Greening Modern Rice Farming Using Vermicompost and Its Impact on Productivity and Efficiency: An Empirical Analysis from Bangladesh

Sanzidur Rahman,Basanta Kumar Barmon

doi:10.3390/agriculture9110239

Abstract

Greening modern rice farming while improving productivity and reducing chemical use is a desirable goal for sustainable agriculture. This paper analyzes the impact of vermicomposting on productivity and efficiency of modern rice farming using a random sample of 340 farmers from the southwestern region of Bangladesh by applying a stochastic production frontier approach. Results reveal that productivity is significantly higher and the use of chemicals is significantly lower for vermicompost users as expected. However, profitability gain is not significantly different mainly due to the high cost of vermicompost. Use of vermicompost significantly increases productivity along with other conventional inputs and its users are relatively more technically efficient. Policy implications include investments to raise farmers’ awareness of the benefits of vermicomposting and support entrepreneurs to expand commercial production of vermicompost, which will synergistically curb the use of chemicals in modern rice farming while improving productivity and efficiency.

Highlights

Increasing population pressure has forced many countries to use inorganic fertilizers, pesticides and ground water to increase crop productivity in order to meet continuously increasing food demand
There was no significant difference in age, education, family size and the use of female labor in modern varieties (MV) rice production between vermicompost users and non-users
The average education level was slightly higher than 8 years of completed schooling, which was at mid-secondary level in Bangladesh

Summary

Introduction

Increasing population pressure has forced many countries to use inorganic fertilizers, pesticides and ground water to increase crop productivity in order to meet continuously increasing food demand. The prolonged and excessive use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides and ground water in crop production exerted severe human and soil health hazards along with environmental pollution [1,2]. Considering these human and soil health hazards, farmers in developed and underdeveloped countries are encouraged to convert their farms into organic farms [3,4,5].

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Conclusion