Mymensingh District Of Bangladesh Research Articles

The Role of Agricultural Technology in Attaining Food Security among Small Farmers in Char Area in Mymensingh District

Farmers in the char areas of Bangladesh are frequently affected by food insecurity due to their low engagement in modern agriculture such as less use of modern agricultural technology. This study evaluates the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample farmers to assess their nutritional status and the factors influencing char dwellers' dietary diversity. Survey data were collected from 70 households, and focus group discussions were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire from Nilokhiya char under the Mymensingh District of Bangladesh. An OLS regression model was used to estimate the influence of socioeconomic characteristics of sample households on the decision on factors influencing dietary diversity. The farming type of the farmers is another concern of this study where results show that 90% of farmers in the char areas rely on rice and vegetable farming, whereas more than 60% of the farmers are also involved in livestock and poultry farming at the same time. The nutritional status of char farmers shows that their diet includes a variety of foods but is deficient insufficient protein and healthy fats, which could have an impact on their overall nutrition. Cereals are a staple in the diet, as indicated by the high consumption rate (97.1%) and the substantial average intake (2.30 kg/day). Every household consumes fruits, though in smaller quantities (0.28 kg/day). Eggs are less frequently consumed (57.1%) despite a higher intake (2.64 kg/day). Dietary diversity has a strong positive correlation with supply (.913) at a 1 % significant level which means that efficient supply chains minimize delays, reduce spoilage, and ensure a continuous flow of food to markets to ensure food security. A positive correlation with total income (.373) leads to a higher total income also supports greater dietary diversity. Credit was significant at a 5% level (.267) indicating that a 1 % increase in credit leads to an increase in dietary diversity by 267%. On the contrary, Experience has a negative relationship with dietary diversity which means that experience does not influence food security. Lack of transport and communication, environmental hazards, and natural disasters are the most significant problems faced by the farmers in the char area.

Temporal dynamics of condition index and glochidia larval occurrence in freshwater mussel, Lamellidens corrianus (Lea, 1834) collected from a wetland of Mymensingh, Bangladesh

We report the temporal pattern of condition index (CI), and glochidia larval presence and discharge in freshwater mussel, Lamellidens corrianus, obtained from the Darikathal Beel at Trishal upazila of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Samples were drawn monthly over a year from July 2021 to June 2022. The mean shell length, shell height, shell breadth, tissue wet weight, and shell dry weight were 86.29±8.36 mm, 19.31±1.42 mm, 40.31±4.90 mm, 12.52±4.77 g, and 12.05±2.85 g, respectively. The male-female sex ratio was 1.00:2.00 with no sexually undifferentiated animals in the sample.

Yield Performance Study of Bina Developed Sesame Varieties under Agro-Ecological Conditions of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh

An investigation was done during the Kharif-I (Summer) season 2022 at Sadar Upazilla of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh to explore the yield and factors affecting the yield of four sesame varieties developed by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). Three replications of a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) were used, where Binatil-1, Binatil-2, Binatil-3, and Binatil-4 were the varieties. The experiment's findings showed that Binatil-1 contained the tallest plant (107.00 cm), whereas Binatil-3 contained the shortest plant (79.55 cm). It was noted that Binatil-2 had the greatest number of plant-1 branches (4.95), whereas Binatil-1 had the least amount (2.14). Additionally, Binatil-3 displayed the highest number of plant-1 pods (95.65), whereas Binatil-1 provided the lowest amount (51.27). Binatil-1 had the largest pod (3.56 cm), whereas Binatil-4 had the smallest (2.57 cm). It was noted that Binatil-1 displayed the greatest count of seeds in pod-1 (78.15), while Binatil-4 displayed the least amount (61.12). The highest 1000 seed weight was obtained from Binatil-2 (3.15 g), whereas the lowest 1000 seed weight was recorded in Binatil-1 (2.95 g). The established genotype Binatil-2 had the maximum seed yield (1.42 t ha-1), whereas Binatil-1 had the least (1.27 t ha-1). Among the cultivars, Binatil-3 matured in the fewest days (87), whereas Binatil-2 required the most days (95). At Binatil-2, significant yield performance was found from the Kharif-I (summer) season experiment. A simple correlation was done where branches per plant per thousand seed weight had a significant positive correlation and pod breadth had a negative impact on seed yield for all genotypes. This experiment will be helpful for oil crop breeders and the farming community to choose promising sesame genotypes with high yield potential and future breeding stock. Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 9(2): 125–132, 2023 (December)

Customer attitude, buying behavior and satisfaction towards online shopping: An empirical study in some selected areas of Bangladesh

In the current digital era, online shopping has swiftly risen to prominence among Bangladeshis' preferred methods of making purchases. The current study was carried out to find out sub-urban customers' socio-economic profile, male and female attitudes, influencing factors, customer satisfaction, and problems with online shopping. For this study, 110 customers were selected using convenience sampling techniques at Muktagachha and Fulbaria Upazila in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Along with descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA) including factor analysis and Likert scales (5-point) were used to analyze the data. The study found that about 71% of the customers were aged 18 to 36 years; 100% of the customers were familiar with purchasing non-agricultural products; about 78% of the customers were interested in buying agricultural products in the near future; respondents used social media like Facebook (77%) for online shopping; and about 68% of the customers were willing to pay more for security, better quality of the products, and a reliable platform. Customer satisfaction shows that time-saving (4.17), variety of products (3.93), and cash on delivery (3.86) payment systems were considered satisfactory items for online shopping. Absent of touch and feel (3.47), less quality (3.31), and online payments (3.28) were the major problems of respondents while they bought products online. To increase customer awareness of information technology services and foster a favorable view of the e-commerce industry, all online retailers should enhance their convenient promotional tools and service strategies. This paper intended to identify the factors that influence consumers' decision-making when deciding whether or not to purchase a product.

Willingness to pay for certification and labeling of chicken meat in the Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Objective: This study explores consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for labeled and certified chicken meat in Mymensingh district, examining the key socioeconomic and demographic factors that shape these preferences. Materials and Method: Data were gathered through structured interviews with 300 participants from diverse urban and rural demographics, encompassing various occupational groups. The analysis employed logistic regression models to examine the determinants of WTP for labeling and certification, with a focus on variables such as income, education, health perception, environmental awareness, dependency ratio, and market distance. Results: The study found that a significant proportion of consumers preferred labeled (64%) and certified (71%) broiler meat. Strong links between higher income and education levels and increased WTP suggest that wealthier and more literate consumers are more likely to invest in food safety measures. Positive health and environmental perceptions also played a role, with more conscious consumers willing to pay a premium for labeled and certified products. On the other hand, a higher dependency ratio and greater market distance were associated with lower WTP, underscoring the impact of socioeconomic constraints and accessibility issues on consumer choices. Conclusion: Introducing labeling and certification systems could strengthen consumer trust and enhance public health, offering substantial benefits to both the poultry industry and the broader economy in Bangladesh.

NGO Healthcare Services for the Garo Indigenous Community: A Study in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

NGO Healthcare Services for the Garo Indigenous Community: A Study in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Trace Metal Contents in Farm Soils and Potato Tubers Grown in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh and Their Implications for Human Health

Trace Metal Contents in Farm Soils and Potato Tubers Grown in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh and Their Implications for Human Health

Clustering of health risk behaviors among school-going adolescents in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh

BackgroundAdolescents frequently engage in risky behaviors that negatively influence their health and pose a serious public health concern. This study aimed to examine the clustering pattern of health risk behaviors among school-going adolescents in Bangladesh.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 April to 27 June 2022 among 412 school-going adolescents in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh through a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a modified Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2021 questionnaire. Cluster membership was identified using the k-means clustering algorithm. The chi-square test was adopted to explore the association between sociodemographic variables and each cluster membership. The ordinal logistic regression model was employed to examine the predictors associated with cluster membership.ResultsMost of the respondents were female (55.3%) and belonged to the 16-19 years (74.5%) age group. Three behavioral clusters were identified, including Cluster 1: Low-risk taker (50.2%), Cluster 2: Moderate risk taker (39.6%), and Cluster 3: High-risk taker (10.2%). Influential factors of high-risk behavior among adolescents were significantly associated with their age (p = 0.03), father’s education who were illiterate (p = 0.02), monthly family income >30000 BDT (p = 0.04), parent’s those were understanding their child’s problems in most of the time (p = 0.001).ConclusionsThe study found that high-risk behaviors are significantly higher among late adolescents, those whose fathers are illiterate, whose monthly income is higher, those whose parents or guardians never realize their child's complications and worries, and those whose parents or guardians never recognize what they did in their leisure time. These findings will help to develop intervention programs, policies, strategies, and curricula in school by the experts following the necessity to adopt the adolescent toward healthy behavior and help to reduce the prevalence of health risk behavior.

Farmers’ usage of information and communication technologies for integrated farm management: An analytical study focusing on rural households of Bangladesh

Agricultural farming consists of multiple components and information related to farm management is one of the crucial factors. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide reliable and need based information in an effective way. This study focuses on investigating the extent of ICTs usage for integrated farm management and to clarify the underlying factors in Gauripur upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. To achieve the purpose of the study, data were collected from 75 randomly sampled farmers using structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to obtain the findings of the study. The findings of the study clearly revealed that the highest proportion of the farmers (46%) had the tendency to use ICTs to a moderate extent. The analytical findings from the study showed that among the socio-demographic attributes annual income, training received, access to information sources and knowledge level were significantly associated with the usage of ICTs by the farmers. The step-wise multiple regression analysis indicated that knowledge on ICT usage, annual income and access to information sources were the most influential factors affecting the usage of ICTs by the farmers. The policy implications of the study suggests paying more attention to increase the operational knowledge and access to ICTs with provision to hands-on training and economic incentives for rural poor farmers. The integrated approach combining both public and private sectors can be effective to improve the extent of ICT usage for efficient farm management.

Value chain analysis of carp fish seed farms in some selected areas of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

This study is an attempt to analyze the prevailing value chain of fish seed farms in some selected areas of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 280 fish seed farms owners (56) and traders (224) covering four Upazilas of Mymensingh district namely Mymensingh Sadar, Gauripur, Muktagacha, and Trishal from the period of July 2019 to October 2019 through purposive random sampling technique. Three important fish seed species of carp; namely Rui, Catla, Mrigel were selected to address the following objectives: typical value chain map and marketing system of fish seed farms, determination of the net value addition of fish seed production and marketing, and problems impacting different actors in the value chain. Total net marketing margin per 10 Kg. spawn and per 100000 pieces’ fingerlings are Tk. 20204 (190.43 USD) and Tk. 43148 (406.69 USD), respectively. Among all three intermediaries, the net marketing margin of the retailer is the highest. A large percentage of value addition is covered by paiker for both cases and that is 20.85% and 31.2%. The study finds that fish seed farms with hatcheries are more profitable than fish seed farms with nursery. The yearly net return from spawn production in the hatchery is Tk. 4324775 (40763.15 USD) and from fingerling production in the nursery is Tk. 2388126 (22509.27 USD). The owners and traders have currently been facing some difficulties. Lack of information about good quality seed, the higher price of inputs, and lack of extension service is some of the examples. If these problems could be solved, fish seed farms and market intermediaries could earn a higher profit than the existing level.

Productive and reproductive performance of indigenous buffaloes in four selected upazillas under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

Productive and reproductive performance of indigenous buffaloes in four selected upazillas under Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

Hazard identification and characterization of Listeria monocytogenes in salad vegetables and milk products in Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

The objectives of the present study were to isolate and identify Listeria monocytogenes in salad vegetables and milk products sold in different markets of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh, and to characterize this organism (serogroups, virulence genes) along with antibiogram study. A total of 85 samples of salad vegetables (tomato, carrot and cucumber) were collected from six different markets of five upazilas of Mymensingh district, and 83 milk products such as cheese, yogurt and icecream of two available brands were collected from Mymensingh sadar upazila. Isolation and identification of Listeria monocytogenes was done by cultural, biochemical, PCR and MALDI-TOF assays. The presence of serogroups (lineage I, lineage II, lineage III) and virulence-associated genes (inlA, actA, prfA, and hlyA) were determined by multiplex PCR. The antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolates was done with 22 antimicrobial agents using disk diffusion assay. The overall prevalence of L. monocytogenes was 7.1%. Among salad vegetables, contamination of cucumber was highest (19.2%), and among milk products, the highest contamination was in icecream (7.1%). Five isolates (41.7%) belonged to Lineage II and seven isolates (58.3%) to Lineage III. Only two isolates (16.67%) harbored one or more virulence-associated genes. The highest resistance was observed to oxacillin and nalidixic acid followed by erythromycin and meropenem. Findings of the present study would be useful to evaluate the risk posed by salad vegetables and milk products, and to the concerned authorities for eventual future food regulations.

Field Assessment of Strip-Tillage for Summer Rice Cultivation in Bangladesh

Farmers in the tropics and subtropics of Asia usually transplant rice seedlings in puddled soils which makes crop establishment and weed control easier. But rice can be grown successfully by planting into non-puddled soils after a single shallow pass of strip tillage. This method was globally reported to produce the same yield of rice as traditional puddle farming and saved labor, fuel and water, too. With this aim to asses the effect of strip tillage in the productivity of rice in Bangladesh, a trial was done at a farmer's field in the Gauriopur area of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh from July to December 2014. The productivity of four summer rice varieties, BR11, BRRI dhan46, BRRI dhan52, and BINA Dhan-7, was compared under strip tillage (ST) vs. conventional tillage (CT). The CT had two main ploughings done by a two-wheel tractor, and the ST was done in a single pass by a Versatile Multi-crop Planter. The interactive results of study showed that, except for the number of effective tillers per m2, grain yield, and BCR, none of the other parameters changed significantly between the treatments. The highest BCR profit came from BR 11 grown under ST, followed by BRRI dhan52, BRRI dhan46, and BINA Dhan-7 grown under ST. The lowest BCR was measured from BINA Dhan-7 grown under CT. This could be because the highest and lowest amount of effective and sterile tillers and the maximum grain yield were seen in the respective treatments. The ST had a 26% higher BCR than the CT, which could have been due to the 3% higher grain yield that came from having 6% more effective tillers and 42% lower sterile tillers per m2 area. In the end, we could say that ST is a more profitable way to grow rice than CT, and BR 11 is the best of the other three types.

Assessment of the Nutritional Quality and Fungal Contamination of Commercial Poultry Feed and Raw Materials Available in Gazipur and Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

The study was conducted to evaluate the nutrient content and fungal contamination of commercial poultry feeds and raw materials available in Gazipur and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh. A total of 67 commercial poultry feed (broiler and layer) and raw materials were collected from different poultry farms, dealers and shops. They feed samples and raw materials were then analyzed in terms of DM (Dry matter), CP (crude protein), EE (ether extract), ash and calcium concentration. Crude protein is the main constituent and is found in the range of 20-22.5% and 15.3-19.5% for broiler and layer feeds, respectively. Moisture content ranged between 9.7-11.2% in both broiler and layer feed indicating good storage condition. Other nutrients such as crude fat and crude fiber content in broiler and layer feed were 3.6-6.9% and 3.0-5.8%, respectively. Layer feed contains a higher amount of calcium (3.1-4.6%) and total ash (8.3-13.3%) than the broiler feed. The moisture percentage of raw materials was below the recommended value. About 40-60% crude protein was found in protein-rich feed ingredients and other nutrients such as crude fat (17.2-19.1%) and crude fiber (9.9-13.1%) were higher in energy-rich ingredients. On the other hand, fungal contamination in broiler and layer feed, and raw materials was found in about 28.5%, 30.0% and 46.0%, respectively. The proximate composition and fungal contamination of poultry feed and raw materials were varied due to environment, processing method, storage condition and adulteration, etc. In conclusion, findings of the nutrient content and fungal contamination of commercial poultry feed and raw materials will help the feed mill owners and commercial poultry farmers to prepare quality feed and to formulate quality poultry ration.

Supplementary Private Tutoring for Science Students of Higher Secondary (HSC) Level In Bangladesh: Perceived Factors, Causes And Challenges

Students use supplementary private tutoring for their education which is a worldwide phenomenon particularly in science education. The present study aimed to examine how household heads of Bangladesh perceive supplementary private tutoring factors, causes and challenges for science students of higher secondary (HSC) level. In this study, a survey questionnaire was administered with 200 randomly selected household heads of higher secondary science students in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. To supplement the quantitative survey, the study also collected qualitative data from 12 higher secondary science teachers, 12 tutors as well as 20 students in two FGDs. The study shows that the level of income, education level and occupation of household heads may affect in taking the supplementary private tutoring for science students in Mymensingh. The main causes to take the tutoring are obtaining better result, making hard subjects easier, getting admission into better institutes, achieving local and foreign scholarships are mentioned as the causes of providing extra tutoring to their children. Moreover, lack of knowledgeable tutors, increasing initiatives for tutors and increasing expenditures for tutoring are identified as the major challenges. The findings of this study would have implication with policy initiatives and teaching learning practices in the science education development of Bangladesh. Social Science Review, Vol. 38(2), December 2021 Page 23-49

Awareness creation and impact assessment of meat retailers during Covid-19 lockdown in Mymensingh district

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted on meat production and its supply chain, and also meat prices. The research was conducted to evaluate the impact assessment of meat retailers during Covid-19 lockdown in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh. A total number of 50 meat retailers were surveyed from Mymensingh district for collecting necessary data and information. The experiment was conducted to increase awareness among meat retailers from February-April, 2021. An amalgam of descriptive statistics, mathematical and statistical analyses was used to analyze the data. It was observed that all the meat retailers faced problems in terms of selling meat and lowering return during the period of pandemic lockdown. During Covid-19 situation the income of meat retailers became lower compared to other conditions. Statistics showed that the income of meat retailers decreased about 60% during lockdown period. Results showed that average age, education and family size of meat retailers were 38 years, 5.84, and 5.98, respectively. The price of beef before, during and after lockdown was BDT 546, 512 and 550, respectively. The price of chevon before, during and after lockdown was BDT 804.16, 675 and 800.00, respectively. Similarly, the price of broiler meat and sonali chicken meat before, during and after lockdown was BDT 114.34, 106.52, 128.47; 189.47, 198.42, and 233.15, respectively. During Covid-19 situation the income of meat retailers became much lower as compared to any other critical conditions. About 90% meat retailers faced various problems towards buying and selling of animal, lack of consumers and lack of demand for meat. The prices of all kinds of meat such as beef, goat meat, and chicken meat became lessened during pandemic. During pandemic about 92% meat retailers used face mask for keeping them safe from corona virus. Only 10% people tested for corona virus. During lock down period it was seen that about 60% maintained physical distance at the time of selling of meat. During the time of pandemic lockdown 98% meat retailers did not get any financial support from government organizations or NGOs or any other private organizations. They did not also get any kind of help to create awareness from public health Department or from local authority. Despite facing all these problems, about 100% meat retailers liked to continue their meat business.

The use of Plants in Traditional Health Care Practice: An Ethnomedicinal Survey at Mymensingh Sadar and Shambhuganj Area in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

The use of Plants in Traditional Health Care Practice: An Ethnomedicinal Survey at Mymensingh Sadar and Shambhuganj Area in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh

Marketing System of Broccoli in Selected Areas of Mymensingh District in Bangladesh

Broccoli, a member of the cabbage family and a popular winter vegetable, is the focus of our study. We aimed to investigate the marketing system for broccoli in specific areas of Mymensingh district. We gathered data through face-to-face interviews with 100 respondents, selected using purposive sampling. Our study identified four distinct marketing channels within the region, involving various market participants such as farmers, Aratdar, wholesalers, Aratdar cum wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. Furthermore, our study revealed that most farmers considered the cost of production as their primary challenge, while intermediaries cited a lack of market information as their main issue. Notably, we found that wholesalers incurred the highest marketing cost per piece of broccoli (Tk. 2.46), while retailers had the lowest cost (Tk. 1.58 per piece). Transportation costs accounted for the largest share of expenses (52.14%), with electricity bills being the smallest (0.59%). When it came to net margins, retailers emerged as the highest earners (Tk. 3.43 per piece), while wholesalers received the lowest net marketing margin (Tk. 1.66 per piece). Therefore, policymakers should consider implementing policies to address these challenges and promote overall development in the broccoli marketing system in Bangladesh, including raising awareness about broccoli consumption among the population.

Organic and Conventional Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Production in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh: A Comparative Profitability Analysis

Organic and Conventional Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Production in Mymensingh District of Bangladesh: A Comparative Profitability Analysis

Prediction of chevon quality through near infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analyses

The aim of this study was to test the ability of near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy to predictdry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, moisture, cooking loss, and drip loss of chevon. In total, 114 samples were collected from 38 young (two teeth aged) castrated goat carcasses from a local market in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. For conducting the studyExperimental longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were sampled from 9th to 13th ribs in the early morning hours. A total of 342 NIRs spectra were collected using the DLP NIRscan Nano Software and average spectrum was 114. Partial least square regression analysis for the calibration and validation models were developed using the Unscrambler X software. Prediction models were satisfactory for dry matter (R2 = 0.75), crude protein (R2 = 0.82), moisture (R2 = 0.75), and drip loss (R2 = 0.83). The most promising model found for ash (R2 = 0.85), and Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) also very low (0.15). Lowest R2 was found for cooking loss at 0.57. Based on these results, the NIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis method were reasonably efficient for the rapid assessment of physicochemical traits of ash, drip loss, crude protein, moisture, and dry matter content of chevon.