Crop  intensification  with short-duration  pulse  crop(mungbean)using  climate-smart agriculture technology in northeastern region of Bangladesh

In the last two decades, many development projects have been undertaken by different GOs and NGOs in diverse areas of the world with the expectation that they will simultaneously address the challenges of declining rural livelihoods and biodiversity. Caritas Bangladesh, a leading national and non-profit organization, has implemented several social welfare and community development projects since the 1970s. Accordingly, Caritas implemented a noble project in 2019, namely: Improving the livelihoods of extremely poor people by promoting green energy and biodiversity in the aspect of climate change in disaster-affected areas of Bangladesh (ILPGB). Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate the impacts of the ILPGB project on the livelihood and biodiversity improvements of the rural farmers in the Netrokona and Sunamgonj districts of Bangladesh. The assessment was done through random samplings of 60 stakeholders using a semi-structured questionnaire for livelihood analysis and quadrat (10 x 10 m2) plotting techniques in the farmer's homestead for biodiversity analysis. The results showed that the ILPGB project had brought changes, most of which have had positive impacts on the human, social, physical, economic, and natural capital of the participants, and the process of livelihood development was slow but showed improving trends. Nevertheless, a platform for social relations and networks has been created among the participants in the project implementation areas. On the contrary, a total of 34 plant species were identified in the participants' homestead, of which 18 were trees, 6 shrubs, and 10 herb species. The species dominance showed that farmers tend to grow fruit tree species for their family's needs, and the general plant diversity in the northeastern region of Bangladesh was moderate to low. So, the study strongly recommends that the ILPGB project should continue for another two to three years. During this time, farmers could easily build their livelihood capital and improve their homestead biodiversity with the help of the project's planting materials and agricultural inputs.

Section: Livelihood Improvementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Livelihood and Biodiversity Through Caritas Intervened Project in the Northeastern Region of Bangladesh: A Case Study

Islam¹,

Gomes²,

Toppo³

et al. 2022

“…Conservation agriculture is always credited with lowering production costs, increasing yield, and improving water usage efficiency (Ernstein et al 2008;Ngwira et al 2012;Islam et al 2021). The year-round retention of crop residues and tree leaf as surface mulch is a significant addition for conservation agriculture adoption.…”

Section: Conservation Of Natural Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Continuous and excessive uses of agrochemicals with traditional agriculture practices have been steadily degraded soil and causes of environmental hazards (Montgomery 2007;Islam et al 2021;Islam et al 2022). On the contrary, the global demand for agricultural products would be double in the next decade (Godfray et al 2010;Thierfelder et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Production of Summer Vegetables Using Conservation Agriculture Techniques: Experiences from Northern Bangladesh

Islam¹,

Toppo²,

Biswas³

et al. 2023

Poor soil quality and decreasing crop yields brought on by ongoing monocropping in the fields of small-scale farmers in Bangladesh have demanded a search for sustainable production methods that are more resource efficient and environmentally friendly. Conservation agriculture is such a beneficial approach that effectively addresses crop productivity and soil quality enhancements using locally available resources. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the impacts of conservation agricultural practices on the growth and yield of summer vegetables cultivated in the northern region of Bangladesh. The study was carried out at farmers field situated in the Chilmari upazila of Kurigram district using the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications during July to September 2020. The trial vegetables, i.e., Red amaranth, Kangkong and Indian spinach had showed the better yield of 4.95 t/ha, 14.5 t/ha and 19.5 t/ha in compared with traditionally cultivated vegetable cultivated methods in the farmers field, according the conservation agriculture method had enhanced vegetable yield. As part of conservation agriculture practices, soil organic matter content, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels, as well as pH for better crop production, were all positively increase with the implications of conservation techniques like, adding organic manure, minimal tillage, permanent crop residues and crop rotation. Therefore, the study came to the conclusion that traditional agriculture would need to adopt conservation agriculture methods in order to produce more food while using fewer resources and doing so in a more efficient manner while having the least possible negative effects on the environment.

“…Conservation agriculture is widely acknowledged for its ability to reduce production costs, increase yields, and enhance water usage efficiency, as supported by various studies (Ernstein et al, 2008;Ngwira et al, 2012;Islam et al, 2021). One key aspect of adopting conservation agriculture is the year-round retention of crop residues and tree leaves as surface mulch, which significantly contributes to its effectiveness.…”

Section: Conservation Of Natural Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The consistent and excessive utilization of agrochemicals in conjunction with conventional agricultural methods has progressively deteriorated the soil and given rise to environmental risks (Montgomery 2007;Islam et al 2021;Islam et al 2022). Contrarily, there is an expected twofold increase in the global demand for agricultural products over the next decade (Godfray et al 2010;Thierfelder et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moving to conservation agriculture: (1) evidence of rhizome crops performance in existing agroforestry practices of Madhupur Garh, Bangladesh

Islam,

Mostakim,

Ashraf

et al. 2023

The continuous practice of mono-cropping by small-scale farmers in Bangladesh has resulted in poor soil quality and declining crop yields. As a result, there is a growing need to explore sustainable production methods that are resource-efficient and environmentally friendly. Conservation agriculture has emerged as a beneficial approach that effectively addresses these challenges by utilizing locally available resources to enhance crop productivity and soil quality. With this in mind, the objective of this study was to assess the impacts of conservation agricultural practices on the growth and yield of ginger and turmeric in the Madhupur Garh of Bangladesh. The study was conducted in the Auronkhola, Gaira, Makontonagar in Madhupur district, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications from July to September 2022. Ginger and turmeric were selected for the trial. The results showed that these spices exhibited significantly higher yields (6090 kg/ha and 11370 kg/ha, respectively) compared to traditionally cultivated vegetables in the farmers' fields. The implementation of conservation agriculture practices contributed to the improved yields. As part of conservation agriculture practices, various factors crucial for crop production, such as soil organic matter content, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium levels, and pH, were positively influenced. This was achieved through the use of organic manure, minimal tillage, the retention of permanent crop residues, and crop rotation. Based on the findings, the study concludes that traditional agriculture must transition to conservation agriculture methods in order to achieve increased food production while utilizing fewer resources and minimizing negative environmental impacts. This shift towards conservation agriculture offers a more efficient and sustainable approach to farming.