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The present study evaluates the impact of industrial effluent on degradation of natural resources and threatening of food security in Gazipur, one of the most thickly industrialized district in Bangladesh. The present survey study was conducted based on pre prepared questionnaire in two locations viz, Sreepur Upzilla and Gazipur Sadar Upzilla during July to October, 2009 with sample size of 50 person. Almost 100% of the respondents identified that untreated industrial effluents degraded surface water and soil along with negative impact on crop, insect pests and animals. The health and proper growth of human, domestic animals and aquatic animals are also affected by awful effects of untreated industrial effluents. The presence of tiny part (4%) of untreated industrial effluent decreases the quality of ground water. To address this alarming sign, immediate action should be taken for saving protecting the ecosystem from unplanned and untreated discharges of industrial effluents here and there. Keywords: Industrial effluent; pollution; environmental degradation DOI: 10.3329/agric.v8i2.7581 The Agriculturists 8(2): 80-87 (2010)

Social media are contemporary digital communication means comprising various tools that allow interaction among people and information exchange worldwide. Its active users have reached around 3 billion globally as at April, 2017. Since agricultural extension service delivery is primarily a communication process, proper integration of social media is necessary. However, owing to the conducted researches so far the present paper was centred on making an overview of the current perspective of social media and agricultural extension service delivery. Evidences obtained revealed that there are many social media platforms being used in agricultural extension service delivery worldwide with Facebook having highest popularity (64.7%). Most of the agricultural stakeholders using social media are versatile users (33.5%) who usually visit only to find information (75.7%). Many challenges are currently faced in using social media for agricultural extension service delivery; viz. illiteracy, shortage of infrastructure, limited participation, non-institutionalisation, lack of quality control, lack of adequate yardstick for measuring impact and need for gender sensitive approach. In general, social media is gradually appreciated in agricultural extension service delivery, but faced with challenges. Thus, the necessity to put structures in place and required efforts by all stakeholders to ensure good use of its benefits.

Adaptation to climate change impacts in agriculture sector is a particular challenge in the coming decades. Erratic rainfall causes prolonged drought period in the north-western part of Bangladesh which hampers crop production and creates uncertainty of food security.  Adoption of drought-tolerant crop variety could be an effective strategy to overcome the challenges of food insecurity. This study examines the adoption quotient of BUdhan1 rice variety and its effect on food insecurity status of the beneficiary farmers in Gaibandha district through a questionnaire survey of 60 sampled respondents. The results reveal that respondent farmers are slowly adopting BUdhan1 rice variety although they provided positive feedback regarding its profitability and attributive characteristics. The farm holding size, knowledge, access to information sources and annual household income was positively related to changes in the adoption of BUdhan1 rice variety.  However, the productivity and economic returns from BUdhan1 influenced farmers' decision to continue or discontinue of the rice variety in the future.  Notably, the study found a very significant impact of BUdhan1 adoption in eradicating food insecurity from the study area. This study highlighted some other strengths and weaknesses of BUdhan1 rice variety that can be included in the further development, multiplication and dissemination process of this rice variety to make it more climate-smart innovation.

Fisheries biodiversity is important especially for the rural poor who often rely on fishing to earn their livelihoods. This study was carried out to examine the fish species diversity and livelihood status of fishermen around the Titas River falls under the villages of Radhanagar and Uzanchar at Bancharampur upazila of Brahmanbaria district. Data were collected from randomly selected 80 fishermen and analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, viz. frequency and percentage. A total of 55 fisheries species under 10 orders and 20 families were recorded from the Titas River. Cypriniformes was the most dominant order comprising 19 species followed by Siluriformes (12 species), Perciformes (8 species), Synbranchiformes (4 species), Channidiformes (3 species), Beloniformes (1 species), Osteoglossiformes (2 species), Clupeiformes (2 species) and Tetraodontiformes (2 species). Results also revealed that 60.0% of fishermen were belonged to the age group 31–50 years and 75.0% of them had no individual water body of their own. All of the fishermen were male, of whom 83.7% were married living in kutcha house (55.0%) and 52.5% of their families were nuclear type consisting of husband wife and their children. The illiteracy rate among fishermen was 26.0%, while 41.3% of them could sign only. Many fishermen (68.8%) were able to sell their catch at local market and 60.0% had an annual income ranging BDT 71,000–100,000 (= USD 844.887–1189.92). Overall, fish biodiversity in the Titas River is declining as compared to abundance observed from previous findings. Moreover, the fishermen of that place are leading a poor life having lower income than that of the government minimum wage, a basic pay of BDT 8,250 per month. J. bio-sci. 27: 59-67, 2019

Background:To expand the biotechnology market, the opinions of professionals toward biotechnological products are highly valuable for the industry personnel, government policy-makers, and others for taking appropriate decision. Bangladesh is considered as a highly potential country for marketing biotechnological products. It is indispensable to know the present status and future potentiality of biotechnological products to develop a demand-driven market in Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess attitude and consumption of professionals working in public and private organizations in Bangladesh toward biotechnological products. Methods:The data were collected by simple random sampling model, while structured questionnaire provided by the researchers. Collected data were analysed by using Chi-square and logistic regression tests.Results: Findings reveal that Bangladeshi professionals have an optimistic viewpoint about biotechnology and its products. However, age and education of the respondents had a significant effect on their attitude towards biotechnological products. The most common biotechnological products used by respondents were genetically modified (GM) soybean oil, antibiotics, skin care cream, stress-resistant hybrid rice and vaccine in Bangladesh. Most of the respondents demonstrated a pessimistic consumption level of biotechnological products that showed a menace toward the progress of biotechnology in Bangladesh. However, none of the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents had a significant effect on the consumption of biotechnological products, but private-sector respondents had a more sanguine stance to consume biotechnological products compared to public-sector respondents. Conclusion:The favourable attitude and marginal consumption of professional toward biotechnological products reveal that it is important to expand the application of biotechnology to ensure food and nutritional security of Bangladesh. This study includes a limited number of professionals from public and private sectors who have been involved in biotechnological products in Bangladesh. The findings and suggestions for this study might be useful for food producers, industry and food policy makers involved in biotechnological production in Bangladesh.

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Aims: The main objective of the study was to explore the influences of socio-demographic factors of lemon cultivators on accepting pest management practices. Study Design: A total of 120 lemon growers of the Tangail district were selected as samples following the proportionate random sampling technique. Primary data were collected from sampled respondents using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire by face-to-face interview. Results and Discussion: Findings indicate that majority of the respondents were middle-aged (69.2%), having a secondary level of education (47.5%), small farm size (73.3%), medium family size (57.5%), and medium use of information sources (74.2%). Farmers use chemical, mechanical, and cultural pest management practices, with the majority of respondents had a moderate degree of adoption. Education, annual family income, contact with the source of information, and organizational participation of the respondents showed positive significant relationships with their adoption of pest management practices. High input price, low market price of the product, disease, and pest attack was identified as the major problems faced by the lemon growers. Conclusion: Adoption of pest management practices significantly influenced by socio-economic factors of lemon growers. Hence, agricultural extension agents should step forward to work with different groups of farmers for raising their knowledge of integrated pest control and improve expertise in lemon cultivation. Furthermore, the government should take the requisite steps to address issues such as high production costs, low commodity prices, and disease and pest infestation.