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Cropping Pattern and Socio-economic Study of Ethnic People in the Hilly Areas of Bangladesh

Joti Lal Barua
BlRTAN, Dhaka University

Nazrul Islam Khan
INFS, Dhaka University

Sagarmay Barua
INFS, Dhaka University

M. R. Islam
Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDl), Bangladesh

Sayed Mohammad Mohsin
Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangia Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted at some hilly areas of Bangladesh during the period of January to May 2009 and during April to May, 2010. This was done to evaluate socio-economic condition of the ethnic people and to find out the existing cropping pattern in the hilly areas of Bangladesh. A total of 810 households from Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban were selected randomly. Socio-economic profiles of the households indicated that the most household respondent belonged to thirty-forty five years age group followed by forty five- sixty years, fifteen- thirty years and sixty-seventy five years age group. This indicates that household respondents were younger (thirty-forty five years) in the study areas. It was found that, among the tribal people Marma were found highest rate of illiteracy followed by Shaontal, Tanchanga, Chakma, and Tripura. The tribal people of Tripura were not found to be below Primary level in the study area. The percentage of agriculture and service were found equal in Chakma tribal people in the study area. The Marma people were not found as a service holder because of their low education level. Cultivable land use pattern among the ethnic people revealed that out of 810 ethnic households 222 households were involved in cultivation (27.4%). It also showed that 55.4% households harvested single crop, 26.3% households harvested double crops, 10.8% households harvested triple crops in a year and only 7.5% households practiced jhum cultivation.

Keywords: Cropping pattern, Ethnic people, Bangladesh, Socio-Economic

Location: Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban area.

Start Date: 00-01-2009

End Date: 00-05-2010

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Seasonality in production

Objectives:

To find out the socio-demographic condition and agricultural cropping pattern of the ethnic people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

To study the agricultural cropping patterns and to investigate the present socio-economic condition of the ethnic people, a multistage cluster sampling was designed for selecting the farm households from the uplands of the Hill Tracts of Chittagong. The sampling framework were consist of primary sampling unit of district, secondary sampling unit of upazila, pre-ultimate sampling unit of village and ultimate sampling unit of household for the data collection. Selection of area was quite difficult as there were three districts in the CHT consisting of 25 sub- districts (Upazila) in total. Out of these 25, there were 10 Upazila in Rangamati, 8 in Khagracahari, and 7 in Bandarban District. Considering the available time, budget, accessibility of interviewees and all other aspects two Upazila from each district and five villages from each Upazila were randomly selected. A total of 810 households those who were engaged in agriculture were randomly selected from these three districts. The study was a descriptive cross- sectional which were followed a mixed method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The exercise of mixed methods involves the collection, analysis and mixing of both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study. Several methodological tools were thus used including observation, individual interviews and group discussions. Data were collected from the selected households through face-to-face interview with each of the head of the families of 810 households during January to May 2009 and during April to May, 2010. To get the information, the household head (male) and the spouse were interviewed. Every day, the collected information/data was checked, coded and cross checked by the interviewers and finally by the supervisor at the field sites in order to avoid any misreporting. Any confusion arising out of this matter was settled on the following day during subsequent home visits. The questionnaire was edited and data mean entered into SPSS program. Data entry was done by the computer data entry personnel of INFS, DU and this was followed by an extensive period of logical checking to identify any error in data entry, which were then corrected by consulting the original questionnaires.

Source of Information: The Agriculturists 13(1): 119-126(2015) ISSN 2304-7321 (Online), ISSN 1729-5211 (Print)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council

Budget: 900000

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present study provides a brief representation on agricultural cropping pattern among the ethnic people of Chittagong Hill Tracts. It also provides an insight into their life style, food security, health and nutrition. Education has not yet reached every household member in the hilly area. Main occupation of different tribal people such as Chakma, Marma, Shaontal, Tanchanga was found to be agriculture. Life style, food security, health and nutritional status of the ethnic people are greatly influenced by their agricultural cropping pattern. So, further efforts should be continued for the promotion and sustainable crop production in the hilly areas of Bangladesh. The hill farmers have limited knowledge about post harvest processing of fruits and vegetables. For his reason, a number of products get lost before marketing. So, post- harvest technology program for horticultural crops should be introduced in the hilly areas. The government should take necessary initiatives to set up agro- processing industries in Rangamati Sador which is the middle place of CHT. Jhum farming cannot be suddenly discontinued. In this situation, jhum cultivation should be modernized through replacing jhum crops with modern crop varieties suitable for hill farming.

Knowledge Management: Journal