Crop decision making model and impacts of crop selection on the livelihood of farmers in coastal area

Abstract

This study was carried out to understand the farmers’ decision process regarding the selection of Rabi crops in a coastal area, to find out their water management practices and the impacts of selected crop on the livelihood of the farmers. The study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2013-14 in two polders, namely Polder 31 and Polder 32 at Dacope Upazila of Khulna district. The farmers’ decision model was developed on the basis of individual interview (II) with farmers’. The individual interview was also conducted to collect information on number, amount and timing of irrigation, yield, and input use for the selected crops (Boro rice, sunflower and sesame). Focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted on the selected farmers to develop farmers livelihood security index (FLSI) based on selected indicators of five livelihood assets (Social, Human, Natural, Financial and Physical). From the farmer’s decision model, it was found that the important parameters affecting cropping decision are presence of soil salinity in top soil, lack of fresh surface water for irrigation, lack of residual moisture and lack of capital for the production of crops. If the farmers find that the level of soil salinity is below 12 dS/m, have access to canal irrigation water with the level of water salinity below 11 dS/m with storage of about ten irrigations, have access to cost for the production of Boro rice, then they decide to grow Boro rice. When the farmers have access to on-farm reservoirs (OFR)/pond with storage of about two or three irrigations and have the capital for the production of sunflower, then they decide to grow sunflower. When the farmers do not have any source of irrigation water, but have the capital, then they decide to grow sesame with residual moisture content. Otherwise, the land is kept fallow. From the water management practiced by the farmers and EC of soil analysis, it was found that the average seasonal amount of irrigation water of Boro rice and sunflower was 1000 mm and 220 mm respectively. On the other hand, the calculated seasonal irrigation water requirements (IWR) for Boro rice and sunflower were 1336 mm and 308 mm respectively. The farmers followed AWD method for Boro rice and used hose pipe for sunflower to apply irrigation water. The average residual moisture content was 10% by weight in top soil of sesame. For Boro rice, the average EC (dS/m) of soil at vegetative stage, reproductive and ripening stages were 3.56dS/m, 7.05 dS/m and 6.49dS/m in Polder 31 and 3.73 dS/m, 6.38 dS/m and 8.30 dS/m in Polder 32 respectively. For sunflower, the average EC (dS/m) of soil at vegetative, flowering and heading stage was 2.49 dS/m, 4.65 dS/m and 6.82 dS/m respectively. From the yield, profitability and livelihood analysis, it was found that the yields of HYV rice, sunflower (Hysun-33) and sesame (local) under farmers’ practice varied from 3.00 to 5.90 t/ha, 0.60 to 1.7 t/ha and 0.60 to 0.80 t/ha respectively. The BCR of growing rice varied from 1.53 to 2 whereas for sunflower (Hysun33) and sesame (local) were 1.56 and 1.30 respectively. Different levels of livelihood security were found for Boro rice, sunflower and sesame producing farmers. The highest livelihood security level was found for Boro rice farmer as 83% in polder 31 whereas the lowest security level was measured for sesame farmer as 32% in polder 32. The crop decision model result has ultimately shown that the levels of security for farmers’ livelihood were higher in Polder 31 than that of Polder 32.