An efficient seed marketing system is very crucial for boosting vegetable production in Bangladesh. This study evaluated the vegetable seed marketing channels in Bangladesh including profit margins of various traders and different problems faced by them. Primary data from 45 vegetable farmers and 30 seed traders in Rajshahi district were collected by face-to-face interview. Descriptive and profitability analysis were employed, while problem confrontation index (PCI) was used to rank the problems. The findings revealed that vegetable seeds were traded through six major marketing channels. Private agents supply the majority of seeds where dealers, wholesalers, retailers and farmers were the key actors in the channels. However, rural market traders had the highest marketing margin and terminal market traders had the lowest. BCR for terminal market traders was 1.53 that is highest among the traders’ categories where BCR for rural market traders was lowest (1.36). Lack of bank loan facilities, inadequate capital, lack of separate market place, and lack of technical know-how were the major ranked problems faced by traders. The study recommends providing credit facilities to the traders, arranging a separated market place and proper training to increase technical knowledge.

The aim of the present study was to examine the cost and return of selected winter vegetables (bitter gourd, sweet gourd and brinjal). The main objective of the study was to find out the marketing costs and margins at different marketing stages through examining the marketing system. Primary data on production and marketing costs and problems of 30 vegetables producers and 30 vegetables traders were collected by face-to-face interview method. For estimating profitability and marketing margins, mainly descriptive statistics were used in this study. Results revealed that among these three vegetables, per acre total cost of production was highest for brinjal and lowest for sweet gourd. On an average, Benefit cost ratio (BCR) was highest for brinjal (2.65) and lowest for sweet gourd (1.28). This indicates that brinjal was the most profitable vegetables in selected char areas. On the other hand, four different channels were identified in vegetables marketing system. However, the net marketing margin was highest for retailers in channel 4 for sweet gourd and lowest for faria for bitter gourd. The producers share in consumer taka was highest i.e., 65.48 percent for bitter gourd in channel 4 and price spread was lower in the same. The study also found out some production and marketing problems and constraint faced by winter vegetables producers and traders. Among them lack of capital, higher transportation cost, lack of training facilities, lack of market information, price instability etc. were main. The study also suggested some necessary measures to reduce these problems, one of which is transportation cost would be reduced by constructing a bridge over the river Brahmaputra. The bridge would also be the solution of the backwardness of char Iswardia and char Nilakshmia.

The overall goal of this study was to examine the effects of climate change on the yield of four distinct crops (Aus, Aman, Boro and Wheat) in Sylhet by using secondary climate data from 1970 to 2020. The study's other goal is to assess the impact of river water levels on crop productivity in Sylhet over time. Data on crop productivity, weather variability and river water levels were gathered from the various fields. Yield vs. climatic correlation was discovered in the study, and this correlation varied according to season. To estimate the impact of climate change on rice yield, a multiple regression model is used. Climate variables in the model were found to account for 11% of the overall variation in Aus rice yield. The relationship between relative humidity and maximum temperature is positive and statistically significant. Other variables had no effect on yield because they were not significant. Furthermore, Regression results indicated that climate variables account for 60.6 percent of the overall variation in Aman rice output. Relative humidity, on the other hand, can undermine the yield. Climate variables account for 53.5 percent of the overall variation in Boro rice output, according to the findings. As a result, an increase in rainfall may have a negative impact on Boro rice yield. Maximum and minimum temperatures might have a favorable impact on Boro rice yield. Increases in maximum temperature, on the other hand, can considerably boost Wheat yield while decreases in minimum temperature can diminish Wheat yield. On the other side, the results of the regression analysis suggest that river water level has a minor impact on Aus, Aman, and Boro yield. However, as the model demonstrates, the river water level can have an impact on wheat yield. The impact of temperature and rainfall on water level was also investigated in this study because the regression model failed to produce positive results. Surprisingly, the model performs well, despite the fact that maximum temperatures have a negative impact on water levels in the Aus and Aman seasons. This shows that if warmer temperatures aid raises Aus and Aman yields, then the water level cannot sabotage the yield rise. Rainfall has a favorable impact on the water levels in the Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons, but has a negative impact on the water levels in the Wheat season. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 12(2): 18-26, December 2022

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The present study was conducted to see the effect of microcredit provided by the ASA NGO on the rural poor clients in Sadar upazila of Boira Union in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The study identified the extent of income generating activities, the adequacy, utilization pattern, repayment performance and cost of credit of the beneficiaries' especially rural poor. A total of 50 rural ASA beneficiaries were collected where 30 from Boira and 20 from Chalk-chatrapur. In the study area, average amount of credit received by the respondents was Tk. 9614.60 and on an average 86.59 percent of the loaned money was utilized for the reported IGAs. Overall loan recovery percentage was found to be quite satisfactory. They repaid their loan on time with the hope of getting more credit in future and because of regular supervision by the association's field level workers and pressure of the group leaders. Six explanatory variables i.e. age, education, family size, occupation, income and expenditure were considered for repayment of loan in empirical model. Age, family size, income and expenditure had significant impact on repayment of loan. Overall income and savings change by taking loan from ASA were 36.04 and 68.69%, respectively. The findings show that ASA loan brought about positive impact on livelihood improvement of the borrowers. The present study suggests for conducting further study of similar type in other parts of the country to make the findings representative one.