IMPACT OF BRICKFIELD ON CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND LIVELIHOOD OF BRICKFIELD WORKERS OF KURIGRAM DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the impact of brickfield on carbon dioxide emission and livelihood of brickfield workers in Chilmari and Ulipur upazila under Kurigram district. The study was conducted during the period from January to July 2017. It was a survey based study where data were taking from twenty (20) brick fields on the study area. Data has been collected based on questionnaires form. Data about production of bricks, fuel consumption rate and livelihood of brickfield workers, information about various crops production adjacent about one km, two km and five km were collected physically from some selected brick kilns and the adjacent area of brickfields. Measurement of the variables constitutes is an important task of any social research. In this study, carbondioxide emission from brickfields, brickfield workers livelihood and various crops production adjacent to brickfields were the focus issues. In addition owners, workers and farmer's age, education, family size, sex, farm size, kiln height, labor, power supply, fuel use, production of bricks, CO2 emission, production of crops, physical effect, environmental effect, income level of brickfield workers, workers satisfaction, family types of farmers, farm size of farmers, farmers innovativeness, occupation of farmers, annual income of farmers and agricultural knowledge were selected characteristics of this study. The mean of the brickfield kiln height was 30.05 m. There was 85% owner used generator and 15% owners used electricity to control the exhaust fan. In Kurigram districts 90% brick field owners were used coal and only 10% owners were used wood as brick field fuels. The uses of natural gas in brick fields was absent in Kurigram district. The mean of the brick production was 2.28 million among 20 brickfields. The maximum amount of CO2 emission was 7.94 (t/lakh bricks) and minimum amount was 3.64 (t/lakh bricks). Maximum workers were affected in back pain (33.3%) whereas minimum affected by cough (3.3%) due to brick field emissions. Maximum brick field workers (62.2%) commented that flying ashes was more emitted from the brick field. Again, 24.4% workers commented that emitting ashes from brick kiln were usually burn tree and crops. Moreover, 7.5% stated that the kiln was caused heat. 95% farmer used tractor for the land preparation, 71% farmer cultivated hybrid variety of rice, 26% farmer used BADC seed for crop cultivation, 13% farmer used sex pheromone and 4% used bio fertilizer and 2% used IPM in rice field. The study also revealed that the yield of the principle crops like wheat, potato, jute, aus, aman and boro rice were higher with the increased distance from the brickfield. However, due to the high demand of infrastructure development brick making industries in Bangladesh is a rapidly growing sector. Therefore, to minimize the negative impact of brick fields on agricultural land and nearby environment, appropriate knowledge about agricultural production technology, installation of modern brick kilns, proper awareness among local farmers, brick field owners and brickfield workers are needed.