Study on scope and existing cropping pattern at south-western saline region of Bangladesh​

Abstract

One of the major restrictions influencing crop production in Bangladesh's coastal districts is salinity. In order to better understand the specific conditions in the south-western region of Bangladesh, where significant salinity and problems in crop production prevail, this study took place in two districts, namely Satkhira and Khulna. Six upazila were selected for the current study: Satkhira Sadar, Kaligonj, and Dumuria in Satkhira, and Batiaghata and Dacope in Khulna. Among the selected farmers, about sixty six percent of farmers were small farmers. The average farm size was 0.83 ha. Most of the land of the saline area was covered by a single crop with T. Aman. Ninety percent of the farmer of Satkhira Sadar upazila cover T. Aman-mustard-boro, which was the main cropping pattern. T. Aman-mustard, T. Aman-wheat, T. Aman-grasspea etc., were the major existing cropping pattern. Different vegetables and other field crops such as bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ladies finger, garden pea, potato, sweet potato, maize, chili etc., were cultivated in the study area sporadically. Most of the cost involved for labor cost in T. Aman rice cultivation. If the farmer cultivates the land by sharecropping from the owner, then farmer gives half of the crop to his landowner. The highest total rice equivalent yield (TREY) was T. Aman-mustard-boro cropping pattern and it was 13.23 t ha-1. Most of the farmers eager to cultivate more new crops. Saline water, water stagnant, insufficient irrigation water, late harvest of T. Aman rice, late ‘joe’ condition etc., were the main constraints to develop a new cropping pattern.