Crop Diversification and Food Security in Northwest Bangladesh

Abstract

This is mainly a study of spatial and temporal diversification of some important agricultural phenomena of Northwest Bangladesh. The diversification occurred during 1973-1978, 1983-1988, 1993-1998, and 2003-2008. The study mainly analyses some agro-spatial aspects like irrigation, use ofHYV crops, agricultural landuse pattern, cropping intensity, crop concentration, cropping pattern, crop combination, crop diversification, productivity, yield, agricultural efficiency etc. It also looks into the spatial variation and temporal changes concerning these aspects. Another important feature of the study is food security situation and its relation to crop diversification. For this subsequent study crop data of 2008 and food security data of 2004 are used. Five old districts (greater districts) of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions are selected as spatial unit to study the spatial and temporal diversification of crops. But for the study concerning food security sixteen new districts of the same area are considered. According to the requirement of the study data are collected from the secondary sources. ln the present study scientific formula are used to measure the indicators which r r were f equently used by geographers and others. It is observed f om the study that in the whole study area irrigation facilities and use of HYV seeds are increased. Both intensity of irrigation and intensity of HYV seeds are increased and spatial variation of both of them is meagre. The highest intensity of irrigation and intensity of HYV seeds are seen in Bogra. Surface water irrigation is deteriorated and ground water irrigation is increased frequently. Net cropped area is not increased significantly. Double cropped area and triple cropped area are increased when single cropped area is seen decreased. Cropping intensity shows a good rate of growth in the whole study area. This change of land use is not similar everywhere. It is also revealed from the study that well concentration of Aus rice in Rajshahi, Aman rice in Dinajpur and Rangpur, Boro rice in Bogra, wheat in Dinajpur and Pabna, Jute, and drugs and narcotics in Rangpur, and potato in Bogra is occurred. Significant concentration of vegetables in Dinajpur and Pabna, oilseeds in Pabna, sugarcane in Rajshahi, f uits in Dinajpur and Rajshahi, spices and pulses in Pabna is also observed. It is revealed from the Crop Diversification Index that medium level diversity among the crops is remaining here. Rice covers more than 70% of total cropped area and diversity occurs mainly among the varieties of rice. Productivity of crops is not satisfactory everywhere. Productivity of maximum crops is high in Bogra and Pabna. In the same way yield is good in these two districts for many crops. Other than Bogra and Pabna productivity and yield are good in other regions for particular crops like jute and drugs in Rangpur, aus in Rajshahi and potato in Dinajpur etc. Besides Agricultural Efficiency is well in Bogra and Dinajpur. But trend of agricultural efficiency is decreasing. Food security condition of the study area is not satisfactory. Maximum upazillas lay under low and very low food security index. In the same way crop diversification index of maximum upazillas is under the satisfaction level. Besides crop diversification has positive impact in maximum districts. However in almost every cases temporal and spatial diversity is seen. Sometimes it is positive and sometimes negative in terms of development. Moreover there is noticeable regional imbalance found in agricultural phenomena which may be problem for future development. The study also revealed potentialities for agriculture of this region. This study makes some suggestions in policy level so that the hindrances might be wept out and a new era can be started for future development of agriculture.