Status of Small-scale Rubber and Shifting Cultivators at Bandarbans District, Bangladesh



Abstract Views
753

Downloads
591

Citations

Share

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##

Submitted May 18, 2021
Published Jun 9, 2021
10.24018/ejfood.2021.3.3.303

Abstract viewed = 753 times

Table of Contents

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

The study explored the general overview of the small-scale rubber cultivators and shifting cultivators at Bandarbans District, Bangladesh. The living standard of small-scale rubber cultivators were higher than the shifting cultivators. The all-small-scale rubber farm households were divided into three classes rich, medium, and poor according to their present wealthy status where all shifting cultivators were unfortunately poor. The rich farm household of rubber cultivators had the highest annual income (177857 BDT) and shifting cultivators had an average lowest annual income (43842 BDT). In total 58% farmers had started latex collection, and 42% percent farmers were waiting to start latex. It seemed that only shifting cultivators worked as day labor and not involved in any other part-time profession. They had less livestock and agricultural land. About 48% of farmers cultivated banana as the intercrop in the rubber garden for the first few years followed by fruits (13%), ginger (11%), vegetables (8%), pineapple (8%), garlic (6%) and rice (6%). All the respondents (100%) faced financial, VAT and transportation problem. About 88% respondents faced clone selection problem followed by insufficient land allocation (85%), marketing problem (79%), shortage of skilled manpower (65%), latex collection (58%), skilled tapper (52%), diseases (17%) and others (25%).

Keywords: income, living standard, latex, livelihood, rubber, shifting cultivation, tree farming

References

  1. Nath, T. K., Inou, M. & Mangala, D. Z. (2013). Small-scale rubber planting for enhancement of people's livelihoods: A comparative study in three South Asian countries, society & natural resources. An International Journal, 26(9), 1066-1081.
     Google Scholar
  2. Rasul, G. and Thapa, G.B. (2003) Shifting cultivation in the mountains of South and Southeast Asia: Regional patterns and factors influencing the change. Land Degradation and Development 14 (5), 495–508.
     Google Scholar
  3. Khisa, S.K. (2002) Farming practices and sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In N.A. Khan, M.K. Alam, S.K. Khisa and M. Millate-Mustafa (eds) Farming Practices and Sustainable Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (pp. 49–61). Bangladesh: CHTDB and VEFP-IC.
     Google Scholar
  4. Shoaib, J.U. (2000) Development of Sustainable Cultivation Practices for Minimizing Soil Erosion on Hill Slope. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and Soil Resources Development Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
     Google Scholar
  5. Borggaard, Ole K., Gafur, A. and Peterson, L. (2003) Sustainability appraisal of shifting cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Ambio 32 (2), 118–123. Crossref: https://doi.org/10.18801/ijbmsr.090220.55.
     Google Scholar
  6. Gafur, A., Jensen, J.R., Borggaard, O.K. and Petesen, L. (2003) Runoff and losses of soil and nutrients from small watersheds under shifting cultivation (jhum) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Journal of Hydrology 274, 30–46.
     Google Scholar
  7. Shoaib, J.U., Mostafa, G. and Rahman, M. (1998) Soil erosion hazard in Chittagong Hill Tracts: A case study. Annual Report. Soil Resources Development Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
     Google Scholar
  8. Riessen, A V (2000), “Chittagong Hill Tracts Region Development Plan”, Interim Report No.7, Sociology and Indigenous People, Asian Development Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
     Google Scholar
  9. Gafur, A (2001), “Effects of shifting cultivation on soil properties, erosion, nutrient depletion, and hydrological responses in small watershed of the Chittagong Hill tracts of Bangladesh”, Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, Chemistry Department, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
     Google Scholar
  10. Rahaman, M. T., Gurung, D. B., & Pitol, M. N. S. (2020). Comparative Study of Understory Between Exotic Monoculture Plantation (Acacia Sp.) and Adjacent Natural Sal (Shorea Robusta) Forest. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2(6).
     Google Scholar
  11. Arokiaraj P, Jones H, Olsson et al. 2002. Towards Molecular Genetic Improvement of Wood and Latex Production of Hevea brasiliensis: Enhancement of the Carbon Sink Capacity. In: Proceeding: Fifth Joint Workshop of the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the International Rubber Study Group on Rubber and the Environment, UK, Glasgow. International Rubber Study Group, pp. 1-9.
     Google Scholar
  12. Tissari J. 2002. Further development of the rubber wood processing industries in producer countries. In: Proceeding: Fifth Joint Workshop of the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the International Rubber Study Group on Rubber and the Environment, Glasgow, UK; 2002. pp. 34-78.
     Google Scholar
  13. BFIDC. 1995. Revised Project Proposal for Second Rubber Development Project, Tangail and Sherpur Region, Planning and Development Division, Government of the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh, 131 pp.
     Google Scholar
  14. BFIDC. 2015. Garden and Industries, Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation. (BFIDC) Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. http://www.bfidc.gov.bd/site/page/fa44e577-8362-4cbd-ac31b0fd58445537/-Accessed on 26 December 2019.
     Google Scholar
  15. Hossain MK. 2016. Plantation forestry- paradign to meet the demand of the forestry resources in Bangladesh. In: Monoculture Farming- Global Perspectives, Ecological Impact and Benefits/Drawbacks (T.K. Nath and Patrick O'Reily, Eds.), New York, Nova Publishers. Edition: 1st, Chapter: 3.
     Google Scholar
  16. A.K.M. Abul Kalam Azad, Md. Najmus Sayadat Pitol and Yonosuke Hara.“The role of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantation in carbon storage at Bandarbans Hill Tract, Bangladesh”, 2021. International Journal of Current Research, 13, (05), 17373-17377. DOI:https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.41365.05.2021.
     Google Scholar
  17. Pitol MN, Khan MZ, Khatun R. 2019. Assessment of Total Carbon Stock in Swietenia macrophylla Woodlot at Jhenaidah District in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry, 2(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJRAF/2018/46922.
     Google Scholar
  18. Akhter S, Rahman MS, Biswas MA, Nath SC. 2013. Suitability of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed meal as poultry feed. Proceedings of the first International Conference on Bio-resources and stress management held at Science City. Kolkata.
     Google Scholar
  19. Sattar MK. 1991, February 14. Physical mechanical and seasonal properties of Bangladeshi rubber wood (hevea brasiliensis). Timber Physics Series, 8(13), pp. 8-12.
     Google Scholar
  20. Sattar, M. 1995. Utilization of rubber wood: A Timber from the non-conventional source. Bangladesh Journal of Forest Science, 24 (1), 1-6.
     Google Scholar
  21. Das SA. 1995. Chemical components and water repellent property of rubber wood (Hebea brasiliensis) from Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Forest Science, 24 (1), 58-61.
     Google Scholar
  22. ADB. 1997. Re-evaluation of the rubber rehabilitation expansion project in Bangladesh. Asian Development Bank.
     Google Scholar
  23. BBS. 2011. Bangladesh Census. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh.
     Google Scholar
  24. Rodrigoa, V. S. (2005). The growth and yield of rubber at maturity is improved by intercropping with banana during the early stage of rubber cultivation. Field Crops Research, 23–33.
     Google Scholar
  25. Pathiratna, L. S. (2006). Management of intercrops under rubber: Implications of competition and possibilities for improvement. Bulletin of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, 47, pp. 8-16.
     Google Scholar
  26. Khan, N. A., & Ahmed, F. U. (2002). Farming practice and sustainable development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Government of Bangladesh and VFFP-IC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
     Google Scholar
  27. IRB. (2011). Annual Rubber Report. New Delhi: Indian Rubber Board.
     Google Scholar
  28. Therumthanam, A. M. (2014). Studies on pineapple (Ananas comosus) cultivation as an intercrop in rubber replant: Effects on soil microorganisms. Journal of Science and Technology, 4(2), 119-127.
     Google Scholar
  29. Nath, T.K., Inou, M. (2008). The upland settlement project of Bangladesh as a means of reducing land degradation and improving rural livelihoods. Small-scale Forestry, 7, 163-182.
     Google Scholar
  30. Azad AK, Pitol MNS, Rakkibu MG. 2020. Livelihood status of Sundarbans dependent people at Shymnagar Upazila of Satkhira, Bangladesh. Asian J For 5: 28-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjfor/r050104.
     Google Scholar
  31. Dey, T., Kamruzzaman, M., Islam, M. A., Bachar, B. K. and Pitol,M. N. S. (2020). Attitudes of local people towards community based eco-tourism in the Sundarbans. International Journal of Business, Management and Social Research, 09(02), 528-535. DOI:https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2020.2.6.204.
     Google Scholar
  32. Islam A, Sharmin A, Biswas R, Dey T, Bachar BK et al. (2020) Utilization of Minor Forest Products of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Adv in Agri, Horti and Ento: AAHE-126. https://kosmospublishers.com/utilization-of-minor-forest-products-of-the-sundarbans-in-bangladesh/.
     Google Scholar
  33. Nurunnahar, Pitol, M. N. S., & Sharmin, A. (2020). Status and Prospects of Agroforestry at Kaligonj Upazila in Satkhira District. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2(6). https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2020.2.6.186.
     Google Scholar
  34. Ripon. S; Islam. M.A; Sharmin. A; Biswas. R; and Kumar. J; (2021). Sustainable Agroforestry Practice in Jessore District of Bangladesh. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 3(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2021.3.1.150.
     Google Scholar