CONSTRAINTS AND SCOPE FOR PRACTICING SANDBAR CROPPING TECHNOLOGY IN RIVERINE AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study was designed to assess the extent of constraints faced by the farmers engaged in sandbar cropping technology, and to find out the scope for practicing sandbar cropping technology. The study was conducted in riverine areas Bangladesh using cross sectional survey design. Ninety five (95) respondents were selected as sample from a recent list of 271 farmers using random sampling method. Data were collected by a pre-tested and validated interview schedule. Findings showed that among the total 24 constraints “low price during peak period of pumpkin” occupied the highest (CI= 239) scores and stand top in the ranking while “difficult to identify mature pumpkin” had the lowest (CI= 16) scores. Slightly more than three-fourth (75.8 percent) of the respondents had medium constraints, while 21.0 percent had low constraints and only 3.2 percent had high constraints of sandbar cropping technology. Scored Causal Diagrams (SCDs) explored that the main root causes to ‘low practicing sandbar cropping technology’ identified were low price during peak period of pumpkin. Out of nine independent variables educational qualification, training received and knowledge on sandbar cropping of the respondents showed negative significant relationship with the constraints of sandbar cropping technology. Age and fatalism showed a positive significant relationship with the same. Main scope for practicing sandbar cropping technology as mentioned by the respondents ‘production of different crops along with pumpkin’ followed by ‘food security’.