Bangladesh Rice J. 21 (2) : 217-235, 2017 Cropping Patterns in Mymensingh Region: Diversity, Constraint and Potential A Khatun1*, N Parvin1, M M R Dewan2 and A Saha1 ABSTRACT A consistent and comprehensive database on cropping pattern, cropping intensity and crop diversity of a particular area is the prime importance for guiding policy makers, researchers, extentionists and development agencies for the future research and development planning. The study was carried out all the upazilas of Mymensingh region during 2015-16 using pre-designed and pre-tested semi- structured questionnaire with a view to document the existing cropping pattern, crop diversity and cropping intensity. The most dominant cropping pattern Boro−Fallow−T. Aman occupied about one- half of net cropped area (NCA) of the region distributed to 46 out of 47 upazilas. Single Boro cropping pattern ranked the second position which covered 23% of NCA distributed in 45 upazilas. A total of 129 cropping patterns were identified in the whole area of Mymensingh region under this investigation. The highest number of (30) cropping patterns were identified in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj and the lowest was (10) in Sreebardi of Sherpur. The lowest crop diversity index (CDI) was reported (0.111) in Mithamoin of Kishoreganj followed by 0.114 at Khaliajuri in Netrokona. The highest value of CDI was observed 0.933 at Dewanganj in Jamalpur followed by 0.920 at Bhairab in Kishoreganj. The range of cropping intensity values was recorded 101-249%. The maximum value was for Hossainpur and minimum for Itna and Mithamoin in Kishoreganj. At a glance the calculated CDI of Mymensingh region was 0.840 and the average cropping intensity was 187%. Key words: Cropping patterns, diversity index, cropping intensity, Madhupur tract and Sylhet Basin INTRODUCTION Sustainable crop production in Bangladesh through improvement of cropping intensity In Bangladesh total cultivable land is 8.5 million in rice based cropping system is regarded hectare and it is shrinking day by day. The as increasingly important in national issues annual loss of agricultural land is about 0.73% such as food security, poverty alleviation and per annum due to construction of houses, roads creation of job opportunity. The main challenge and industrial infrastructure (BBS, 2014). There of the new millennium is to increase 50% yield is no other alternative but need to increase total per unit land area through manipulating the productivity per unit area of the prevailing limited land resource. In order to produce more lands. To increase system productivity it needs food within a limited area, the most important to bring diversity in enterprises for better options are to increase the cropping intensity utilization of limited resources. The production producing three or more crops over the same of the cropping patterns could be increased piece of land in a year and to increase the by changing cultivars and improving cultural production efficiency of the individual crop by management practices. There is some scope using optimum management practices (Mondal of increasing cropping intensity from existing et al., 2015). level by improving the existing cropping Actually, rice based monoculture exists in patterns by incorporating short duration agriculture of the country. Rice monoculture crops viz mustard, potato, mungbean and gives us self-sufficiency in food production aus rice in the rice based cropping system. to some extent but it creates many problems. 1Rice Farming Systems Division, BRRI, Gazipur; 2BRRI RS Kushtia; *Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected] Only rice based cropping pattern has been Cropping pattern is defined as the yearly facing a number of problems like reduction sequence, temporal and spatial arrangement of soil fertility, pests and diseases outbreaks of crops in a given land area. The Cropping in the crop fields, decline in water table, pattern of a region reflects the geoclimatic, reduced production of non-rice crops, erodes sociocultural, economic, historical and political conditions of a region (Agrawal and Kassam, biodiversity, creates nutritional imbalance 1976). The Cropping pattern and the changes (Hussain et al., 2001; Rahman, 2010). Crop therein depend on a large number of factors diversification is considered as a strategy of like climate, soil type, rainfall, agricultural reducing the reported problems. It is also technology, availability of irrigation facilities considered as an effective approach to utilize and other inputs, marketing and transport scarce land and valuable water resources, which facilities and growth of agro-industries makes agriculture sustainable and environment (Shahidullah et al., 2006; Neena, 1998; Gadge, friendly (Kumari et al., 2010). 2003). According to Hossain (1996), the Due to non-availability of information on cropping pattern and the potential productivity cropping systems, researchers, development of the crops of Bangladesh are determined agencies and policy makers cannot rightly by four climatic factors which are rainfall, evaporation, temperature and hours of light. identify research areas. Depending on Cropping patterns which depend not only physiographic, soil, hydrological and climatic on agro-ecological conditions but also on the characteristics, thirty agro ecological zones spread of agricultural technologies especially (AEZ) have been identified in Bangladesh. irrigation technology. Total crop production Mymensingh region is one of the most has been changing due to changes in area distinctive regions in Bangladesh and it under cultivation, yield rates, cropping pattern represents the agriculture and climatic situation and prices of different crops. Shifting cropping of five districts i.e. Mymensingh, Netrokona, pattern indicates changes in the composition of Kishoreganj, Jamalpur and Sherpur. In the crops as well as their relative contribution to context of physiography it belongs to seven the total output growths due to proportionate different agroecological zones viz Young change in areas. Changes in cropping pattern are pursued by either having technological Brahmaputra and Jamuna Floodplain (AEZ- backup in production of crops or supported 8), Old Brahmaputra Floodplain (AEZ-9), by relative price advantages of the outputs or Middle Meghna River Floodplain (AEZ-16), being influenced by the both. It is important to Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain (AEZ-19), understand the changing pattern of crops over Sylhet Basin (AEZ-21), Northern and Western a longer period of time and identify the factors Piedmont Plains (AEZ-22) and Madhupur Tract that caused changes in areas of the crops for (AEZ-28). Lion-share of the region frequently taking appropriate policy measures in boosting faces the occurrence of early flood, seasonal and sustaining crop sector growth (Alam and flood, late flood and also flash flood. In the Abedin, 1996). basin area predominance of heavy clays and Information on crops, major cropping slow drainage and the dominance of noxious patterns, area coverage by each pattern, rice yield in the pattern, level of adoption weeds are the critical parameters. Low moisture of modern rice variety in pattern by season holding capacity, complex relief and soil pattern, across different land types in relation to their erodibility of sloping soils and upland edges system productivity is lacking in compiled are main limitations for agricultural practices. form. Detailed information on land situation Poor road communications in interior areas and cropping systems is a precondition specially in the rainy season are big problems for a successful development programme. that mainly affect the marketing of produces. Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) 218 Khatun et al maintained upazila-wise information on daylong data validation workshop at district individual crops, land use patterns and other level. The workshop dates were 14 October related data. It’s very difficult to understand the for Jamalpur; 19 October for Kishoreganj; 17 real agricultural situation of a region from these November for Sherpur; 28 December 2015 for data. Generation of information will help to Netrokona and 5 January 2016 for Mymensingh. develop resource and demand based program Four field-workers i.e. one SAPPO and three for sustainable improvement of agricultural SAAOs experienced and engaged in crop- production system. Therefore, the present based data documentation, all officers from all study was designed with an attempt to attain upazilas viz UAOs, AEOs, AAEOs, DD (DAE), the following objectives to: DD (Horticulture), DD of Seed Certification • Visualize the existing land use pattern at Agency, DTO and ADDs, one representative upazila and regional level from Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) participated in the data validation workshop. • Understand the existing scenario of The number of participants of validation cropping patterns in Mymensingh region workshop ranged from 55 to 96 in each district. • Find out the crop diversity and cropping All the participants were divided into three to intensity at local and regional level. four groups for data validation. Each group was facilitated by two RFSD scientists to finalize and validate the data and authenticated data were METHODOLOGY captured. Crop diversity index was calculated by using the following equation described by Forty-seven upazilas of Mymensingh, Kshirsagar et al. (1997). Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Jamalpur and Sherpur n 2 aij districts under Mymensingh agricultural CDIi = 1 - / region were the locations