Impact of cropping system diversification on productivity and resource use efficiencies of smallholder farmers in south-central Bangladesh: a multi-criteria analysis

Abstract

Diversification of smallholder rice-based cropping systems has the potential to increase cropping system intensity and boost food security. However, impacts on resource use efficiencies (e.g., nutrients, energy, and labor) remain poorly understood, highlighting the need to quantify synergies and trade-offs among different sustainability indicators under on-farm conditions. In southern coastal Bangladesh, aman season rice is characterized by low inputs and low productivity. We evaluated the farm-level impacts of cropping system intensification (adding irrigated boro season rice) and diversification (adding chili, groundnut, mungbean, or lathyrus) on seven performance indicators (rice equivalent yield, energy efficiency, partial nitrogen productivity, partial potassium productivity, partial greenhouse gas footprint, benefit-cost ratio, and hired labor energy productivity) based on a comprehensive survey of 501 households. Indicators were combined into a multi-criteria performance index, and their scope for improvement was calculated by comparing an individual farmer’s performance to top-performing farmers (highest 20%). Results indicate that the baseline system (single-crop aman season rice) was the least productive, while double cropped systems increased rice equivalent yield 72–217%. Despite gains in productivity, higher cropping intensity reduced resource use efficiencies due to higher inputs of fertilizer and energy, which also increased production costs, particularly for boro season rice. However, trade-offs were smaller for diversified systems including legumes, largely owing to lower N fertilizer inputs. Aman season rice had the highest multi-criteria performance index, followed by systems with mungbean and lathyrus, indicating the latter are promising options to boost food production and profitability without compromising sustainability. Large gaps between individual and top-performing farmers existed for each indicator, suggesting significant scope for improvement. By targeting indicators contributing most to the multi-criteria performance index (partial nitrogen productivity, energy efficiency, hired labor energy productivity), results suggest further sustainability gains can be achieved through future field research studies focused on optimizing management within diversified systems.

Climate change awareness and adaptation by rice farmers in Surallah, South Cotabato

“…This indicates a moderate application of altering plant varieties as an adaptive measure for navigating climate change challenges. Additionally, both "Farming calendar adjustment" and "Crop diversification" reveal mean scores of 2.88, suggesting an intermittent adoption of these strategies as adaptive measures similar to the findings of Emran, Krupnik, Aravindakshan, Kumar, and Pittelkow (2022). The cumulative mean score for adaptation strategies among lowland rice farmers is 2.87, pointing towards a prevalent inclination to employ these strategies This interpretation underscores the nuanced strategy adopted by lowland rice farmers, with an explicit emphasis on the moderate use of changing plant varieties (Efisue et al, 2008).…”

Profit efficiency among kenyan maize farmers

“…Geographical, farm, and farmer variables can explain variations in agricultural production inefficiencies. Literature reviews [ 12 , 13 , 49 , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] ] and in the current study, the study site's reality guides the research. This study explains variation in profit inefficiencies among Kenyan smallholder maize farmers based on factors such as education, experience in maize farming, gender of household heads, the size of the household, the size of the farm, ownership of the land, training in the field, distance between the home and the field, salinity and alkalinity of the soil, disease of the maize crop, and climatic conditions.…”

Low-Cost Pitcher Irrigation System with Paddy Straw Mulching for Growing Vegetables in Coastal Saline Soils

“…Further, the year to year or season to season price fluctuation of vegetables can be addressed by diversification. This is one of the key principles for sustainable intensification in the coastal region (Emran et al, 2022).…”