Rajbari District Research Articles

River pattern influences the composition of small indigenous species (SIS) of fish in deltaic Rajbari district, Bangladesh

Bangladesh is endowed with diverse rivers providing huge ecosystem services, but the diversity status and the abundance of the small indigenous species (SIS) are not identical in all rivers due to the natural water flow regime and anthropogenic challenges. Therefore, the present study endeavors to elucidate the composition and conservation status of SIS fish from four rivers namely, the Padma, the Gorai, the Chandana and the Horai rivers of Rajbari District, Bangladesh. Data were meticulously collected through fish sampling in each season, field observations, focus group discussions, and individual interviews by using a semi-structured questionnaire spanning from May 2021 and April 2022. The number of SIS in the Padma, the Gorai, the Chandana and the Horai rivers of Rajbari were 60, 36, 33 and 26, respectively, whereas a predominant concentration of fishes was notably observed in the benthopelagic zone of these rivers. Among the 60 riverine SIS, 23 fish were common in the four rivers. Additionally, Cyprinidae (>30%) was observed to be the most abundant SIS in the studied rivers. The fishermen in the research area used seven major fishing equipment of which cast nets are the most common for catching fish species. The abundance of SIS during the rainy season was the highest for all the studied rivers than the other seasons and 12 SIS were available throughout the year. Notably, the least concerned SIS outnumbered the other categories whereas, more than 10% was under the vulnerable category in the four rivers. The leading threats to the fish diversity were pollution followed by illegal and overfishing, siltation, reduced depth, degeneration of rivers and others. Consequently, to safeguard the existing SIS, reducing human pressure, implementing fishing regulations strictly, establishing and administering fish sanctuaries, and raising public awareness can be helpful for the sustainability of aquatic resources in deltaic areas.

Measuring Technical Efficiency of Small-Scale Farms of Beef Cattle Farming in Selected Areas of Bangladesh

The stochastic production frontier was employed to estimate the technical efficiency of small-scale beef cattle farmers. Two Upazilas from the Rajbari district of Bangladesh were purposively selected as the study area. The snowball technique was adopted to select seventy (70) beef cattle farmers for data collection with structured questionnaires in collecting data for the study. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) technique was used in estimating the coefficients of the logarithmic form of the Cobb-Douglass Production function by SPSS 25 and their determinants in the study area. Linear Programming (LP) was used to estimate technical efficiency by using Microsoft Excel 2013. The mean technical efficiency of the beef cattle farmers was 87%. The results confirm that in some cases, the beef cattle farmers were technically inefficient, implying that there is room to improve 13% technical efficiency with the farmers' current resources and available technology. Age (Table 4) of the farmers had negative but significant effects on their technical efficiency, while education, farming experience, and farm size had significant and positive influences on farmer's technical efficiency. Among the dummy variables, the coefficient of training facilities is negative which reveals that there is a scope of increasing the production of beef cattle by improving the quality and regularity of training. For that, policies that would encourage experienced and educated farmers, to continue beef cattle farming are recommended.

Nutritional status based on anthropometry among primary school children with and without school feeding program

Background: Primary school period is a dynamic and growing period. So, school nutrition intervention promotes children’s nutritional status, thereby improving the overall health status of a country as they are the nation's biggest investment. The objective of this study is to compare the nutritional status based on anthropometry among primary school children with and without a school feeding program. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study using simple random sampling to select 194 primary school children aged 6-13 years enrolled in two primary schools with (N=97) and without (N=97) school nutrition intervention in two upazilas in Rajbari district, Bangladesh. Data were collected from respondents with the assistance of guardians and teachers. Anthropometric data (height, weight, MUAC, body mass index for age Z score, height for age Z score, weight for age Z score,) were measured by anthro-plus software and overall data were analyzed by SPSS version 25. Results: Of the total 194 respondents, the prevalence of stunting 9.3%, underweight 20.8%, thinness 27.8%, overweight 8.2%, and obesity 1.5% were observed. The prevalence of stunting 5.2%, underweight 21%, thinness 33%, and overweight 2.1% were found among the SFP group whereas 13.4% stunting, 20.5% underweight, 22.7% thinness, 14.4% overweight, and 3.1% obesity were found among without SFP group. The mean BMI-for-age Z scores were significantly lower (p=0.001) in the SFP group than in without SFP group. Socio-demographic characteristics may overrule this effect. Conclusions: Findings suggest that determining the dietary pattern, and clinical signs and improving socio-demographic conditions may improve the nutritional status of the children with the school feeding program.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Commercial Sex Workers Regarding Cervical Cancer and Its Screening, Daulatdia Brothel, Rajbari District, Bangladesh, 2020-2021

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in females in Bangladesh. This is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Multiple sex partners, HIV infection, smoking, using birth control pills, and having more than three children are risk factors of cervical cancer. Hence, female sex workers have a high prevalence of infection with high risk HPV genotypes which eventually may causes cervical cancer. Unfortunately, the status of knowledge, attitude and practice among female sex workers regarding cervical cancer is mostly unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of women living in Daulatdia brothel regarding cervical cancer and its screening. Methods: A cross-sectional knowledge-practice survey was conducted among 400 female sex workers in Daulatdia Brothel, Rajbari District, Bangladesh. The women’s total score on knowledge, and practice were categorized as sufficient or insufficient. We calculated frequencies and used binary logistic regression to describe and assess the association between scores and socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. Results: Most sex workers (61%) were between 29 to 35 years, married at 13 to 15 years of age, and divorced (91%). Middle aged sex workers were more likely have a VIA test than women in the 29 to 35 years group (18%, OR:5.2; CI: 2.0, 13.5). Less than half of the studied women (40%) had sufficient knowledge regarding cervical cancer and 12% knew that infection by HPV is a risk factor. Respondents with primary and secondary education were more likely to have sufficient knowledge than the illiterate (42%, OR: 1.32; CI: 0.82, 2.12). Practices to prevent cervical cancer were very poor. Nearly all women (99%) would recommend other women to have a VIA test. There were only 7% who had a VIA test and 2% were vaccinated against HPV. Unmarried sex workers were more likely to take action to prevent cervical cancer. Sex workers educated up to the primary level were more likely to have a VIA or other tests than the illiterate sex workers (10%, OR: 1.3; CI: 0.6, 3.2). Conclusion: Sex workers in Daulatdia brothel were less knowledgeable about cervical cancer and less likely to have a VIA test and poor practices towards preventing cervical cancer. The sex workers underutilized the VIA test and HPV vaccine.

The Role of Marginal Farmers' Farming Enterprises in Ensuring Household Food Security

The goal of this study was to ascertain how marginal farmers' farming operations impacted household food security. Additionally, efforts were undertaken to identify the challenges marginal farmers faced in attaining household food safety. Due to this, the study was carried out in three randomly chosen villages in the Rajbari district's Baliakandhi upazila. In these three communities, out of 500 marginal farmers, 26% of the populace was randomly selected. Data was acquired through direct interviews with marginal farmers between January 5 and February 20, 2009. The majority of marginal farmers (51%) fell into the medium group in terms of the contribution of farming enterprises to domestic food safety, while 37% fell into the low category. More over half of the family's food requirements were still unmet by the farming operations, which only met 40% of them annually. The biggest percentage of age (42%) of the four farming enterprise categories came from crops alone. Among the ten traits of the marginal peasants, the size of the farm and the yearly family income were positively connected, whereas the size of the family, the annual nutritional demands of the family, and cropping intensity practiced were negatively correlated. The remaining traits were not significantly correlated with how much farming operations contributed to household food security. Lack of suitable land for farming, poor training facilities, and ignorance of various facets of better farming enterprises were the main challenges marginal farmers faced in achieving household food security.

Socio-Economic Status and Health Seeking Behaviour Among the People of Rural Areas of Pangsha Upazila ofRajbari District, Bangladesh

Background: Health seeking behaviour is an important factor in health management. Socioeconomic status is having greater impact on health care utilization especially in developing countries.Objective: To identify the socioeconomic factors of rural community people and their health care seeking behaviour.Methods: The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Pangsha upazila of Rajbari district in Bangladesh, between January 2018 and February 2018. A total of 317 purposively selected people were interviewed face to face using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire.Results: In this study, majority 98 (30.91%) of the respondents were within the age group of below 31 years (41.47±15.12). More than two-thirdsi.e. 218 (68.76%) of the respondent was male and majority 205 (64.50%) belonged to nuclear family. Most of the respondents were married 283 (89.00%) and 227 (71.40%) of the respondents were Muslim. Majority 149 (47.00%) of the respondents’ monthly income was between 10000 and 20000 Bangladeshi Taka. Among all respondents, majority 60 (18.92%) people sought treatment for fever. 193 (60.89%) used to visit private health facility. 181 (56.9%) people took treatment by MBBS doctor and 205 (64.50%) of the respondents choose the specific health facility for the reason of better treatment.Conclusion: Health seeking behaviour of people in this study was appreciable. In this study, people received treatment from private health facility. The perception of the people has to be changed to attract them more to government hospitals. It can be done through improving the quality of care, proper maintenance of facilities.Awareness raising activities, and education for health behaviour change are also recommended.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 02 April’22 Page: 188-192

Indirect effects of the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coverage of essential maternal and newborn health services in a rural subdistrict in Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional household survey

ObjectiveThis paper presents the effect of the early phase of COVID-19 on the coverage of essential maternal and newborn health (MNH) services in a rural subdistrict of Bangladesh.DesignCross-sectional household survey...

Adoption and impact of super granulated urea (guti urea) technology on farm productivity in Bangladesh: A Heckman two-stage model approach

We aimed to determine the impact of farmers’ guti urea technology adoption on farm productivity in the Rajbari District of Bangladesh. The multi-stage sampling techniques were used to obtain a total 400 samples where 181 (45.25%) adopters and 219 (54.75%) non-adopters. The pre-canvassing structured survey schedule was used during the personal interviews. In addition, FGDs and KIIs were conducted to obtain qualitative information. To analyze the collected data, descriptive statistics, probit regression, and Heckman's two-stage model were used. Firstly, a binary regression model was used to examine the factors determining the participation of farmers in the use of guti urea technology. Secondly, treatment effect was assessed by the Heckman's two-stage model to identify the impact of the farmers’ participation on the adoption of guti urea technology. The inverse Mill's ratio coefficient indicates the presence of selection bias and the efficacy of applying the two-stage Heckman model. The results show that the involvement of farmers in the use of guti urea technology has a significantly positive impact on farm productivity. The analysis also shows that a 1% increase in adoption of guti urea technology contributes to a significant increase in farm productivity when other factors remain the same. We conclude that there is room for further increases in farm productivity through planned guti urea technology adoption in crop production. We recommend that the policy makers and authority expand the use and ensure the accessibility of guti urea as well as disseminate knowledge through the development of training opportunities for farmers to increase and enhance the reach of guti urea adoption amongst farmers. The results imply that the provision of complementary services is necessary in addition to the adoption of guti urea to achieve the aim of improving productivity.

Identification of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Virus From Recently Outbreak Crossbred Cattle In Rajbari District of Bangladesh

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a devastating viral disease and endemic in nature in Bangladesh that causes huge economical losses. The present research work was aimed to determine the prevalence of FMD outbreaks and molecular detection of FMDV serotypes by uRT-PCR and gsRT-PCR test, respectively from crossbred cattle in the Rajbari district of Bangladesh during the period from January to June 2018. A total of 16 tongue epithelial samples were collected from clinically FMD suspected 2 to 3 years old crossbred cattle. 14 samples were positive by uRT-PCR. The detection rate of FMDV by uRT-PCR was 87.50%. Then uRT-PCR positive samples were serotype by gsRT-PCR. Serotype based prevalence of FMDV was 42.86%, 100%, 21.43% and 21.43% in O serotype, Asia-1 serotype, A serotype and mixed infection with Asia-1 and A, respectively. Considering the age, the prevalence of confirmed FMD outbreak was 42.86%, 35.71% and 21.43% at the age of 2, 2.5 and 3 years, respectively. Serotype A, O and Asia-1 is circulated in Rajbari district and required trivalent vaccine for prevention and control of FMD in that area. SAARC J. Agric., 19(1): 201-210 (2021)

Culture practices and health management issues in selected aquafarms of Rajbari, Bangladesh: A preliminary study

The current study was conducted to determine the existing fish culture systems and health management practices in the selected aquafarms of Rajbari District, Bangladesh. Data were collected from 50 fish farmers from October 2019 to February 2020 using questionnaire interview, focus group discussion and crosscheck interview. It was found that most of the aqua farmers had 11 to 15 years’ experience of fish farming and more than 30% had their own ponds. The farmers used to prepare ponds for stocking by several steps like pond drying, bottom mud removal, dyke construction, liming, fertilizer application, and finally stocking. Only 20% fish farmers stocked single fish species like pangas and tilapia, whereas other used to stock two to eight types fish species. Most of the fish farmers sell the harvested fishes either in the local or in city markets. Major fish health problems in the study area were infectious and non-infectious diseases occurred due to bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites, unfavorable water quality and malnutrition. Majority (94%) of the farmers did not have water quality measurement tools. However, the major health problems of fish were ranked by the farmers on the basis of critical condition where fish disease, poor water quality, fish killing as a part of enmity, entrance of wild animal and hamper due to fish eating birds were ranked as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th utmost constraints, respectively. Forty-four percent and 20% respondents received training on different aquaculture techniques from Government and nongovernment organizations, respectively. While during disease outbreak, most of them received technical assistance from the culture fellows. The fish farmers of the study area were not aware of good aquaculture practice maintainingbiosecurity. The present study revealed that there is a lack of scientific knowledge of the fish farmers in the studied areas which demands further improvements of the existing condition.

Impact of Government Agricultural Input Subsidy Card on Rice Productivity in Rajbari District of Bangladesh: Application of Endogenous Switching Regression Model

This paper aims to use a novel version of an endogenous switching regression model to examine the impact of agricultural input subsidy assistance card on-farm productivity in Bangladesh. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to select a total of 400 farm households including 181 (45.25%) adaptors and 219 (54.75%) non-adaptors and interviewed by using pre-canvassing structured survey questionnaires. Also, FGDs and KIIs have been conducted to get qualitative information. The descriptive statistics, probit regression-double hurdle model, endogenous switching regression (ESR) technique, and propensity score matching approach were used to analyze the collected data. The ESR model supported by binary and PSM was used to empirically assess the impact of subsidy card adaptors on outcome variables. The results revealed significant production enhancing effects of agricultural input subsidy on-farm production and farm income in Bangladesh only under the assistance of input subsidy card. The findings also showed higher production and incomes for those participating in the program. However, a comprehensive input subsidy assistance card package is certainly a requirement for increasing production and income. As the adoption of input subsidy assistance card seems to enhance farm productivity, the study recommends increased coverage of the subsidy program, extension advocacy and opening up to ensure agricultural productivity and increased farm incomes. This study illustrates how agricultural input subsidy assistance cards can improve farm production and income in Bangladesh.

Spices and Plants as Home Remedies for COVID-19: A Survey in Rajbari District, Bangladesh

Objectives: Corona virus SARS-CoV-2, otherwise known as COVID-19 has created a pandemic and lacks any drugs or vaccines for treatment. Since its outbreak in late December in 2019, till as of August 7, 2020, the virus has infected 19,358,362 people throughout the world and caused deaths of 719,561 people. The corresponding figures for Bangladesh are 252,502 total cases and 3,333 deaths with 1,532 cases and 20 deaths per million. Since it is not always possible for infected rural people to travel to what they think as the best place for diagnosis and treatment, namely Dhaka, the capital of the country, they resort to home remedies, which may vary in different regions. The objective of the present study was to collect such home remedies from Rajbari district in Bangladesh. Methods: Since people are reticent to talk about having COVID-19, data was collected from three known persons, who were known to have tested positive for COVID-19 and agreed to give their home remedy formulations for cure. Data was collected with the help of an open-ended questionnaire after the patients were fully recovered. Results: Interestingly, although the three persons were unknown to each other, their basic formulation was to drink tea, in which tea leaves were boiled with spices, along with consumption of particularly sour and/or citrus fruits. Conclusion: Spices, particularly which are known as ‘hot spices’ or ‘garam masala’ in Bangladesh and India were the common ingredients added to tea during preparation (boiling), which was taken in the morning. These spices merit attention from scientists as to their anti-viral activities.

Impact of Agricultural Input Subsidy Assistance Card program on Farm Production in Rajbari District of Bangladesh

This paper aims to use a novel version of an endogenous switching regression model to examine the impact of agricultural input subsidy assistance card on-farm productivity in Bangladesh. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to select a total of 400 farm households including 181 (45.25%) adaptors and 219 (54.75%) non-adaptors and interviewed by using pre-canvassing structured survey questionnaires. Also, FGDs and KIIs have been conducted to get qualitative information. The descriptive statistics, probit regression-double hurdle model, endogenous switching regression (ESR) technique, and propensity score matching approach were used to analyze the collected data. The ESR model supported by binary and PSM was used to empirically assess the impact of subsidy card adaptors on outcome variables. The results revealed significant production enhancing effects of agricultural input subsidy on-farm production and farm income in Bangladesh only under the assistance of input subsidy card. The findings also showed higher production and incomes for those participating in the program. However, a comprehensive input subsidy assistance card package is certainly a requirement for increasing production and income. As the adoption of input subsidy assistance card seems enhancing farm productivity, the study recommends increased coverage of the subsidy program, extension advocacy and opening up to ensure agricultural productivity and increased farm incomes. This study illustrates how agricultural input subsidy assistance cards can improve farm production and income in Bangladesh.

Effects of tillage practices and nutrient management on crop productivity and profitability in Jute-T. aman rice- onion cropping system

Conservation agriculture (CA) with appropriate nutrient management can help increase crop production, improve soil health and bring economic return. An experiment was conducted at farmer’s field of Rajbari district under Low Ganges River Floodplain (AEZ-12) during 2017-2018 to evaluate the effects of tillage and nutrient management on the system productivity and profitability in the jute - T. Aman rice- onion cropping system. Strip tillage (ST) for jute, non-puddling for T. Aman rice and one pass minimum tillage (MT) for onion was contrasted with conventional crop establishment practice (CT). Four different nutrient management practices were NM1: farmer’s practice (FP), NM2: soil test based (STB) fertilizer, NM3:25% extra of STB and NM4: organic amendments (20 % nutrients from cowdung). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications by assigning tillage practices in main plots and nutrient management in sub-plots. The yield attributes of jute, T. Aman rice and onion responded similarly to tillage practices. On the other hand, the system productivity and yield of component crops varied due to different nutrient management practices (p<0.05). The highest fibre yield of jute (3.64 t ha-1) was obtained in 25% extra of STB fertilizer dose; the highest T. Aman yield (6.02 t ha-1) and the highest onion bulb yield (16.0 t ha-1) in 20 % organic nutrient management, followed by25 % extra of STB fertilizer dose. The highest system productivity was also produced by 20 % organic amendments (33.6 t ha-1), followed by 25 % extra of STB fertilizer dose (32.3 t ha-1). The lowest yield of crops and system productivity was recorded in FP (28.6 t ha-1).The increased yield of T. Aman rice and onion in 20 % organic amendment by cowdung and ST resulted in the highest net return (NR) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR), while 25% extra of STB and FP under CT gave the lowest NR and BCR. Residual nutrient from successive use of cowdung combined with chemical fertilizers outperformed other management practices in terms of crop yield and economic return.
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(3): 387-399, September 2019

Postoperative complications of inguinal hernia surgery

Inguinal hernia surgery is a common operation. It has some negative deviation in its postoperative course. Some immediate and chronic complication can make the doom like situation for both patients and surgeons. Regarding the etiology of these complications; debate still exists. Two main objectives of the study was to determine the frequency of postoperative complications of inguinal hernia surgery as well as their level of severity. The study was conducted among the patients admitted at department of Surgery in Rajbari District Hospital. The study period was 24 months; started from January 2015 to December 2016. The patients were enrolled by purposive sampling. A pre-structured, peer-reviewed data collection sheet was used as a tool to record data regarding socio-demographic clinical, surgical and post operative profile. After taking informed written consent all patients were sent for the pre-anesthetic check up. Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty was done by consultant surgeon. Injection ceftriaxone single dose i/v was used as prophylactic antibiotic. Here in all cases prolene mesh was used manufactured by Jhonson & Jhonson. Data were compiled, edited, analyzed and plotted into tabular and figure form. Out of 124 patients, 37.09% from 21-30 years age group whereas 29.83% from 31-40 years age group. The mean age was 28.79±7.16 years (age range: 17-69 years). Out of 124 patients 34.67% were day laborer, 23.39% were transport laborer and 16.93% were service holder. Among them 26.61% patients admitted as emergency cases and rest 73.38% was admitted as routine cases. After surgery, 26(20.97%) patients experienced post operative complication. Among them 8(30.76%), 6(23.07%) and 12(46.15%) had early, medium and late complications respectively. Besides, 12(46.15%) were categorized as Clavien-Dindo Grade-I whereas 10(38.46%) were categorized as Grade-II 2(7.69%) patients each were categorized as IIIa and IIIb. Emergency admission (46.15%) was the major risk factor. Higher ASA grade, emergency admission, pre-existing pain, severe depression, pre-existing uncontrolled DM and some drugs as such as clopidogrel and aspirin are the significant preoperative risk factors. Pre-existing uncontrolled DM and drug effects can not be corrected in case of emergency surgery.
 Bangladesh Med J. 2018 Jan; 47 (1): 22-27

Outbreak of Cutaneous Anthrax in Kalukhali Upazilla, Rajbari District, Bangladesh 2017

Background: Anthrax is endemic and human infection has been identified in 15 of 64 districts of Bangladesh. Outbreak are associated with exposure to infected animals during droughts, floods or soil disturbances. On September 6, 2017 the civil surgeon of Rajbari District, reported six people with anthrax like lesions with exposure to one sick cow.

Estimation of Rice Production Function in Rajbari District, Bangladesh: an Econometric Analysis

The study was undertaken to estimate the profitability and productivity of rice for local and high yielding varieties in Rajbari district of Bangladesh. To this end, random sample technique was used to collect data from 193 rice producers with the aid of well-structured questionnaire and Cobb–Douglas production form was chosen to assess the rice production functions. The ordinary least square (OLS) method was minutely applied to the data set availed from different groups of farmers namely only Local Variety (LV), only High Yielding Variety (HYV) and both variety user farmers. The Empirical result obtained from production function analysis considering only LV user farmers showed that rent of land, seed, labour, fertilizer and irrigation costs had positively effected on the gross return of rice cultivation while insecticide and ploughing costs work negatively. In the case of only HYV users, the rent of land, fertilizer, insecticide, ploughing and irrigation costs were positively related, and seed and labor costs were inversely related with rice production. Results in the case of both variety user farmers showed that labor, fertilizer, and irrigation costs of LV and rent of land, ploughing and irrigation costs of HYV acted positively while rent of land, seed, insecticide and ploughing costs of LV and seed, labor, fertilizer and insecticide costs of HYV worked inversely in producing rice. Results also showed that most of the farmers produced rice in the rational stage (stage – II) of the production function over the study area. All results emphasized that irrigation cost is the key variable which plays a significant role in producing more rice in the study area. Finally, some suggestions are made towards increasing the volume of rice production in Rajbari district.

Flood in a Changing Climate: The Impact on Livelihood and How the Rural Poor Cope in Bangladesh

It is already documented that climate change will lead to an intensification of the global water cycle with a consequent increase in flood hazards. Bangladesh is also facing an increasing trend of flood disasters. Among the various risks and disasters in Bangladesh, flood is the most common and frequent. Floods make people vulnerable, as they take away their livelihoods at the first instance and leave them with little resources to overcome from the situation. Because of floods, rural poor communities face job loss, and two-thirds of their income is reduced, which limits their capabilities of preparedness, response, and recovery to subsequent floods. People cope with the situation by bearing substantial debts and a loss of productive assets. With an empirical field study in one of the most flood-prone upazilas (sub-districts) of Bangladesh, namely Goalanda Upazilla of the Rajbari district, this study intends to draw a “flood impact tree” of the study area. It also examines the impacts of flood on the livelihood of the rural poor and explores their coping strategies. This paper aims to facilitate an understanding of the impact of floods on their livelihood, especially on the income and occupations of the rural poor. At the same time, it aims to learn from their coping mechanisms.

Productivity, Profitability and Resource Use Efficiency: A Comparative Analysis between Conventional and High Yielding Rice in Rajbari District, Bangladesh

The study was analyzed the determinants, costs and benefits and resources allocation of both conventional and high yielding rice cultivation over the Rajbari district of Bangladesh. Data were accumulated from 300 regular rice growers of conventional and high yielding varieties and random sampling technique was applied for selecting the respondents from the study area from which information was collected through pre-tested questionnaire. Cobb – Douglas production function and gross margin were mainly used to determine the productivities and profits of both rice and the marginal value of the product was highly recommended to derive the optimal use of the resources. Results obtained by applying ordinary least square method showed that the most important factors of production in the study area were irrigation, labor, fertilizer and insecticide costs whose elasticities were 0.904, 0.048, 0.045 and 0.044 respectively and insignificant factors were seed and ploughing costs whose elasticities were – 0.009 and 0.030 respectively for high yielding rice. On the other hand, irrigation, insecticide, seed and ploughing costs of elasticities 0.880, 0.589, 0.116 and – 0.127 respectively were the important factors and minor role playing factors were labor and fertilizer costs whose elasticities were 0.098 and 0.077 respectively for conventional yielding rice. The core message from productivity analysis was that the irrigation was key variable which played a positive and vital role in producing rice of both varieties. All variables (resources) were economically misallocated in the production activities of both varieties along the study area but high yielding rice was more profitable than conventional one. Results also showed that the farmers of the study area produced rice of both varieties in the inefficient range of production. Continuous supply of electricity, flexible credit and improving the existing resources were the prime policy recommendations of producing more rice efficiently in future in the study area.

Assessment of Natural Radioactivity and Radiation Hazard in Soil Samples of Rajbari District of Bangladesh

Rajbari district of Bangladesh, have been studied and possible health effect were estimated. The experiment has been done by using gamma ray spectrometry system consisting of a HPGe detector coupled with MCA and associate electronics. The average natural radioactivities of 238U, 232Th and 40K have been measured as 29.03±5.67 Bq/kg, 50.91±10.17 Bq/kg and 535.32±89.19 Bq/kg respectively. To estimate health effect due to the activity of those radionuclides, the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), absorbed dose rate (D) and effective dose have been calculated and compared to the world average values. The results are also compared with the literature values reported for other regions of the world and found that the soil of the study area are not hazards by the radiation and does not pose any harmful effect to the environment. The outcome of this study may provide valuable information about radiation hazard and also may take part in the monitoring of environmental radioactivity. Jahangirnagar University Environmental Bulletin, Vol.2, 1-8, 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jueb.v2i0.16324