FINANCIAL PROFITABILITY AND RESOURCE USE EFFECIENCY OF BRRI Dhan29 IN SOME SELECTED HAOR AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The present study has been undertaken in the haor areas to investigate the socio-economic profile of the BRRI Dhan29 producers, to estimate per hectare costs and returns of BRRI Dhan29 production, to determine the productivity and profitability level of BRRI Dhan29 cultivation, to determine the resource use efficiency in BRRI Dhan29 cultivation, identify the problems faced by the farmers in BRRI Dhan29 cultivation and to recommend policy implications deriving from the facts above. A total number of 70 BRRI Dhan29 growers were randomly selected by using stratified random sampling technique of which 35 are from Mithamain upazila and 35 from Austogram upazila. Data were collected from the respondents through direct interview method. The collected data were then analyzed following descriptive as well as Cobb-Douglas production function analysis. It was found that on an average, the surveyed farm families consisted of 8 members of whom 3 were male, 3 were female and 2 were children. The highest portion (68%) of the farmers was within the age group of 15-65 years. On an average, about 40 percent farmers were educated. Agriculture was the major and only occupation of most of the farmers (82%). About 76.3% of the sample of the BRRI Dhan29 growers is small farmers having their own cultivable land 0.76 hectares. Average farm size was 1.82 ha in the study area. Boro -fallow -fallow was the major cropping pattern in the haor area and in the study area average cropping intensity was found to be very low, it was just 127%. Considering all farms, per hectare variable cost was Tk. 41,445 and Tk. 52560. Per hectare gross return from BRRI Dhan29 was estimated Tk. 88081.71,per hectare Gross Margin was Tk. 46637 and net return was Tk. 35522.2. Benefit cost ratio (BCR) was estimated to be 1.68 on full cost basis. The findings led to the conclusion that seed, human labor and irrigation significantly affected the return from BRRI Dhan-29. On the other hand, fertilizer and insecticides were found insignificant. Impact of human labor was found to be negative. Human labor was found to be over utilized but all the other input variables such as seed, fertilizer, insecticides and irrigation were found underutilized. Return to scale was estimated to be 8.16. So we can say BRRI Dhan29 cultivation in haor area was profitable. However, many problems were associated with BRRI Dhan29 cultivation like, floods, quality seed crisis in the sowing period, fertilizer crisis and cost, shortage of hired labor in the peak period, high wage rate, high irrigation cost, diseases, short duration HYV variety and lack of cooperation from Upazila Agriculture Officer (AO), lack of communication facilities and inadequate storage facilities were the major problems. Establishing embankment to prevent sudden flood was the mostly suggested solution from the farmers to prevent flood in haor area. Electricity supply for irrigation was also suggestion from the farmers. Farmers also suggested to reduce input cost and to raise output prices. The concerned agencies should be particularly aware of those problems and take necessary measures to solve those as far as possible.