How do improved lentil varieties affect farmers’ livelihood status in central Bangladesh?

Abstract

Lentil plays a crucial role in ensuring nutritional security for the majority of the people in Bangladesh. Different types of improved lentil varieties (ILVs) are being introduced in Bangladesh to enhance the production, productivity, and area coverage. This study aimed to explore the changes in the livelihood status of the ILVs adopters compared to the non-adopters in the central region of Bangladesh. This study constructed a livelihood assessment index (LAI) by adopting the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) using primary data collected from two hundred randomly selected respondents during March-April 2022. LAI scores of the ILVs adopters and non-adopters were 0.48 and 0.43, respectively, indicating better livelihood status of the adopters. Major changes were observed in the human, natural, and physical capital of the lentil growers. ILVs adopters drew a profit margin of 662.46 USD/ha, which was 298.24 % higher compared to the non-adopters. Moreover, they realized a 47.32 % and 6.75 % rise in productivity and cost of production, respectively. Besides the positive impact on the livelihood status, ILVs adoption was remunerative from the agronomic and economic perspectives. To optimize the benefits of ILVs, strategies such as demonstrating their tangible advantages and providing agricultural input and output supports are crucial to expedite better adoption by farmers. Additionally, research is required for fitting short-duration lentil varieties in between the rice-based cropping patterns in Bangladesh.