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.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Agribusiness Management,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
in Partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS)
IN
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS