Trees on farms in Bangladesh

Abstract

The most common trees on farm homesteads in Bangladesh were bamboo (several spp.), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), mango (Mangifera indica), betelnut (Areca catechu), and jujube (Zizyphus jujube) in all agroecological zones studied. There were regional differences in the less common species. Species for new homestead planting were chosen mainly by women and tended to include indigenous fruit trees and a few exotics of high timber value. Choices were later influenced by new experience with exotic tree species and by perceptions from secondary information sources. Farmer-managed action-research was used to test the survival and performance of new trees planted under the Village and Farm Forestry Programme (VFFP). The main factors influencing tree survival were the role of women in selection of species and planting site, the degree of personal attention paid to aftercare by the owner, and the quality and size of the planting stock. Biophysical factors and agroecological zones were unimportant. Main recorded causes of tree mortality were, in order of importance: damage by livestock, pests or diseases, physical damage by people (mainly children playing), and drought. Cause of death could not be attributed in about 35% of mortality, suggesting that the recorded causes should be treated with caution.