Crop Production in the Haor Areas of Bangladesh: Insights from Farm Level Survey

Abstract

A study was conducted in the haor areas of Bangladesh to assess the land utilization status, delineate the productivity and profitability of growing modern rice, evaluate the existing cropping patterns and assess the prospect of possible cropping patterns. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Applying the conventional descriptive statistics, the study revealed that, there are about 1.26 million hectares of cultivated lands in seven haor districts, of which 66% falls under haor area. In Kishoregonj and Hobigonj, nearly 94 and 87% areas were devoted to MV Boro rice production. Both BRRI dhan 28 and 29 were being the widely adopted rice varieties. On an average, about 33% of the haor areas were under mechanized irrigation, but in Kishoregonj, the coverage of mechanized irrigation was 87% that helped increasing cropping intensity. The cost of production for MV Boro was almost double than that of LV rice. The yield of MV Boro was 79% higher than that of LVs and the return from MVs was 82% higher. Rabi-Fallow-T. Aman, Vegetable-Aus-T. Aman and Rabi-B.Aman patterns were the potential cropping patterns in some selected areas and this could increase both cropping intensity and productivity in those areas. According to the farmers' assessment, lack of flood control dam and lack of short duration varieties etc. are the major hindrance to the adoption of potential cropping patterns. Construction of community harvest and threshing facilities and flood control devices could be the important public interventions for enhanced agricultural productivity in the haor areas. Key words: Haor areas; potential pattern; productivity; mechanization; profitability DOI: 10.3329/agric.v8i2.7582 The Agriculturists 8(2): 88-97 (2010)