H. M. KHAIRUL BASHAR1, M. AKKAS ALI2, GAZI NAZMUL HASAN3, ROZINA AKHTER4 and SUBRATA KUMAR DAS5
1Senior Scientific Officer, On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gopalganj, 2Principal Scientific Officer, On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Gazipur, 3Scientific Officer, On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Patuakhali, 4Scientific Officer, Tuber Crops Research Centre, BARI, Munshiganj and 5Additional Deputy Director (Pesticide Quality Control), Plant Protection Wing, Department of Agricultural Extension, Khamarbari, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted at the On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gopalganj, Bangladesh during 2011-2012. The samples were collected from two villages namely Jalisha of Angaria Union and Uttar Muradia of Muradia Union under Dumki upazila under Patuakhali district of Bangladesh. The survey covered crop, livestock, fish, homestead and agro forestry. with data pertaining to 60 farmers from two villages namely Jalisha of Angaria Union and Uttar Muradia of Muradia Union under Dumki upazila in Patuakhali district of Bangladesh. The data refer to the input output details and other socio-economic characteristics of farm households in the crop year 2011-2012. The result of the survery showed five categories of farmers namely landless (2), marginal (28), small (25), medium (4) and large (1). Seven types of major farming systems exist in the FSRD (Farming System Research and Development) site. Among the seven farming systems, the highest number of farmer were under crops + livestock + poultry + fisheries system and Crops + Livestock + Poultry followed by Crops + Livestock, Crops + Poultry + Fisheries + Agro forestry, Crops + Livestock + Poultry + Fisheries + Agro forestry and Crops + Poultry. On the other hand, average farm size was the highest under Crops + Livestock + Poultry + Fisheries system and the lowest under Crops + Livestock + Poultry + Fisheries + Agro forestry systems. About 80 percent of lands were used under local T.aman rice variety whereas only 20 percent of lands were used under HYV T.aman rice variety. Out of 34.98 hectare of land 13.30 hectare under HYV crops area and 21.68 ha of land under local variety. The highest amount of lands was under T.aman rice followed by pulses (Mainly khesari and mungbean), potato, maize, chilli, sesame and vegetables. Seven major cropping patterns were observed in the site. The main cropping pattern in the site was Pulses (mainly Khesari and Mungbean) – Fallow- T.aman (60%), Pulses (mainly Khesari and Mungbean) – T. Aus – T.aman (25%), Fallow – T. Aus – T.aman (5%), Fallow- Fallow – T.aman (3%), Chilli – Fallow-T.aman (3%), Maize-Fallow-T.aman (1%) and Sesame-Fallow-T.aman (3%). Out of seven cropping patterns, net returns was the highest in maize – Fallow-T.aman (Tk.51287 ha-1) followed by Pulses – T. aus -T. aman (Tk¡.38345 ha-1) and Chilli-Fallow–T.aman (Tk.39055ha-1), Fallow-T.aus–T.aman (Tk.12027 ha-1) and the lowest from Fallow- Fallow-T.aman (Tk.6893 ha-1). On an average per farm total net return were from livestock Tk. 5789.00 and from poultry Tk. 357. Out of 60 sample farmers, 15 farmers culture fishes in the Farming System Research and Development site. On an average, per farm total gross margin was Tk. 3510 containing tilapia Tk. 900, carps Tk. 1250 and other fish Tk. 1360.
Keywords: Livelihood, Farming System, Integrated Farming and Homestead.
¡ =US dollar ($) 1 = Taka (Tk) 83