Bangladesh Rice J. 21 (2) : 185-202, 2017 Diversity of Crops and Cropping Systems in Jessore Region M M R Dewan1*, M Harun Ar Rashid2, M Nasim3 and S M Shahidullah3 ABSTRACT Thorough understanding and a reliable database on existing cropping patterns, cropping intensity and crop diversity of a particular area are needed for guiding policy makers, researchers, extensionists and development workers for the planning of future research and development. During 2016 a study was accomplished over all 34 upazilas of Jessore region using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire with a view to document the existing cropping patterns, cropping intensity and crop diversity in the region. The most dominant cropping pattern Boro−Fallow−T. Aman occupied 32.28% of net cropped area (NCA) of the region with its distribution in all upazilas. The second largest area, 5.29% of NCA, was covered by single Boro, which was spread over 24 upazilas. A total of 176 cropping patterns were identified in the whole region under the current investigation. The highest number of cropping patterns was identified 58 in Kushtia sadar upazila and the lowest was 11 in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga district. The lowest crop diversity index (CDI) was reported 0.852 in Narail sadar upazila followed by 0.863 in Jessore sadar upazila. The highest value of CDI was observed 0.981 in Daulatpur followed by 0.978 in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia district. The range of cropping intensity values was recorded 175−286%. The maximum value was for Sreepur of Magura district and minimum for Abhaynagar of Jessore district. As a whole the CDI of Jessore region was calculated 0.955 and the average cropping intensity at regional level was 229%. Key words: Cropping pattern, diversity index, favourable environment and non-rice cereal INTRODUCTION The Jessore region includes the western part of the Ganges river floodplain which is Cropping system is the crop production activity predominantly highland and medium highland of a farm, which includes all cropping patterns and it consists of 34 upazilas under seven grown on the farm resources, other household districts. General soil types predominantly enterprises and the physical, biological, include calcareous dark grey floodplain technological and socioeconomic factors or soils and calcareous brown floodplain soils. environments. A cropping pattern is the yearly Organic matter content in the brown ridge sequence, temporal and partial arrangement soils is low but higher in the dark grey soils. of crops in a given land area. It is dependent Soils are slightly alkaline in reaction. General on physical, historical, social, institutional and fertility level is low. This region is suitable economic factors as well as government policies for agricultural crop production especially in (Agrawal and Kassam, 1976). The cropping cereals and vegetables. The cropping intensity pattern and the changes therein depend on a is much higher than the other region of the large number of factors like climate, soil type, country. The whole area holds comparatively dry weather than theother parts of the country. rainfall, agricultural technology, availability of Low water holding capacity is an overall irrigation facilities and other inputs, marketing limitation for modern Boro rice cultivation in and transport facilities and growth of agro- the region. Water stagnation is also a problem industries (Neena, 1998; Gadge, 2003). in some specific locations. 1BRRI RS Kushtia; 2BRRI RS Rajshahi; 3Rice Farming Systems Division, BRRI, Gazipur; *Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected] The overall agricultural development in METHODOLOGY Bangladesh conceals considerable regional differences because of farming practices, Thirty-four upazilas of Jessore, Jhenaidaha, techniques, availability of irrigation facilities, Magura, Narail, Kushtia, Meherpur and attitude of the farmer etc in different parts of Chuadanga districts under Jessore agricultural the country. The differences in agricultural region were the locale of this study. Data were productivity among the regions to some natural collected using double stage procedure. At phenomena, such as, rainfall, temperature, initial stage, data were collected through pre- humidity and some other agro-ecological tested semi-structured questionnaire from features which are relatively less favourable in 34 pre-assigned Sub-Assistant Agriculture the lagging regions. Jessore region plays a vital Officers (SAAO) of each upazila during January role of Agriculture in Bangladesh. The region 2016 at upazila level. SAAOs were purposively produces a variety of crops year-round. preselected by Agriculture Extension Officers The yields of cereal crops are tending to (AEO), Additional Agriculture Officer (AAO) stagnation, even in favourable environments. and Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO) or Moreover, cultivable land area is decreasing day altogether. Prior to data collection, the pre- by day in the country. To increase the system tested questionnaire was explained along with productivity of the total environment it needs to proper guidelines to the AEOs or UAOs or bring diversity in enterprises for better utilization both and handed over to them at each Deputy Director’s office of Department of Agricultural of limited resources. Diversified cropping pattern Extension (DAE) during monthly meeting for may be an option for the farmers as a coping the sake of accurate data collection. The filled strategy against risks (Mandal and Bezbaruah, questionnaires were collected by the scientists 2013). Typology of different cropping systems of RFS Division, checked and analyzed to find is the base for the managers of these systems the inconsistencies of the supplied data before to intensify production (Shriar, 2000). There validation workshop. All the inconsistencies is a strong need for judicious and appropriate among the information were documented. use of limited resources in case of intervention The collected data along with documented selection that does not lead to increased mal inconsistencies were discussed in district adaption or inequity in the society over long level workshop for necessary correction and term. Existing trends of available agricultural validation. Second stage of data collection was lands is most essential requirement for any land day-long data validation workshop at district use planning related to farming and food security level. The workshop dates were 14 March for in a sustainable manner. Therefore, an increased Narail and Magura; 15 March for Jhenaidaha; understanding of arable land use based on the 12 April for Jessore; 13 April for Kushtia and cropping system is essential for the appropriate 28 April 2016 for Chuadanga and Meherpur. intervention in sustainable way. In these context, Four field-workers i.e. one SAPPO and three existing cropping patterns along with their SAAOs experienced and engaged in crop- diversity of such complex agricultural region are based data documentation, all officers from all very crucial for risk minimization and overall upazilas viz UAOs, AEOs, AAEOs, DD (DAE), productivity improvement. The present study was DD (Horticulture), DD of Seed Certification designed with the following specific objectives to: Agency, DTO and ADDs, one representative from Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and • Understand the existing cropping patterns scientists of BRRI regional station, Kushtia and scenario in Jessore region Satkhira participated in the data validation • Visualize the existing land use pattern at workshop. The number of participants of upazila and regional level validation workshop ranged from 26 to 73 in • Determine the crop diversity and cropping each district. All the participants were divided intensity at upazila, district and regional into three to four groups for data validation. level. Each group was facilitated by two RFSD 186 Dewan et al scientists to finalize and validate the data where triple cropped area was the dominating and authenticated data were captured. Crop ones (Table 1). The area that could not be diversity index was calculated by using the defined under SCA, DCA, TCA or QCA was following equation described by Kshirsagar et considered as others whose coverage is less al. (1997). than 1% of the NCA. n 2 aij CDIi = 1 - / Cropping patterns of Jessore Ai j = o c m In total 176 cropping patterns were observed in Jessore region of which nine cropping patterns Where, CDIi = Crop Diversity Index th th with exclusive rice crop covers about 46% of aij =Area planted to the j crop in the i location the NCA. There were 47 cropping patterns with exclusive non-rice crop covering over 12% Ai = Total area planted under all crops of the NCA. Rest of the NCA i.e. around 42% The index is zero for a land area growing area is covered by 120 rice - non rice cropping only one crop. It approaches unity as the patterns (Appendix 1). level of diversity increases. Compilation and processing of collected data were done using Rice and non-rice crops at a glance Micro Soft Excel programme. Descriptive Table 2 presents nine cropping patterns statistics were used to facilitate the presentation where rice is the only crop round the year. It of the findings. comprises about 46% of the NCA in the region. Among them single rice, double rice and triple riceareas represent over 5%, about 36% and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION about 3% respectively. It reflects the unparallel dominance of rice in the cropping systems in Land use jessore region. In case of individual pattern Table 1 presents the status of