Factors determining conversion of agricultural land use in Bangladesh: farmers’ perceptions and perspectives of climate change

Abstract

The study was accomplished to identify the factors determining land conversion in Bangladesh and evaluate farmers’ perception about the changing land use decision. Data were collected from Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Khulna districts of Bangladesh. A total of 300 sample farmers were interviewed following purposive and random sampling technique. For analyzing data, a combination of descriptive, mathematical and statistical techniques were used. Descriptive statistics showed that average household and farm size of the farmers were 5.0 and 0.47 hectare, respectively. Percentage perception index demonstrated that most of the respondents experienced climatic changes having negative impacts on agricultural activities. Agreement index depicted that natural calamities caused stern damage to respondents’ cultivable land, assets, agricultural enterprises and basic livelihood necessities. From the result of Logit model it was found that farming experience, disaster loss, farmer’s educational level, annual income, access to credit, farmer’s age and saline water intrusion were the significant determinants of changing land use decision in the study areas. Farmers’ livelihood assets namely, human, social, financial, natural and physical capitals were improved to a noticeable extent after their land shifting decision. The study recommended that training provision, motivational programmes and extension contact should be properly implemented by the government as well as non-government organizations to aware the farmers about pros and cons of land conversion and to choose the best land use decision for livelihood improvement.