Economics of Homestead Forestry and Their Management Activities at Fatickchari Upazila of Chittagong District, Bangladesh

Abstract

An exploratory study was carried out to identify the homestead tree resources, their utilization pattern, economic return of major fruit and timber tree species, their management activities for sustainable production as well as constraints of homestead plantation in Fatickchari Upazila of Chittagong district, Bangladesh over the period of six months by using multistage random sampling design of 96 households categorized into marginal (>0.02-0.08 ha), small (0.08-0.14 ha), medium (>0.14-0.20 ha) and large (>0.20 ha) based on homestead areas. Sample households were selected randomly taking three from each category in each ward. Total number of tree species was increased with the increase in homestead areas. In case of socio-economic aspects of the respondents, it was found that tree variety (%) has a gradual increasing trend with increase of education level. However, relative tree density (%) was found to have increasing trend with education up to higher secondary level and after that there was a slight decreasing trend. People involve in agriculture have got higher tree density (31%) compared to other occupations such as; service (28%), business (24%) and daily labour (17%). The investment analysis revealed that longer time investment on fruit and timber tree species is profitable. Lack of technical knowledge of growing trees, unavailability of space and good quality seed/seedlings were the major constraints of homestead forestry production. This study may be useful baseline information to forest policy makers in Bangladesh.

Diversity and management of homestead resources: The case of Sandwip Upazila, Chittagong, Bangladesh

“…In addition, homesteads involve a traditional method of land use and are considered one of the socially accepted and sustainable local solutions that have been extensively implemented by communities with limited resources (Jegora et al, 2019). Also, the homestead forest is one of the significant components of rural economies in the tropical regions of the world (Foysal et al, 2013), and understanding species composition and diversity is one of the prerequisites to ensuring sustainable management of forest resources.…”

Impact of Homestead Agroforestry on Socio-economic Condition of the Respondents at Kamalganj Upazila of Moulvibazar District in Bangladesh

“…Homestead is the most plant diversified ecosystem in Bangladesh. Homestead Agroforestry also plays a vital role in the economy of Bangladesh [2]. Trees and other woody species grown in the homesteads are significant source of food, fodder, fuel wood and timber.…”