Original Research Article
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Original Research Article Socio-Economic Status of Pineapple Growers in Moulvibazar District of Bangladesh ABSTRACT Socio-economic indicators are significant for determining the overall lifestyle of the Pineapple Growers. The study examines the different socio-economic variables of the pineapple farmers. The researchers selected the Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar district purposively and primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire during 2017-2018 cropping season from one hundred pineapple growers (small, medium and large) following simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics include frequency, sum, average, percentage and ratios were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that majority of the farmers were in small (44 percent) and medium (30 percent) categories and average farm size was 2.130 ha. Most of the pineapple growers were middle aged (31-40 years old) while a little portion of them were older aged (greater than 60 years). It was found that 81 percent of the respondents were married in the study area. In addition, almost all farmers (95 percent) were literate and more than sixty percent of them had primary education. Averagely, a family consists five members and above three members are dependent to their family in the study areas. Majority of the respondents had 11-20 years of farming experience and the primary occupation of them (91 percent) was agriculture including pineapple cultivation. Moreover, a significant portion of farmers received training from government agricultural extension office whereas around one sixth of pineapple farmers received credit from both public and private banks as well as from NGOs. However, Extension office need to provide more and effective training facilities to the pineapple farmers for profitable production, simplification of buying, selling, renting and leasing of land to reduce production cost as well as different incentive packages can be introduced by the government for encouraging unemployed youth people to engage in pineapple production. Keywords: Socio-economic profile; pineapple; growers; Moulvibazar; Bangladesh. 1. INTRODUCTION Pineapple (Ananas comosus ) is a well- position in the world fruit market with a leading positioned fruit in the world since its trade is commercial production [2]. Due to its excellent oriented towards developed countries such as flavor and taste, it is known as the queen of Japan, the USA and the European Community. fruits [3]. The pineapple is the third most important In Bangladesh pineapple is one of the most tropical fruit crop after banana and citrus, important commercial fruits crop among all other contributing to over 20 percent of the world minor crops [4]. It contains considerable amount production of tropical fruits [1]. Besides of calcium, potassium, vitamin C, carbohydrates, nutritional and medicinal benefits, it has a crude fiber, water and different minerals that is potential export market and has got a unique good for the digestive system and helps in The situation has now changed and the local maintaining ideal weight and balanced nutrition residents are cultivating it on massive scale. [1]. Although Bangladesh is not a tropical Locally grown pineapple has a great demand country, the subtropical monsoonal climatic outside the district [6]. condition and the soil of many parts of However, Madhupur upazila of Tangail district is Bangladesh are much more suitable for the largest pineapple producing upazila in pineapple production. At least ninety varieties of Bangladesh that covers maximum amount of pineapple are cultivated in the world. In pineapple production per year [5]. In compare to Bangladesh, however, three varieties (Giant this upazila, pineapple production is much lower Kew, Honey Queen and Ghurasal) of pineapple in Sreemangal and farmers are unable to gain are mostly grown. Although the environment of profit from it. Where, an acre of land that may Bangladesh is suitable for pineapple cultivation, not produce cereals worth of TK. 5000 may it abundantly grows in some districts, namely bring Tk. 3000 through the production of Tangail, Rangamati, Mymensingh, Gazipur, pineapple [2]. But, in our country Pineapple Chattogram, Khagrachari, Bandarban, growers are afraid to invest in pineapple Moulvibazar, Sylhet and Dhaka [5]. Each year a production. However, existing knowledge gap on huge amount of pineapples is produced the socio-economic factors influencing pineapple extensively in this country. Bangladesh production which has negative impact on the produced 2,08,401 metric tons of pineapple in investment motive of pineapple growers in target 2017-18 from 35237 acres of land [5]. Export upazila. figure of pineapple was 23280 kg in 2015-16. It occupies 9.05 Percent of the total garden area Thus, it is crucial to analyze socio-economic under fruits in Bangladesh. Among all the fruits factors of individual farmers which provide a produced in the country, pineapple ranks 3 rd in clear-cut comprehensive idea about the terms of total garden area under fruits cultivation composition of the respondents that may help [4]. the researcher and policy maker to suggest Sylhet division is the 4 th most pineapple better location-specific plausible solutions for the producing division in Bangladesh after Dhaka, improvement of efficiency. Therefore, the Chattagram and Mymensingh. In Sylhet division, authors made an effort to assess the socio- pineapple has been grown at several districts economic status focuses on average farm size, namely, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet and age, educational profile, farming experience, Sunamganj. Among them, Moulvibazar ranks 1 st family size, dependency ratio, occupational and in terms of pineapple producing district under marital status, training facilities and access to Sylhet division [5]. All areas of Bangladesh are institutional credit of pineapple farmers in not equitably suitable for Pineapple production. Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar district. But soil and climatic condition of some areas are 1.1 Review of Literature much more suitable for profitable pineapple production. Sreemangal upazila under [7] conducted a study to investigate the socio- Moulvibazar district is one of such areas. In economic characteristics of rice farmers in the Sreemangal, pineapple production is the main Combined State of Andhra Pradesh. The mean source of income for many farmers. So far, age, education and experience of the rice approximately about 70 Percent of the fruits farmers was 46.04, 7.54 and 22.16 years production came from pineapple in Sreemangal respectively. Majority of the farmers owned [6]. The juicy and tasty fruit has been growing small (54.44 percent) and medium sized (41.11 abundantly in that area since Pakistan period, percent), had agriculture as their primary which is known as 'pineapple village'. At that occupation (99.44 percent), cultivated rice on time, there was no intention among the growers own lands (71.94 percent). Results found that to make profit out of the pineapple cultivation. 67.22 percent and 81.11 percent of the farmers had contact with extension agencies and had There are limited researches especially access to institutional credit. [8] formed an effort regarding the socio-economic status of the to determine the impact of pineapple cultivation pineapple farmers in Sreemangal upazila. on the socio-economic status of pineapple Hence, providing pertinent information through growers of Madhupur upazila under Tangail research is inevitable which might help in District. Most of the respondents were middle profitable pineapple production in target upazila. aged (49.3 percent), had primary level of An empirical study on socio-economic status education (56 percent), possessed medium farm would help to decide whether pineapple farmers (57.3 percent) and small family size (85.3 have full capacity in their production processes percent). The respondents had medium or not that helps to improve their productivity. organizational participation (65.3 percent) and Keeping this into consideration, an endeavor medium extension contact (83.1 percent). It was was made to inquire into the socio-economic found that most of the respondents had condition of pineapple growers. sufficient knowledge on pineapple cultivation along with favorable attitude towards pineapple 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS cultivation. 2.1 Selection of the Study Area [9] investigated the Impact of pineapple Moulvibazar district is the first largest pineapple production on the socio-economic status of producing district under Sylhet division [5]. The farmers in Uttar Dinajpur District. It is found that subtropical monsoonal climate condition and the majority (56 percent) of the farmers were soils of this district are much more suitable for predominantly middle aged (31-50 years) and pineapple production. Pineapple cultivation is large family size (46 percent). Maximum reported at seven upazilas which comprised cultivators have secondary level of education Moulvibazar district. But only two upazilas (42 percent) as well as low or rarely contact (46 experienced tremendous pineapple production percent) to extension agents, input dealers, namely Kamalganj and Sreemangal upazila. In friends, neighbours, and village leaders, and 58 2011, Kamalganj produced 6660 MT of percent having farm size less than 0.5 hectare pineapple from 1393 acres of land and (marginal). Results also revealed that about 70 Sreemangal produced 6300 MT of pineapple percent farmers were agree or have positive from 741 acres of land