MERITS AND DEMERITS OF ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE AND MODE OF ITS ADOPTION IN BANGLADESH*

Abstract

he main purpose of stusdy was to discuss about the merits and demerits of ecological agriculture and to determine its mode of adoption in Bangladesh. Attempt was made to search internet. available books. journals and printed materials from different sources of home and abroad during the period from June 2004 to October 2008 and it was revealed that there was on going debate in favour of and against ecological agriculture as it has many merits and demerits. For determining the mode of adoption of ecological agriculture in Bangladesh. data were collected from a sample of 144 ecological farmers drawn from a population of 478 ecological farmers of six Area Development Centers (ADCs) of Proshikha with the help of a pre-tested interview schedule during the period from February to August. 2006. Findings revealed that more th:1I1half (52.12 per rent) of the total lands of the respondent farmers were cultivated by the mixture of ecological and chemical practices compared to 47.66% of the total land of the farmers were cultivated by absolute use of ecological agricultural practices and only 0.22% of the total land of the fanners were cultivated by absolute chemical inputs.