Survey on crops and cropping in drought prone areas of Bangladesh

 

Survey on crops and cropping in drought prone areas of Bangladesh

M.A.K. Mian, J. A. Chowdhury, A. A. Begum, S.S. Kakon, M.Z. Ali, S.S. Nareen, M.A.H. Khan and  M. R. Karim

Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701

 

Abstract

The study was conducted at selected locations of Naogaon, Natore, Rajshahi, Nawabganj, Bogra and Joypurhat region during 2022-2025. Total 150 original farmers were interviewed with FGD (Focal group discussion) at farmers’ field. About 16 major crops are grown in the drought prone areas. Among them, Wheat, Boro rice, Mustard, Aus rice, T.aman, Mango and Vegetables are dominant at Naogaon region but Wheat, Maize, Boro rice, Potato, Mustard, Aus rice, Onion, Garlic, Sugarcane, Mango, Litchi and Jute are found dominant at Natore, Rajshahi and Nawabganj regions. On the other hand, Boro rice, Potato, Mustard, Maize, Wheat,  Aus rice, Banana, Chilli, Aroids are major crops observed at farmers’ field of Bogra and Joypurhat region. There are 3 most dominant cropping practiced by the farmers. They are Wheat-T.aman, Boro rice-T.aman and Potato-Boro rice - T.aman. Besides these cropping patterns, there are 18 major cropping patterns at three study region practiced by the farmers.  Major cropping patterns cover more than 60-80% area of the study locations. The patterns are changing from year to year due to market demand/farmers’ choice or govt. policy. Minor cropping patterns are not listed in the report.

 Introduction

Drought is a serious crop production constraint in Bangladesh. The north western districts of Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogra and Pabna are particularly drought prone area. Every year 3-4 million ha of land are affected by drought with different magnitude in Bangladesh (Miah et al. 2003). A survey by BARC shows 4.2 million hectares of land are prone to droughts with different intensities. High Barind Tract (HBT) is a typical drought prone area. High Barind Tract (AEZ 26) comprises parts of Rajshahi, Nawabganj and Naogoan districts, characterized by grey terrace soil, low organic matter, low rainfall and high temperature. It is situated in the north-western Rajshahi division of Bangladesh. This region has a distinct physiography of terraced land at about 30 m above sea level and located at latitudes 24.25⁰ to 25.10⁰ N and longitude 88-89⁰ E. The region is characterized by low annual rainfall (1363 ± 311mm) as compared to other parts of the country with uneven distribution and wide variation over the years. The HBT does not have a stable ecosystem and farming is vulnerable because of: a) absence of large water bodies, b) sparse vegetation, c) low and erratic rainfall with limited resources of groundwater and d) high temperature in summer (Hunt, 1984). Rainfed agriculture in the High Barind Tract is extremely difficult. The main constraint to crop production is drought due to erratic and low rainfall from October. The long term mean annual rainfall is 1200 ± 300 mm. The maximum temperature reaches as high as 45⁰C in May and the minimum falls as low as to 6⁰C in January. More than 90% of the rainfall occurs from June to September. Moisture depletion starts from October and in December, no residual moisture is normally available for crop emergence, a situation that continues up to April (Idris and Huq, 1987). There is a very short period after harvest of rice, then low soil moisture conditions are conducive for sowing of rabi crops. Moisture holding capacity of HBT soil is poor due to critical organic matter content and low infiltration water (Ali, 2000). In such situation if soil is opened by plowing of furrowing and exposed to sun drying for long time, soil moisture is lost quickly resulting in poor germination of seeds. That is why the region traditionally remains fallow after rice. The problem is more acute in the areas where water is a major constraint to develop appropriate crop production technique. An understanding of the present situation will help to identify the major constraints of crop production and devise appropriate research work to be undertaken. Therefore, the possibilities of increasing agricultural productivity in the drought prone areas need survey and monitoring of existing crops and cropping and improvement of the same with modern crop production technology. The objectives of the study were:

i) To find out the existing crops and cropping in the drought prone area

ii) To identify the innovative technology practiced by the farmers

iii) To find out the constrains of crop production in drought prone area            

 

Methodology

The study was conducted during 2022-2025. The selected locations were Naogaon, Natore, Rajshahi, Nawabganj, Bogra and Joypurhat. Data collection was done by face to face interviewing with FGD at farmers’ field using a pretested interview schedule. About 3-7 numbers farmers were involved in each FGD group. Total 150 original farmers were interviewed at different locations. Some relevant data were collected from local DAE office and BMDC office. Data on major crops and cropping, and other relevant information were recoded and analyzed in MS Excel. After analysis and perception of field visit of the locations, the major crops and cropping patterns are listed in the Tables. Responded Farmer’s number (with FGD) of different locations has been given in the following Table 1.

 

Table 1. Number of Responded Farmer’s and FGD at study area

Location	Number of interviewed farmers	Number of FGD
Naogaon	50	10
Natore, Rajshahi and Nawabganj	60	12
Bogra and Joypurhat	40	8
Total	150	30

 

Results and Discussion

Numerous crops and cropping patterns have been observed in different study areas. Major crops (Table 2) and cropping patterns (Table 3) at Naogaon location have been given bellow. There are 7 major crops grown in Naogaon area. Other 19 minor crops are also grown there (Table 2). There are eight major cropping patterns practiced at Naogaon region (Table 3). Wheat-T.aman and Boro rice-T.aman are the most dominate cropping patterns in this area.

Naogaon region

Table 2. Major crops in drought prone areas of Naogaon region                

Major crops	Minor crops
Wheat, Boro rice, Mustard, Aus rice, T.aman, Mango,  Vegetables	Maize, Lentil, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Potato, Country bean, Radish, Bitter gourd, Blackgram, Mungbean, Sesame,  Chilli, Aroids, Banana, Litchi, Beer, Tree plants, Palms, Nut

 

Table 3. List of major cropping patterns at Naogaon region

Sl. no.	Cropping patterns	Dominancy sequence
		No. of responded	% of responded
1	Wheat-T.aman	11	22
2	Boro rice-T.aman	10	20
3	Fallow-T.aman	8	16
4	Mustard-T.aman	6	12
5	Vegetable-T.aman	6	12
6	Mango-Mango (Perinial)	5	10
7	Mango+ Intercrops	2	4
8	Maize-T.aman	2	4
	Total	50	100

 

Farmers’ Innovative:

General crop cultivation was shifted to mango cultivation. Mango is grown as intercropping with blackgram, wheat, rice and other crops in early stages of mango.

  Constrains

1.     Water Scarcity

2.     Prevails drought in dry season

3.     Low market price of product (Specially vegetable)

4.     Land shifting to mango cultivation

5.     Water table goes downward and ponds drying up  

6.     Lifting problem of underground water

Natore, Rajshahi and Nawabganj regions

Major crops and cropping patterns at the selected locations have been given in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively. About 12 major crops grown at Natore, Rajshahi and Nawabganj regions. Other 17 minor crops are also grown there (Table 4). There are nine major cropping patterns practiced at study region (Table 5). Boro rice-T.aman, Wheat-T.aman and Potato-T.aman are the most dominant cropping patterns in this area followed by Maize-T.aman and Mustard- T.aman cropping patterns. (Table 5). Other minor cropping patterns are also practiced but they are in changing from year to year as per market demand/choice of farmers.       

Table 4. Major crops in drought prone area at Natore, Rajshahi and Nawabganj regions

Major crops	Minor crops
Wheat, Maize, Boro rice, Potato, Mustard, Aus rice, Onion, Garlic, Sugarcane,  Mango, Litchi, Jute,	Lentil, Cabbage, Cauliflower,  Country bean, Radish, Onion, Tomato, Bitter gourd, Blackgram, Mungbean, Sesame,  Chilli, Aroids, Banana, Beer, Tree plants, Broadcast aman,

 

Table 5. List of major cropping patterns at Natore, Rajshahi and Nawabganj regions

Sl. no.	Cropping patterns	Dominancy sequence
		No. of responded	% of responded
1	Boro rice-T.aman	13	22
2	Wheat-T.aman	11	18
3	Potato-T.aman	10	17
4	Maize-T.aman	6	10
5	Mustard-T.aman	6	10
6	Vegetable-T.aman	5	8
7	Mango-Mango (Perinial)	5	8
8	Mango+ Intercrops	2	3
9	Sugarcane (Some cases with intercrops)	2	3
	Total	60	100

 

 

 

 

Farmers’ Innovative:

General crop cultivation was shifted to mango cultivation. Mango is grown as intercropping with blackgram, wheat, rice and other crops in early stages of mango. Early tomato cultivation practiced in Barind area. Deep Tube well is used for irrigation.

 

Constrains

1. Water Scarcity

2. Prevails drought in dry season

3. Low market price of product (Specially vegetable)

4. Land shifting to mango cultivation

5. Water table goes downward

6.  Lifting problem of underground water

 

Bogra and Joypurhat region

Major crops and cropping patterns at Bogra and Joypurhat regions have been given in Table 6 and Table 7 respectively. About 9 major crops grown at Bogra and Joypurhat regions. Other 13 minor crops are also grown there (Table 6). The eight major cropping patterns are practiced by the farmer’s at study region (Table 7). Boro rice-T.aman and Potato-Broro rice -T.aman are the most dominant cropping patterns in this area followed by Mustard- T.aman and vegetables-T. aman cropping patterns. (Table 7). Recently, Maize-T.aman Potato+ Banana are also food as good patterns in Bogra region. Other minor cropping patterns are also practiced but they are in changing from year to year as per market demand/ of farmers’ choice. Aroid Latiraj exported to different countries of Europe including Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and other countries.       

Table 6.  Major crops in drought prone area

Major crops	Minor crops
Broro rice, Potato, Mustard,  Maize, Wheat,  Aus rice, Banana, Chilli, Aroids	Cabbage, Cauliflower, Country bean, Radish, Onion, Tomato, Bitter gourd,  Mungbean, Sesame,  Chilli,  Beer, Tree plants, Turmeric

 

Table 7. List of major cropping patterns at Bogra and Joypurhat regions

Sl. no.	Cropping patterns	Dominancy sequence
		No. of responded	% of responded
1	Boro rice-T.aman	10	25
2	Potato-Boro rice - T.aman	10	25
3	Mustard-Boro rice- T.aman	5	13
4	Cabbage/Cauliflower/Radish-Boro rice-T.aman	5	13
5	Maize-T.aman	4	10
6	Potato+ Banana	2	5
7	Chilli-T.aman	2	5
8	Aroids-Fallow	2	5
		40	100

 

 

Farmers’ Innovative:

Potato + Banana intercropping is being practiced by some farmers. Aroids cultivation is in sporadic area of Joypurhat. It is exported to abroad.    

Constrains

 

1.     Low market price of product (Specially potato/vegetable)

2.     High cost of cold storage 

3.     High production cost and less profit/economic return.

 

Conclusion

Major cropping patterns covers more than 60-80% area of the study locations. The patterns are changing from year to year due to market demand/choice of farmers or government policy. Minor cropping patterns are not listed in the report. Aroid Latiraj exported to different countries of Europe including Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and other countries.       

 

 Appendix 1: List of data collection locations at Naogaon region

Sl.  no.	Name of locations	No. of farmer
1	Sapahar	8
2	Naninagar	8
3	Naogoan sadar	8
4	Salukpara	7
5	Trimohuni	6
6	Manikura	8
7	Khanjonpur	8
Total		50

 

Appendix 2: List of data collection locations at Natore, Rajshahi and Nawabganj region regions

Sl.  no.	Name of location		No. of farmer
1	Rajshai sadar	Rajshahi	5
2	Tanor		6
3	Mohonpur		5
4	Poba		8
5	Godagari		6
6	Lalpur	Natore	5
7	Satni		4
8	Naldanga		6
9	Kalacopa	Nawabganj	6
10	Nayonsri		5
11	Boliarpur		4
			60

 

Appendix 3: List of data collection locations at Bogra and Joypuhat region regions

Sl.  no.	Name of location		No. of farmer
1	Kahaloo	Bogra	7
2	Dupchchia		6
3	Mokamtola		6
4	Santahar		5
5	Ahaladipur		6
6	Pajbibi	Joypurhat	8
7	Punat		6
8	Kali		6
Total			50