Green grass production for improving farmers’ socioeconomic status in major milk pocket areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the impact of cultivating green grass on farmers’ livelihood in major milk pocket areas of Bangladesh. A total of 180 farmers were interviewed following stratified random sampling technique from Sirajganj, Pabna and Rangpur districts. A combination of descriptive, mathematical and statistical techniques was used to analyze the data. Green grass is one of the major ruminant foods and its nutritive value is very high. Profitability analysis showed that benefit cost ratio of green grass production was 1.84 and it was comparatively profitable than the competing crop Boro rice. Age of household head, annual income from grass production, households’ training and experience in green grass production were the significant factors influencing farmers’ decision to adopt green grass production. The study found that more than 50% of the farmers’ socioeconomic status and livelihood assets increased after adopting green grass production. SWOT analysis indicated nutritive value of green grass as major strength and its high demand for as major opportunity. The study recommended that input support, training programmes and extension services by government and non-government organizations should be organized, and contract-based cooperative groups should be established to raise farmers’ awareness on producing green grass.