Dr. Md. Ismail Hossain
Chief Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Gazipur
Dr. M. A. M. Miah
Scientific Officer
Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Gazipur
The study was conducted in Comilla, Jessore and Lalmonirhat during 2001-04 to find the benefits of IPM technologies over farmers’ practices. Two crops namely sweetgourd and bittergourd with two technologies namely bishtop traps and pheromone traps were considered in the study. The farmers in the study areas were benefited from the fruit fly control traps with higher yields (sweetgourd 51-79%, bittergourd 12-27%) and higher returns (BCR 2.75 to 6.02) than the farmers’ own practices. Fruit fly control, through the use of bishtop and pheromone traps in cucurbits was found very effective in reducing insect infestation fruit damage. The farmers saved costs of insecticides and labor since insecticides were not used in the experimental plots. Farmers in the study areas were very enthusiastic about the use of bishtop traps and pheromone traps. Therefore, the technologies should be disseminated to the farmers’ fields through the involvement of researchers, extension personnel like DAE and NGOs.
Fruit fly control traps, cucrbits,economic advantage.
Jessore, Comilla and Lalmonirhat districts
i. To test the most promising set of technologies developed by the IPM-CRSP with the participation of farmers;
ii. To find the economic advantages of the technologies;
iii. To obtain farmers’ feedback about these technologies including the constraints related to their implementation and
iv. To facilitate diffusion of IPM technologies.
The study was conducted in Jessore, Comilla and Rangpur district. One upazila was selected from each study area and again one village from each upazila was selected based on the technology related vegetables being grown in the area. In selecting the area, necessary help was taken from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Ten farmers were selected from each village to participate in testing the IPM-CRSP derived activities. Another 15 farmers were also selected with their own practices as control. Two crops namely sweetgourd and bittergourd were considered for the study. A total of 220 farmers taking 60 from Comilla 80 from each of Jessore and Lalmonirhat were selected for the mentioned technologies and vegetables. Again, out of a total of 506, 255 traps for bishtop traps and 251 traps for pheromone were considered in the cucurbit plots.
Annual Research Report 2005, Agricultural Economics Division, BARI, Gazipur
The total cost of production of sweet gourd in Jessore was found higher in control plots (Tk 24976/ha) than in the experimental plots (Tk 21930/ha). The yields of sweet gourd under experiment were found much higher (51-79%) than that of the control plots in the study areas. The BCR (total variable cost basis) of sweet gourd varied from 2.75 to 5.63 under experimental plots and 1.43to 4.43 under control plots. On average, the yields of bitter gourd under experiments were found much higher (12-27%) than the control plots. The BCR (total variable cost basis) of bitter gourd varied from 5.47 to 6.02 under experimental plots and 2.75 to 4.05 under control plots. In case of sweet gourd and bitter gourd the farmers received much higher return to labour per day in the experimental plots than the control plots compared to the normal daily wage rate of Tk.50. The cost of labor was considered in this case and found that on average under experiment, Tk.606/ha was saved in sweet gourd production and Tk.858/ha was saved in bitter gourd production in the study areas. This statement indicated that the vegetable farmers in the study areas felt strongly and positively about the benefits of IPM technologies. The farmers in the study areas benefited from the fruit fly control traps with higher yields (sweet gourd 51-79%, bitter gourd 12-27%) and higher returns (BCR 2.75 to 6.02) than the farmers own practices.
Report/Proceedings