Abstract
This study presents the determinants and development strategies of agricultural systems of the Hill Tracts of Chittagong in Bangladesh using multivariate analysis. A total of 18 selected variables transformed into 4 factors extracted by principal factor method explain 77.21 % of the total variability of the agricultural systems in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), and the agricultural systems in CHT are classified as extensive, semi-intensive, intensive and mixed using cluster analysis. Agricultural extension services, credit facilities and infrastructure such as distance to markets are identified as the main factors responsible for the changes in agricultural systems in CHT. Finally, it has been suggested to provide knowledge and skills to the farmers in CHT through agricultural extension using farmer field schools, microcredit using Grameen Bank approach and facilities such as improved transportation to the markets for better price and higher profit from the sale of the agricultural products to enable the farmers to move from shifting cultivation to environmentally and economically sound semi-intensive or intensive agricultural systems.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aldenderfer, M. F., & Blashfield, R. K. (1984a). Cluster analysis. Beverly Hills, USA: The International Professional Publishers.
Aldenderfer, M. S., & Blashfield, R. K. (1984b). Cluster analysis. Sage university papers series: Quantitative applications in the social sciences. USA: Sage publications.
Atal,Y., & Bennagen, P. I. (1983). Swidden cultivation in Asia. Country profiles: India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vol. 2, pp. i–xx. Bangkok: UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Asia and the Pacific.
Bala, B. K. (2012). Agricultural development strategy for hill tracts of Chittagong. UNDP Office, Rangamati: Final Report.
Bala, B. K., Hossain, S. M. A., Haque, M. A., Majumder, S., & Hossain, M. A. (2010). Management of agricultural systems of the uplands of Chittagong hill tracts for sustainable food security, final technical report (PR-1). Dhaka: FAO Office.
Borggaard, O. K., Gafur, A., & Petersen, L. (2003). Sustainability appraisal of shifting cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 32, 118–223.
Comrey, A. L., & Lee, H. B. (1992). A first course in factor analysis. New Jersy, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
Davis, K., Nkonya, E., Kato, E., Mekonnen, D. A., Odendo, M., Mhro, R., et al. (2012). Impact of farmer field schools on agricultural productivity and poverty in East Africa. World Development, 40, 402–413.
Dillon, W. R., & Goldstein, M. (1984). Multivariate analysis: Methods and application. New York, USA: John Willey & Sons.
Friis-Hansen, E., & Duveskong, D. (2012). The empowerment route to well-being: An analysis of farmer field schools in East Africa. World Development, 40, 414–427.
Gafur A. (2001). Effects of shifting cultivation on soil properties, erosion, nutrient depletion, and hydrological responses in small watershed of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. PhD Dissertation, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen.
Ganguly, J. B. (1968). Economic Problems to the Jhumias ot Tripura: A socio economic study of the system of shifting cultivation of transition. Calcutta, India: Bookland Private Ltd.
Grogan, P., Lalnunmawia, F., & Tripathi, S. K. (2012). Shifting cultivation in steeply slopped regions: A review of management options and research priorities for Mizoram state, Northeast India. Agroforestry Systems, 84, 163–171.
Hardiman, R. T., Lacey, R., & Yang, Y. M. (1990). Use of cluster analysis for identification and classification of farming systems in Qing yang Country, Central North China. Agricultural Systems, 33, 115–125.
Johnson, R. A., & Wichem, D. W. (2003). Applied multivariate statistical analysis. New Delhi, India: Prentice-Hall of India.
Kaiser, H. F. (1958). The varimax criterion for analytic rotation in factor analysis. Psychometrica, 23, 187–200.
Khan, N. A., & Khisha, A. L. (1970). Shifting cultivation in East Pakistan. The Oriental Geographer, 14, 24–43.
Kim, J. (1970). Factor analysis. In N. H. Nie, C. H. Hull, J. G. Jenkins, K. Steinberger, & D. H. Bent (Eds.), Statistical package for the social sciences. New York, USA: McGraw Hill Book Company.
Knudsen, J. L., & Khan, N. A. (2002). An exploration of the problems and prospects of integrated watershed development in the CHT. Bangladesh. In N. A. Khan, M. K. Alam, S. K. Alam, & M. Millat-e-Mustafa (Eds.), Farming practices and sustainable development in the Chittagong hill tracts (pp. 165–180). Chittagong: CHTDB and VFFP- IC.
Kobrich, C., Rehman, T., & Khan, M. (2002). Typification of farming systems for constructing representative farm models: Two illustrations of the application of multivariate analyses in Chile and Pakistan. Agricultural Systems, 73, 1–17.
Lal, R. (1973). Effect of soil erosion on crop productivity. Critical Review Plant Science, 5, 303–367.
Larsen, A.F, & Lilleor, H. B. (2012). The impact of farmer field schools on food security and poverty: Evidence from a quasi-experiment in Tanzania. Online in the internet.
Lele, U., & Stone S (1989). Population pressure, the environment and agricultural intensification: Variations on the Boserup hypothesis. Managing agricultural development in Africa discussion paper 4, World Bank, Washinton DC.
Mahjabeen, R. (2008). Micro financing in Bangladesh: Impacts on household consumption and welfare. Journal of Policy modeling, 30, 1083–1092.
Majumder, S., Bala, B. K., & Hossain, M. A. (2012). Food security of the Hill Tracts of Chittagong in Bangladesh. Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, 4, 43–60.
Nye, P. H, & Greenland, D.J. (1960). The soil under shifting cultivation. Harpenden, UK: Commonwealth bureau of soils, Technical communication. No. 51.
Rahman, S., Rahman, M., & Sunderland, T. (2012). Causes and consequences of shifting cultivation and its alternatives in the hill tracts of eastern Bangladesh. Agroforestry Systems, 84, 144–155.
Rasul, G., Thapa, G. B., & Zoebisch, M. (2004). Determinants of land-use changes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Applied Geography, 24, 217–240.
Roy, R. D. (1995). Land rights, land use and indegeneous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Dhaka, Bangladesh. In: Bangladesh land forest and forest people, society for environment and human development (SEHD), Gain, 53–118.
Roy, R. D. (2002). Sustainable and equitable resource management in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bangladesh. In N. A. Khan, M. K. Alam, S. K. Khisa, & M. Millat-e-Mustafa (Eds.), Farming practices and sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (pp. 135–154). Chittagong: CHTDB and VFFP- IC.
Schultz, T. W. (1964). Transforming traditional agriculture. New Haven, CT, USA: Yale University Press.
Thapa, G. B., & Rasul, G. (2005). Patterns and determinants of agricultural systems in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Agricultural Systems.
Vosti, S. A., Witcover, J., Carpentier, C. L., Oliveira, S. J. M., & Santos, J. C. (2001). Intensifying small-scale agriculture in the Western Brazilian Amazon: Issues, implications and implementation. UK: Wallingford.
Acknowledgments
The financial support of FAO is gratefully acknowledged for this study under National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (PR-1). Constructive criticisms, comments and suggestions made throughout the study period by the TAT members Ms Marie Jo A. Cotijo and Prof. Dr. Sheikh Abdus Sabur for this research are also sincerely acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bala, B.K., Majumder, S., Altaf Hossain, S.M. et al. Exploring development strategies of agricultural systems of Hill Tracts of Chittagong in Bangladesh. Environ Dev Sustain 15, 949–966 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-012-9420-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-012-9420-2