ASSESSING THE AGRO-ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF CONVERSION OF JHUM CULTIVATION TO MANGO ORCHARD IN KHAGRACHHARI DISTRICT

Abstract

A survey was conducted in Khagrachhari District to determine the best option between Jhum cultivation and mango orchard, as well as the economic returns and issues faced by the respondents. From January to December 2020, a purposive random sample technique was used to collect the relevant information via a structured questionnaire in order to meet the objectives from 80 respondents. Stata was used to analyze the data. Results revealed that the mango orchard is more profitable than jhum cultivation and has a great opportunity to increase national production to feed the growing population and reduce poverty in hilly areas. There is scope for adopting improved management practices, and it may increase the total production. Based on collected data, it was found that in mango orchards first four years, farmers did not get any return. After that, the farmer's net return will increase year by year. In jhum cultivation, farmers get their return the same year. But in jhum cultivation BCR is 1.64 and in Mango orchard BCR is 1.88. BCR is lower in jhum cultivation than mango orchards as well as polluting the environment. Jhum cultivation is not possible every year in the same land because farmers do not use chemical fertilizer in their fields and there is no irrigation management. So, for higher production and higher returns, most of the farmers are shifting from jhum to mango and other orchards, which ensure their basic needs.