Abstract
The study was accomplished for assessing conservation agriculture practice's impact on farmers' income and soil environmental quality in Bangladesh. Majority of the farmers were within the late majority group in terms of adopting this farming practice. Average annual agricultural income of focal farmers was increased at a higher rate compared to proximal and control farmers after adopting this practice. Most of the focal and proximal farmers stated about improved soil environmental condition where majority of control farmers stated about constant soil environmental condition in this regard. Minimum tillage operation, permanent organic soil cover and application of compost and vermicompost were found significant factors under conservation agriculture affecting soil environmental quality. The problems faced by the farmers included high price of inputs, lack of institutional credit, lack of knowledge about conservation agriculture, etc. Input support, incentive, training programmes and extension services should be well executed by different government and non-government organizations for building consciousness and enhance the knowledge of the farmers on conservation agriculture practice.
Highlights
The economy of Bangladesh is mostly dependent on agriculture where above 80% farmers are smallholder with less than 1.0 hectare cultivable land
It is revealed that majority of both focal and proximal farmers stated about improved soil environmental condition after adopting conservation agriculture than before, while majority of control farmers stated about constant soil environmental condition in this regard
The study comes to an end with a conclusion that as a new resource saving farming practice, conservation agriculture was cherished highly and adopted successfully by the farmers
Summary
The economy of Bangladesh is mostly dependent on agriculture where above 80% farmers are smallholder with less than 1.0 hectare cultivable land. As a result of ‘Green Revolution’, Bangladesh had achieved self adequacy in food production for a shorter period, but long run use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides resulted in diminished soil fertility and productivity (Kafiluddin and Islam, 2008). In this context, conservation agriculture is fetching increasingly essential in overcoming the problems of waning agricultural productivity in a developing country like Bangladesh.
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