shonia sheheli

The present study was endeavored to focus useful information on profitability and problems of farmers in duck farming. A structured interview schedule was used to collected data from 100 randomly selected duck farmers (10% of total population) during January to May 2020 from haor areas i.e., Tarail and Itna upazila (sub-district) under Kishoreganj district in Bangladesh. Data were analyzed by utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistics. According to the analysis, the total cost of 550 ducks was assessed to be Tk. 72889.8 per lot. Average gross return, average gross margin and average net returns for 550 ducks were assessed to be Tk. 121720, Tk. 57,725.7 and Tk. 48830.2 per lot, respectively. The benefit cost ratio for duck raising was calculated to be 1.67. The findings indicated that majority of the duck farmers (74%) faced high problems, while 21% and 5% of them faced medium problem and low problem in duck farming, respectively. Among difficulties of the duck growers, outbreak of disease was the most common problem followed by high price of feed in the study area. Correlation analysis indicated that out of nine selected characteristics of the duck farmers level of education, family size, annual income, and social mobility showed negative significant relationship with the problem confrontation while the mortality of ducks and number of ducks reared by the farmers showed positive significant relationship for the same. The study revealed some prospects for the policymakers to address the above significant characteristics for profitable duck farming through lessening problems.

The current study was piloted to assess the status of utilization of agrochemicals in fish farming by the farmers in Trishal upazila (sub-district), Mymensingh District, Bangladesh. Data were collected for a period of five months during January to May 2019 through individual interviews from a sample of 80 fish farmers. Descriptive statistics: percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that most severe fish diseases in the study area are epizootic ulcerative syndrome in Pangus (Pangasianolan hypophthalmus), Thai koi (Anabas testudineus), Shing (Heteropneustes fossilis), and black spot in Sarpunti (Barbodes sarana). To eliminate diseases in fish farming, 21 agrochemicals were employed (2 water quality management chemicals, 3 disinfectants, 3 antibiotics, 4 growth promoters, 3 oxygen suppliers, 2 gas reducers, and 4 disease treatment chemicals). The Department of Fisheries (DOF) and other relevant organizations should take proper attempts to enhance fish farmers’ knowledge and capability in disease diagnosis and agrochemicals application for profitable fish farming.

Bangladesh is a developing country; so, it is faced with the great challenge of food insecurity. In spite of achieving self-sufficiency in food production, a huge number of people experience the food insecure situation in this country. Since long time ago, scientists are striving to feed the growing population of Bangladesh. However, this study was conducted to assess the present situation of food security in Bangladesh. This systematic study investigated the available literature and recorded the related and different dimensions of food security in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has made remarkable improvements in food availability, access, and utilization in the last few decades, but it is not the case regarding the food stability. The country experiences numerous challenges regarding food insecurity. Bangladesh has made significant improvement in cereals (rice) production. Despite the increase in the income of people, the food quality is not good. Unequal land ownership and income distribution have made the food access below par. Food utilization has improved but balanced food intake is still far below the standard. A notable portion of people are still severly food insecure and malnourished. To ensure food security, government of Bangladesh has undertaken several programs but they were not sufficient to cope with this everlasting issue. Despite the improvement in many aspects of food security, people of Bangladesh still lack dietary diversification, which leads to nutritional imbalance. In addition, several factors challenge the food security. Therefore, GOs and NGOs should work from the same platform to address the challenges affecting food security in Bangladesh efficiently.