating MPs and related activities were collected. This was done in a northern district of Bangladesh, named Natore, which is important in terms of the cultivation of MPs. Laxmipur Kholabaria Union1 of Natore district is the village that 1 The lowest administrative unit of local government in rural areas of Bangladesh. 2 Local administrative units under the supervision of the division. There are 64 districts in Bangladesh. Each district has several sub-districts called Thana. pioneered the commercial cultivation of MPs along with traditional agricultural practices, especially the growing of Aloe vera L. This study was conducted between August and December 2008. Natore consists mostly of an alluvial plain crisscrossed by rivers and with many water-bodies under the jurisdiction of Rajshahi division. During the survey, a semi-structured (open-ended) questionnaire was used to collect information (Flick 2006). Apart from the questionnaire, focused group discussions (FGDs) were arranged with farmers, Bepari3, Kabiraj 4 and other stakeholders.

Sample Size and Sampling The present study was conducted in an area of a northern district of Bangladesh. The detailed methodology is described herewith: Twenty eight farmers were interviewed, which represents 25% of those in the study area. The sample population was selected after a daylong meeting with about 50 villagers representing different professions and interest groups (farmers, local traders, kabiraj, teachers and local government officials). Twenty farmers were selected during the meeting because they cultivated MPs and the remaining eight were selected in the field while surveying the initially selected 20 farmers. The farms selected were grouped into one of four categories, namely marginal, poor, medium and large farmers. The classification of farms was done based on land ownership (marginal farms consisted of less than 0.13 ha, poor farmers 0.13 to 0.65 ha, medium farmers between 0.65 and 1.3 ha and large farmers more than 1.3 ha farmland). Among the respondents nine of the farms were in each of the marginal and small farm categories and five each in the medium and large farmer categories. Among the respondents 24 were male and four female. The female respondents farmed marginal or small farms. The female farmers were reluctant to be interviewed in the field, so these interviews took place in their respective households. The interview time varied depending on the context of the interview, whether in the field or in a homestead. In general the field interviews took longer since the farmers and the research team was simultaneously engaged in discussing and recording. The average time spent on each survey was 2.45 hours. Apart from the questionnaire, dual moderator FGDs were organized (Marshall and Rossman 1999). Two FGDs were arranged at the Natore study site (farmers, Beparis and Kabirajs were included). The first FGD included six local traders (Beparis), who provided information on the markets and marketing channels for MPs and their products produced in the study area while the second FGD included five Kabiraj who provided information on their profession and related issues. The outcomes of the FGDs were summarized using inductive coding (Frankfort-Nachmias and Nachmias 1996; Flick 2006), which grouped the outcomes based on similarity or dissimilarity of the opinions and priorities of the respondents.

Data Analysis The survey produced mostly qualitative data and therefore, the analysis was based on descriptive statistics. The information collected by interviewing farmers and the questionnaire were grouped and posted into excel datasheet to be analyzed using a statistical package used in social science studies (SPSS Version 15.0). Data obtained from respondents were further analyzed using inductive coding (Frankfort-Nachmias and Nachmias 1996; Flick 2006). The information obtained from the questionnaire was compiled and coded with numbers ranging mostly from 1–4 or more where applicable. In case of “yes” or “no” answers a 1 and 0 code was used throughout this study. This inductive coding enabled us to obtain additional information on the issues addressed. The most frequently mentioned responses included the coding to analyze the data to conclude. Descriptive statistics were also used to summarize and illustrate the objectives of this study.

Source of Information: European Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 60–68

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study revealed that one key challenge in managing the production of MPs is to integrate the needs of farmers with available knowledge and technological support. Currently there is a great need to integrate economic and ecological requirements. Furthermore, since natural forests are fast disappearing there is an urgent need to protect the remaining forests. In doing this it is important to take into consideration the livelihood of farmers and interests of other stakeholders in developing coordinated management plans.

Community organizations should play a major role in formulating policies; since they often are the only ones in direct contact with the farmers and aware of the realities at field level. However, in Bangladesh and other parts of south Asia they have only had a marginal role (Gopalakrishnan et al. 2005). In some cases the process of formulating a policy is more likely to protect the interests of the local political elite rather than the needs of farmers. However, there have been some successes in protected area governance in Bangladesh achieved by collaborative management.

Our field study revealed that all the important stakeholders, including farmers, traditional healers, researchers and community organizations, thought that in order to realize the full potential of this sector, especially in terms of sustaining community livelihood and conservation of biodiversity, it was very important to create local institutions to train and represent the farmers. Development of a local institution, which represents and headed by farmers’, is important in this regard. Detailed guidelines for harvesting, storage, drying, grading and primary processing are necessary for adding value to their products. Furthermore improving value by economic coordination is also deemed necessary as is mentioned in other studies (i.e. Shahidullah and Haque 2010). Partnerships between various stakeholders, mainly farmers, community organizations, industries and research and development institutions, are seen as the way to achieve this (Shinwari and Khan 2000; APFD 2002). Based on our experiences in the field and on feedback and the opinions of associated stakeholders we reached the following conclusions about the economical, ecological and institutional aspects of the sustainable production of medicinal plants:

Knowledge Management: Journal