Cost-benefit Analysis of Seedling Production on Floating Beds in a Few Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

The aim of this study was to calculate the cost benefit analysis and economic viability of seedling production on the floating bed at Nazirpur Upazila in Pirojpur district of Bangladesh. The study area was selected purposively and 50 households (HHs) were surveyed through purposive sampling technique from a population of 80 households. From the results of those primary data, it was found that 68% farmers were engaged in seedling production as business purpose, and 30% as both own and business, 21 vegetables and spices seedlings were cultivated in the studied area. Average per square meter cost for floating seedling cultivation Journal of Agricultural Studies 76 found BDT (Bangladeshi taka) 281 and benefit was BDT 401. The net benefit of floating agriculture found BDT 120 and with a BCR of 1.43. Income from floating seedlings mainly utilized in winter vegetable cultivation (Kandi), mainstream agriculture, business, house development and land purchase etc. Fifty percent (50%) of the floating farmers mentioned various constraints regarding floating seedling production such as lack of government aid, higher interest from NGOs and lack of capital. Among the surveyed respondents, 64% agreed that floating cultivation is effective to combat climate change and 76% replied as beneficial to the environment. Although floating agriculture is an indigenous age-old practice in the South-western region of Bangladesh, it can be replicated with the help of subsidy and agro-technology.

Floating gardening in Bangladesh: a sustainable income generating activity in wetland areas

“…Socio-economic profile of farmers Demographic statistics (Table 1) reveals that about 54% of the floating gardeners were middle aged (35-50). Similar to the findings of Pavel et al (2014) and Kabir et al (2019), about 68% of the respondents was found literate. It indicates that floating gardeners were educated.…”

“…Average marginal, small and medium farm size was 0.16, 0.73 and 1.27 hectare, respectively. More involvement of marginal (21%) and small farmers (56%) in floating gardening signifies the importance of this practice as an alternative source of income to them (Alam and Chowdhury, 2018;Kabir et al, 2019). Analysis of the housing pattern also reveals a typical scenario of resource poor people (Irfanullah, 2009).…”

“…Floating gardeners mainly cultivate different types of vegetables like red-amaranth, lady's finger, cabbage, bottle gourd, papaya, chili and vegetable seedlings etc. (Pavel et al, 2014;Kabir et al 2019). The main source of income of this cultivation is the return from these produces.…”

“…Several other studies also recorded the success of this practice in coastal areas as well as wetland areas of the country (Byomkesh et al, 2008;IUCN, 2008;Saha, 2010;Irfanullah, 2013;Hasan et al, 2017). Kabir et al (2019) studied the cost-benefit of seedling production on floating beds in Pirojpur district of Bangladesh and found a positive income with BCR 1.43. Islam et al (2019) identified the constraints of floating gardening in wetland (haor) area of the country.…”

“…Due to these changes, some parts of the country remain waterlogged for a prolonged period. To overcome this problem, farmers in these areas are adopting alternative cultivation techniques (Sen and Zaid, 2010;Pavel et al, 2013;Hoque et al, 2016;Chowdhury and Moore, 2017;Islam et al, 2019;Kabir et al, 2019;Kabir et al, 2020). Floating gardening is one of the techniques where plants are grown on a bio-land or floating bed of water hyacinth, algae or plant residues (Winterborne, 2005;Saha, 2010;Alam and Chowdhury, 2018;Islam et al, 2019).…”