Financial Security of Farmers through Homestead Vegetable Production in Barishal District, Bangladesh

Homestead farming is always ignored though it is a boundless promising area for economic sustainability. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the present status of the homestead vegetable production and also to ascertain the socio-economic condition of the local farmers of the Barishal District. The influence of different types of socio-economic factors on the economic security of the farmers through homestead vegetable production was also investigated through this study. Following proportionate random sampling technique, a total number of 180 farmers were sampled from three villages of Babuganj Upazila of Barishal of Bangladesh and were interviewed through a predesigned questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that half of farmers were more than 50 years old, of whom 89% were educated either primary to more than SSC level and had an average family annual income of USD 1967.9. The family size of the respondents indicated that 80% of the farmers had small to medium (4-6 members) family size. The findings also indicated that, on an average, the farmers had 1.25 acre of total land and 0.17 acre of homestead vegetable land in which they spent about 3 hours of time in a day to perform homestead vegetable production. Out of all the farmers, 30% of them didn’t receive any training on any agriculture related issues and 30% of them didn’t receive any training on homestead vegetable gardening related issues. The farmers of the study area practiced some technologies in homestead vegetable production, like, balanced fertilizer use, and pheromone trap. The farmers produced different types of vegetables in their homestead areas and among them green papaya, brinjal and tomato were the dominant. The results of the study also revealed that the farmers earned about USD 50 per year from homestead vegetable gardening which helped them to upsurge some sorts of financial safety and improve nutritional status of their families. In addition, out of nine attributes, two attributes, namely, family size and vegetable land ownership had significant influence on the financial security through homestead vegetable gardening.

Information Needs of Dairy Farm Women in Nainital District of Uttarakhand

Dairy farming is one of the prominent enterprises, which supports the rural households by providing profitable employment and steady income. Dairy farming is an integral part of homestead farming system. In hill areas dairy farming is totally dependent on women. Many research studies have indicated that women in hill areas are unaware about many aspects. Thus, present research investigation was conducted in Jeoli, Bhaluti, Sariyatal and Kausani villages of Bhimtal block of Nainital district to assess the needs of hill women engaged in dairy farming. The study revealed that majority of respondents belonged to middle age group category and belonged to General caste. They were educated upto primary level. Majority of respondents were involved in dairy farming and farming and have 3-7 nali. All the farmers owned Mobile Phone and television. Majority of respondents have Cow, buffalo and goats. Majority of respondents were unaware about feeding schedule for milch animal, feeding schedule for young heifer, feeding schedule for pregnant animal, time and frequency of feeding, information on mineral mixture, formulation of ration, complete feed block, feeding schedule for young calves, colostrums feeding for new born calf, selection of breed, high yielding breed, pregnancy diagnosis, gestation period, suitable cross breed to their region, selection of adult of Bull or Semen, age of breedable heifer, selection of milch animal, castration of scrub bulls, care and management of new born calf, milking methods, vaccination schedule, knowledge about disease, control of external parasite, deworming practice, disinfection of shed, disposal of dead animal, treatment against contagious disease, precaution against parasitic disease, sterility treatment , Govt programme for Dairy farming etc.

Adoption of Integrated Homestead Farming Technologies by the Rural Women of RDRS

The purpose of the study was to investigate the adoption of integrated homestead farming technologies by the rural women in Rangpur Dinazpur Rural Service (RDRS), problem confrontation during adoption of integrated homestead farming technologies and explore the relationships with selected characteristics of the rural women. Four Upazilas, namely, Lalmonirhat Sadar, Aditmari, Kaligonj and Hatibanda under Lalmonirhat district, were selected for this study. Among the RDRS beneficiaries 250 rural women under RDRS constituted the population for this study Out of these 250 rural women, 100 (i.e. 40% of the total population) rural women were as the sample for the study. The findings revealed that the highest proportion (71%) of rural women had high, 21% medium and 8% had low integrated homestead farming technologies. The findings also showed that the age of rural women had significant negative correlation with their adoption of integrated homestead farming technologies. Rest of the selected characteristics of rural women, namely, education, family size, annual income from field crop, annual income from homestead, contact with extension media, cosmopoliteness, innovativeness and aspiration in farming had significant positive relationships with their adoption of integrated homestead farming technologies. Problem confronted by rural women under RDRS was measured through a scale containing 12 statements on the problems based on adoption of integrated homestead farming technologies. In respect of problem confrontation, the findings revealed that the highest proportion (51%) of rural women had medium; 24% had high and 25% had low problem confrontation during adoption of integrated homestead farming technologies.

Determination of optimum crop mix for crop cultivation in Kerala homesteads

Homestead farming has been the backbone agricultural economy of Kerala but the productivity of the homesteads in Kerala has yet to reach an acceptable level. In this paper the possibility of increasing the contribution of this sector through proper crop planning is sought. The optimum model was developed by using linear programming (LP) technique. The constraints included in the analysis were total area, intercropped area, investment amount and population of each enterprise. The optimum model reveal the scope of 22.83 per cent enhancement in net return as compared to net return from the existing plan. Sensitivity analysis of the optimum model revealed that further enhancement of net return in The agro-ecological region could be achieved by increasing the cropping intensity in the underutilized intercropped area and changing the binding enterprises.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN COCONUT

In the context of the fast reducing land‑to‑man ratio in the tropics, cropping systems which can integrate a variety of highly productive plant species and animals with human beings will have to be developed. Coconut having many favourable attributes is ideally suited for homestead farming under diverse situations. Its response to good management particularly fertilizer applica­tion and irrigation is indeed very good. Yield increases of the or­der of 84% due to manuring and 216% due to manuring and irrigation have been obtained in the native West Coast Tall. In coconut hybrids not only Wgher yields have been realised but better utilisation efficiency of native and applied nutrients obser­ved, making them highly suited for improving the economic viability of small holdings. The potential that coconut offers for mixed cropping with a variety of crops, and mixed farming is very high. High density cropping in coconut plantations is also feasible. The cost benefit of some of the coconut based cropping systems have been presented, and the low productivity of coconut observed in majority of the coconut growing countries discussed keeping in view the remedial. measures that can be thought of for the existing maladies.