Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects

Aurup Ratan Dhar^1, , Md. Monirul Islam¹ and Jasim Uddin Ahmed²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

²Department of Agricultural Economics and Policy, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Cite this paper

Aurup Ratan Dhar, Md. Monirul Islam and Jasim Uddin Ahmed. Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects. World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2017; 5(5):265-272. doi: 10.12691/WJAR-5-5-3

Abstract

The research was conducted to evaluate the problems and prospects of adopting conservation agriculture in Jamalpur and Bogra districts of Bangladesh. A total of 120 farmers (20 from focal and 100 from control group) were surveyed for collecting necessary data and information. A combination of descriptive statistics and mathematical techniques was used to analyze the data. Focal farmers followed the basic principles of conservation agriculture but control farmers continued conventional crop farming practices. Focal farmers were more profitable compared to control farmers in terms of wheat and bean production. Less production due to minimum tillage, difficulties in maintenance, lack of extension service etc. were the major problems faced by the farmers. Knowledge on soil conservation and soil quality improvement, use of organic fertilizer, etc. were found as strengths; management of crop residue, scarcity of cowdung, etc. were found as weaknesses; labor opportunities, market demand, etc. were found as opportunities; and climate change and price fluctuation were found as threats of adopting conservation agriculture. Regular extension contact, arrangement of training programmes and input support are to be ensured by different government and non-government organizations to motivate farmers for adopting conservation agriculture practice.

Keywords

adoption, conservation, agriculture, problems, prospects

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References

[1]	Kafiluddin A and Islam MS. Fertilizer distribution, subsidy, marketing, promotion and agronomic use efficiency scenario in Bangladesh. Proceedings of IFA Crossroads Asia-Pacific 2008, held at Melbourne, Australia. Dec 16-18. 2008; 1-22.
[2]	Kabir MH and Rainis R. Adoption and intensity of integrated pest management (IPM) vegetable farming in Bangladesh: An approach to sustainable agricultural development. Environment, Development and Sustainability. 2014; 17(6):1413-29.
[3]	Vanlauwe B, Wendt J, Giller KE, Corbeels M, Gerard B and Nolte C. A fourth principle is required to define conservation agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa: The appropriate use of fertilizer to enhance crop productivity. Field Crops Research. 2014; 155:10-13.
[4]	Lal R. A system approach to conservation agriculture. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 2015; 70(4):82A-88A.
[5]	FAO. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome, Italy. 2007.
[6]	IFAD. International Fund for Agricultural Development, Via Paolo di Dono, Rome, Italy. 2005.
[7]	USDA. Report and recommendations on organic farming. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington DC, USA. 1980.
[8]	Lampkin N. Organic farming. Farming Press, Ipswich. 1990; 1-4.
[9]	IFOAM. Basic standards for organic agriculture and processing. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. 1996.
[10]	Rahman MH. The influence of extension on the introduction of organic farming in Bangladesh. Litverlag Münster, Hamburg, London. 2001.
[11]	Sarker MA and Itohara Y. Organic farming and poverty elimination: A suggested model for Bangladesh. Journal of Organic Systems. 2008; 3(1):68-79.
[12]	Lampkin NH and Padel S. The economics of organic farming. An international perspective. Cab International, Oxon, UK. 1994.
[13]	Parrott N, Olesen JE and Hogh-Jensen H. Certified and non-certified organic farming in the developing world. Global Development of Organic Agriculture: Challenges and Prospects. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon. 2006; 153-176.
[14]	Willer H, Yussefi M, Menzler and Sorensen N. The world of organic agriculture statistics and emerging trends 2008, main results. The World of Organic Agriculture, Bonn, Germany. 2008.
[15]	Rogers EM. Diffusion of innovations, 4th edition. The Free Press, New York. 1995.
[16]	Uddin MT, Dhar AR and Islam MM. Adoption of conservation agriculture practice in Bangladesh: Impact on crop profitability and productivity. Journal of Bangladesh Agricultural University. 2016; 14(1):101-112.
[17]	Malik RK, Gupta RK, Singh CM, Yadav A, Brar SS, Thakur TC, Singh SS, Singh AK, Singh R and Sinha RK. Accelerating the adoption of resource conservation technologies in rice wheat system of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Proceedings of project workshop, Directorate of Extension Education, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, India. 2005.
[18]	RWC-CIMMYT. Rice-Wheat Consortium-International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Agenda notes, 13th regional technical coordination committee meeting, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2005.
[19]	Gupta R and Jat ML. Conservation agriculture: Addressing emerging challenges of resource degradation and food security in South Asia. Conservation Agriculture. 2010; 1-18.
[20]	Derpsch R. Keynote: Frontiers in conservation tillage and advances in conservation practice. 10th International Soil Conservation Organisation meeting, Purdue University and USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, West Lafayette, Indiana. 2001.
[21]	Hobbs PR and Govaerts B. How conservation agriculture can contribute to buffering climate change. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon. 2010.
[22]	Bhan S and Behera UK. Conservation agriculture in India - Problems, prospects and policy issues. International Soil and Water Conservation Research. 2014; 2(4):1-12.
[23]	Uddin MT, Dhar AR and Rahman MH. Improving farmers’ income and soil environmental quality through conservation agriculture practice in Bangladesh. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences. 2017; 12(1):55-65.
[24]	De Vita P, Di Paolo E, Fecondo G, Di Fonzo N and Pisante M. No-tillage and conventional tillage effects on durum wheat yield, grain quality and soil moisture content in Southern Italy. Soil & Tillage Research. 2007; 92:69-78.
[25]	Hobbs PR and Gupta RK. Problems and challenges of no-till farming for the rice-wheat systems of the Indo-Gangetic plains in South Asia.ch6. 2004.
[26]	Gathala MK, Timsina J, Islam MS, Rahman MM, Hossain MI, Harun-Ar-Rashid M, Ghosh AK, Krupnik TJ, Tiwari TP and McDonald A. Conservation agriculture based tillage and crop establishment options can maintain farmers’ yields and increase profits in South Asia’s rice-maize systems: Evidence from Bangladesh. Field Crops Research. 2015; 172:85-98.
[27]	Carvalho M and Lourenço E. Conservation agriculture - A Portuguese case study. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 2014; 200: 317-324.