Determinants of Crop Diversification in Bangladesh: An Econometric Analysis

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the factors that influence household behaviour in cultivating the diversified crops on their cultivable land in Bangladesh. Cragg’s alternative tobit model has been applied to a unique rural household level dataset to find the catalysts of crop diversification. The results obtained portrayed a mixed impression of crop diversification in the country. The estimated results have revealed that the male head of household, the accessibility of information, a greater number of farming parcels and the availability of hired labour seem to govern the decision of a farming household to participate in non-rice crop production, while factors such as the total amount of land, agricultural extension service and irrigation facilities influence rice cultivation. Moreover, the findings obtained from the same Cragg’s alternative tobit model estimation for the Aman, Boro and Aus seasons have also revealed a similar depiction of crop diversification in Bangladesh.

Does Migration Theory Explain International Migration From Bangladesh? A Primer Review

“…Credit constraint is a significant barrier to household farm production (Azad, 2021) in Bangladesh. It eventually hampers household welfare.…”

Rural Development in Bangladesh Over Four Decades: Findings from Mahabub Hossain Panel Data and the Way Forward

“…Experiences of famine and increased demand for food grains have forced the country to emphasize the notion of food security. Food security in Bangladesh is highly dependent on rice production (Azad 2021), but most of the land was already occupied by the cultivation of rice production during the early 1970s. The scarcity of land encouraged people and the government to adopt the "green revolution" technology (Griffin 1979;Hossain 1988).…”

“…The publications that focused only on the baseline survey concentrated on the impact of green revolutions/technology on rice production, poverty reduction in the country, and nonfarm activities (Hossain 1988;Hossain and Sen 1992;Rahman and Hossain 1995), with publications from successive rounds, focused on the dynamic behavior of rural households by addressing a variety of dimensions (Hossain et al 2002;Kam et al 2005;Hossain, Bose, and Mustafi 2006;Bayes and Hossain 2007;Hossain and Malek 2011;Bose et al 2009;Balagtas et al 2014;Hossain and Bayes 2009Gautam and Ahmed 2019;Mohsena et al 2018;Kikkawa, Matsumoto, and Otsuka 2019;Kikkawa and Otsuka 2020;Hossain, Malek, and Yu 2021;Tanaka, Takahashi, and Otsuka 2021;Mahmud et al 2021;Azad 2021) and the rural transformation of the country (Bayes and Hossain 2007;Hossain andBayes 2009, 2018;Sawada, Mahmud, and Kitano 2018). The main areas of published research from MHPD surveys can broadly be summarized in five dimensions: i) green revolution technology; ii) nonfarm sector development; iii) education and women empowerment; iv) migration and international remittances, and v) poverty and inequality.…”

“…During this time, the consumption demand for fish, meat, and vegetables increased significantly (Hossain and Rahman 1997). Moreover, Azad (2021) investigated the factors of crop diversification that influence households to cultivate high-value crops. Hossain and Rahman (1997) showed that purchasing these crops and noncrops also had high-income elasticity in their estimation.…”

Status of Crop Diversification by Land Size Classes: A Case Study from State of West Bengal, India

“…To manage existing obstacles in the study area, findings from different researches can be taken along the line of agricultural development measures, active and direct engagement of district administration, conduct capacity building programs, and other exercises in full spirit (Behera et al, 2007;Beillouin et al, 2019;Hitayezu et al, 2016;Immink and Alarcon, 1991;Kemboi et al, 2020;Sitko, 2019, 2021). In developing countries like India, it is only possible if a dedicated diversification center comes up as an independent agency (Hazra, 2001;Rahaman & Singh 2020). One of the serious concerns of diversification toward vegetables is that the seasonal farmers grow vegetable crops in their backyard, garden, and other small vacant places around their habitat to feed their households.…”