IMPACT OF FLOWER CULTIVATION ON FARMERS’ LIVELIHOOD IN JHENAIDAH DISTRICT

Abstract

The study designs to investigate the impact of flower cultivation on farmers’ livelihood. The methodology of this study is an integration of quantitative and qualitative methods based on data collection in Kalukhali and Baliadanga Block of Trilochanpur union under Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah district. Data were collected from 115 flower cultivators and 45 controls from February 11 to March 10, 2017. Descriptive statistics, step wise regression, Constraints Facing Index (CFI) were used for analysis data. Most of the farmers (76.5 percent) gained medium livelihood improvement through flower cultivation, while 13.9 percent had high impact of flower cultivation on farmers’ livelihood category. Among the variables- attitude towards flower cultivation alone contribute 39.5 percent of the variation where annual income from flower cultivation (2.3 percent), level of education (2.8 percent), annual family income (2.8 percent) and knowledge on flower cultivation (2.3 percent) variation contribute to the impact of flower cultivation on farmers’ livelihood. The Majority (73.9 percent) of the flower farmers had medium constraints in flower cultivation whereas the lowest 11.3 percent had high constraints in flower cultivation category. As per Constraint Faced Index (CFI) high labor wages positioned the 1 st and insufficient credit support at the last position regarding constraints in respect of flower cultivation. It is concluded that the composite impact of flower cultivation on farmers’ livelihood is moderate and needs further advancement. Based on the findings, it is recommended that respective authorities should implement and popularize farmers based projects on a massive scale for flower cultivation with a view to improving farmers’ livelihood.