Climate Change & Adaptation
2. Results and Discussions 3.1 Farmer’s data analysis
3.1.1 Local concepts of organic farming in Daynna Union
The meaning of organic farming to farmers of Daynna Union is a practice in which farmers manage their farm based on natural resources and avoiding synthetic compounds.
3.1.1.1 Practice as Fertilizers
In the organic management system to supply essential plant nutrients, farmers of Daynna Union usually use, cow dung, different composts, green manure, crop residues, ash Rice barn, poultry litter etc.
3.1.1.2 Practice as Pesticides
For controlling insects and diseases, they use different non-chemical measures such as:
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Mechanical measures (e.g. Hand net, light trap etc.), Biological control (e.g. rearing of beneficial insects and pathogens).
3.1.1.3 Practice as Preservatives
Organic farmers and consumers in Daynna Union rely on different natural inputs rather than toxic hormones and preservatives for ripening fruits and storing their seeds and other harvested crops.
3.1.2 Present cultivation pattern in Daynna Union:
According to field survey the Figure 4.1.2 shows that 50% farmers are practicing inorganic farming, 20% farmers are practicing organic farming and 30% farmers are practicing mixed (organic farming and inorganic farming)
Fig. 3.1: Present cultivation pattern in Daynna Union.
3.1.3 Level of awareness of farmers about the harmful effects of pesticides
The Figure 2 shows that 77% of the farmers, agreed with the proposition that Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have harmful effect on soil, human and environment and 23%
farmers have no idea about the proposition that Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have harmful effect on soil, human and environment` due to the lack of knowledge.
77%
23%
0%
50%
100%
Fig. 3.2: Level of awareness among farmers about the harmful effects of pesticides in Daynna Union. 3.1.4 Interest in conversion from inorganic to organic farming among farmers
The Findings show that 20% of the farmers are interesting in conversion from inorganic to organic farming and rest are uninterested in conversion from inorganic to organic farming.
3.2 Consumers data analysis
3.2.1 Level of awareness of consumers about the harmful effects of fertilizers and pesticides
It is observed that 75% of the consumers are aware of the `harmful effects of pesticides or chemical fertilizer on human body and environment. Due to the lack of knowledge about organic farming only 25% of the consumers have no idea about the harmful effects of pesticides or chemical fertilizer on human body and environment.
Fig. 3.3: Level of awareness about the harmful effects of pesticides or chemical fertilizer on human body and environment.
3.2.2 Interest in buying production of organic farming
It is observed that 80% of the consumers are interest in buying production of organic farming due to the purity, tasty and aesthetic value of these products. On the other hand 20% consumers have no interest in buying production of organic farming due to the lack of knowledge and the high rate of organic product.
Fig. 3.4: Interest in buying products produced by organic farming
3.3 Constraints of organic farming in Daynna Union
75%
25%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Aware Unaware
Interested 80%
Interested Not 20%
To identify the core problems for organic farming in Daynna Union, a problem analysis was conducted. All the problems mentioned by the farmers and consumers, as well as personal observations and summarized these in Table no.3.1 and Table no. 3.2 Organic farming has four core problems poor farmers, poor farmer knowledge of organic farming and its benefits, insufficiency of organic inputs, and poor marketing of organic foods and summarized in the following tables.
Table 3.1 Problems faced by organic farmers in Daynna Union
Problems Percentage (%)
Lack of technical support 35%
Marketing problems 15%
Lack of technical knowledge 20%
Lack of training 5%
Price problems 25%
Table 3.2 Problems faced by the consumers of buying organic food in Daynna Union
Fig. 3.5 Constraints of organic farming in Daynna Union
Problems Percentage (%)
Organic produce not being certified 45%
Lack of trust of producers and sales
personnel 25%
Insufficient supply of organic
production 20%
Organic foods areavailable in a limited
number of shops 10%
Slow moving organic farming
in Daynna Union Insufficiency of organic inputs
• Decreasing cattle population
• Organic pesticides and manures unavailable in markets
Farmer’s poor knowledge of organic farming and its benefits
Poor market of organic foods
• Lack of certification for getting access to export markets
• Lack of trust of local consumers
3. Conclusion
The current study, although the level of awareness about organic farming is low, did reveal that both farmers and consumers are aware of the toxic effect of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. With the introduction of organic farming and the assurance of some relevant factors (like price and quality), we expect an increase in the marketing of the production of organic farming in both domestic and overseas market. Results also indicate the constraints of organic farming in Daynna Union. Some major problems faced by organic farmers in Daynna Union such as lack of technical support, marketing problems, lack of technical knowledge, lack of training, price problems etc. Consumers also faced some Problems in Daynna Union such as organic produce not being certified, lack of trust of producers and sales personnel, insufficient supply of organic production, organic foods are available in a limited number of shops etc.
4. References
BBS, (2006): Statistical Pocketbook of Bangladesh (2006); Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
Bangladesh Economic Review 2008, Bangladesh Economic Review 2007-08. Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) 2008, Statistical Pocket Book of Bangladesh. Planning Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Christian R V, Kilcher L & Schmidt H 2005, 'Are Standards and Regulations of Organic Framing Moving Away from Small Farmers' Knowledge'? Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 26 (1).
Hossain, M. Z. (2001): Farmer’s view on soil organic matter depletion and its management in Bangladesh.
Nutrient Cycling in Agro ecosystems 61: 197–204, 2001. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers: Printed in the Netherlands.
Hassan, M. S. (2011): National Agricultural Research System in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh.
Jensen, R. (2000): ‘Agricultural Volatility and Investments in Children’. The American Economic Review, 90(2) Papers and Proceedings of the One Hundred Twelfth Annual Meeting of the American Economic Association (May, 2000): 399-404.
Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) 2008, 'National Agriculture Policy (Draft 3)'. Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
MOA 2005, Trends of Pesticides Consumption in Bangladesh'. A Booklet. Plant Protection Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
UNDP 2006, 'Desertification in Bangladesh'. A publication on World Environment Day 2006. United Nations Development Programme.
Coastal Zone Management
Title: Canal Re-excavation: A viable approach for agricultural productivity enhancement in a coastal region of Bangladesh
Md. Gulam Kibria, Debanjali Saha, M. Shahjahan Mondal 1. Introduction
Bangladesh is an agrarian country and about 80% of her total population is dependent on agriculture (Rahman, 2004). According to Land and Soil Statistical Appraisal Book of SRDI (2010), agricultural land covers 9.5 million hectares (ha) area in Bangladesh. Crop agriculture accounts for about 60% of the agricultural GDP of this country (BBS, 2011). In the south-western coastal region of Bangladesh, agriculture is one of the major livelihoods of the local community. In most of the areas, one or two seasons’ crop cultivation is the general practice. In many areas, crops can be cultivated only during one season, i.e., during the monsoon season. Aman rice is the dominant crop in the coastal region during the monsoon with small and medium scale crop cultivation in the dry season. Aman rice occupies more than 30% of the net cultivable area during the monsoon (Mishu and Zaman, 2013). Farmers get sufficient water supply from seasonal rainfall and salinity of the river water is comparatively lower during this season. However, boro rice cultivation during the dry season is very low and it covers less than 14% of the coastal area (Mishu and Zaman, 2013). This low cultivation is mainly due to the fact that salinity in the soil and water is comparatively higher during the months of April and May. So, unavailability of fresh water for irrigation and high salinity restrict the cultivation of boro rice. Other dry season crop cultivation, which includes sunflower, sesame, mustard, watermelon, vegetables, etc., is also hampered by high salinity of the south-west coastal area, variability of climatic parameters and climate change induced natural disasters. But to improve the socio- economic condition and standard of living, local people are now trying different agricultural adaptation Kibria, Saha and Mondal practices during the dry season to cope with the changing environment. These crops have varying requirements of resources and inputs, and their production also varies depending on the field condition and availability of input resources such as quality seeds, irrigation water, fertilizers, labor activities, etc.
Cultivation of dry season crops can be increased if the supply of sufficient irrigation water is ensured. Coastal areas are characterized by a wide network of canals and other internal water bodies. These water bodies have high potential to supply irrigation water during the dry season under proper management. This specific study focused on the role of the canal re-excavation in agricultural productivity enhancement in a selected polder of the south- west coastal region of Bangladesh. This study will help the policy makers to design a better agricultural adaptation measures for the coastal region of Bangladesh.