Improvement of Farmers’ Livelihood through Choi Jhal ( Piper chaba )-Based Agroforestry System: Instance from the Northern Region of Bangladesh

Syed Aflatun Kabir Hemel (), Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Md. Abdul Wadud, Rojina Akter, Nasima Akther Roshni, Md. Tariqul Islam, Afsana Yasmin and Keya Akter
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Syed Aflatun Kabir Hemel: Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Mohammad Kamrul Hasan: Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Md. Abdul Wadud: Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Rojina Akter: Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Nasima Akther Roshni: Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Md. Tariqul Islam: Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Afsana Yasmin: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna 9100, Bangladesh
Keya Akter: Department of Crop Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna 9100, Bangladesh

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-20

Abstract: One of the most significant linchpins of the socioeconomic and livelihood milieu for rural farmers around the world is agroforestry. Several agroforestry practices are being employed by farmers in Bangladesh’s northern region, with Choi Jhal ( Piper chaba )-based agroforestry being one of the most prevalent. Numerous researches have been conducted in different regions of Bangladesh to determine the potential livelihood for farmers who engage in diversified agroforestry, but hardly any comprehensive research has been carried out considering the aforementioned system as one of the most sustainable practices. To address this knowledge void, the present research was conducted in the Chinai union of Rajarhat Upazila in the Kurigram district of Bangladesh, surveying 105 Piper chaba farmers to assess the impact of this existing agroforestry system on their livelihood predicament. A mixed-method approach, including secondary data review, questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations, were used for data collection and triangulation. To evaluate livelihoods and the problem severity, the Livelihood Improvement Index (LII) and the Problem Facing Index (FPI) were utilized, respectively. The findings demonstrate that the most suitable tree for Piper chaba cultivation is the betel nut (74.3%), and the majority (64.8%) of farmers have 41 to 90 Piper chaba plants. By strengthening farmers’ constant availability of food, fruit, timber, fodder, and fuelwood, this agroforestry system has markedly increased the sustainability of their livelihoods. This practice is thought to boost farmers’ livelihood capitals, with natural capital improving the most, while social capitals improve the least. However, eight major problems have been identified that farmers face while growing the crop and these must be remedied if different livelihood capitals are to be vastly improved. This research gives a full insight into the current Piper chaba production scenario and livelihood dynamics of local farmers, allowing some bold propositions to be formulated for further upgrading of their subsistence.

Keywords: agroforestry; Piper chaba; livelihood; Livelihood Improvement Index (LII); livelihood capitals; Problem Facing Index (PFI) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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