Potential Impacts of Sustainable Dairy Farming in Char Areas of Northern Bangladesh

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential impacts of sustainable dairy farming in Char areas of Northern Bangladesh. A total of 600 poorest dairy farming households were selected out of 1323 households, taking 200 households from each Upazila of Sariakandi, Islampur and Belkuchi of Bogra, Jamalpur and Sirajganj districts, respectively using simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the respondents (600:200 respondents ×3 districts). Difference-in-Difference (DID) approach was applied for analysing the impact of dairy farming. To determine the factors affecting income on livelihood, logistic regression model was used. Finally the sustainable livelihood framework including the asset pentagon was used to assess the impact of dairy farming on livelihood pattern. The results of this study provide that after the intervention of the project, there is a significant fall in the percentage of the farmers engaging with farming and day labourer where there is an increase in the percentage of the farmers engaging with only farming. On an average, family male members spent about 5 hours a day on dairy cattle while the female members spent about 4 hours a day over the study areas. Percentages of farmers owning 20 decimal of land are increasing and percentages of farmers owning 10 decimal of land are decreasing in all the study areas. Inclination of animal ownership indicates that there was an increasing trend in the ownership of poultry birds, sheep and goats. Both milk yield and body weight gain were significantly (p<0.001) different before and after various veterinary interventions. Average total income had increased by 51% after the project intervention but it increased by only 16% in case of the controlled farmers. The highest 34% treated group’s dairy income level is Tk. 10001.00-15000.00 followed by 33% and 18% of dairy income level of Tk. 15001.00-20000.00 and above Tk. 20000.00, respectively of respondent farmers. Income and expenditure of the treated group increased by 51% and 33%, respectively whereas it was increased by 16% and 11% in the case of the controlled group. After the intervention, milk consumption had increased to 11 litres, 8 litres, and 12 litres per month, respectively in Sariakandi, Islampur and Belkuchi upazilas. Age in year, household income and breed of dairy cow have positive impact and household size in number and years of education of household head have negative impact on changes in income on livelihood status of the poor dairy farmers. The length of time spent (working days) had increased by 52.64 percent in the study areas. This study recommends that creating diversified job opportunities, ensuring educational facilities and expansion of group-based milk marketing system should be ensured for the betterment of dairy farmers in the Char areas of Bangladesh.