IDENTIFICATION AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS OF PANCHBIBI UPAZILA UNDER JOYPURHAT DISTRICT

Abstract

A scientific research experiment in Panchbibi upazila under Joypurhat district during July to December 2017 was conducted to evaluate the identification and economic evaluation of agroforestry systems of homestead, cropland and orchard. Extensive field survey and field measurements were done in 20 villages under 4 unions out of 8 unions of the upazila. The studied unions were Balighata, Bagjana, Dharanji and Aymarasulpur. A multistage random sampling procedure was followed in this research experiment. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for collecting the data. A total of 57 agroforestry practices including 20 homesteads, 17 orchards and 20 croplands were evaluated. Normality test of income and cost data was done by Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test. Three years costs and income data were collected from the field survey. Linear regression equation was obtained by using trend line in MS Excel to forecast seven years of income and cost data of different agroforestry systems. Benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was determined upto ten years by using actual and forecasted income and cost data of three agroforestry systems. Results of the cost analysis showed that though significantly maximum cost was in orchard agroforestry system (Tk. 308083 per ha.) followed by cropland (Tk. 144886 per ha.) and minimum in homestead agroforestry system (Tk. 31297 per ha.) in the 1st year. Cost decreasing trend was recorded in the successive years in all the systems. Forecasted data showed that after 5 years; all costs were zero in homestead, while in orchard the same was zero after 5.5 years but there was some costs all the time during ten years period. Income analysis of agroforestry showed that though initial income was significantly higher in orchard agroforestry followed by cropland and homestead and lowest income was in homestead agroforestry system but after 10 years highest income was found in orchard agroforestry system (Tk. 901561 per ha.) and lowest income was found in cropland agroforestry system and after nine years the income of cropland was zero. The overall net income was highest in orchard (Tk.311514) and lowest was in homestead (Tk.23511). The net income indicated that orchard agroforestry system is financially more profitable than cropland and homestead agroforestry systems, while the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is higher in homestead (15.97) and lower in cropland agroforestry system (1.27). The study revealed that within the agroforestry systems (homestead, cropland and orchard) of Panchbibi upazila 11 agroforestry practices were recorded. The practices were mixed home garden, Eucalyptus, Mango+Litchi, Mango, Ghoraneem, Litchi, Eucalyptus+Mahogoni, Eucalyptus+Akashmoni, Eucalyptus, Mahogony, Mango+Mahogony, Jhingon+Betel leaf and with or without different combinations of seasonal crops. Among 57 practices, mixed home garden occupied the maximum number (29) and lowest number(1) was Mango+ Litchi, Mango+Mahogoni, Jhingon+betel leaf and Ghoraneem .The findings suggest that orchard as well as homestead agroforestry systems are economically more profitable than cropland agroforestry system of Panchbibi upazila. Within the 11 practices eucalyptus+mahogany based agroforestry practices is profitable in Panchbibi upazila. So, orchard of Panchbibi can be improved by proper management practices, co-operative and more applying scientific knowledge. Therefore, more emphasis should given in establishing orchard agroforestry to improve their economical status in Panchbibi upazila