COMMERCIALIZATION OF BETEL LEAF CULTIVATION BY THE FARMERS OF WAZIRPUR UPAZILA UNDER BARISHAL DISTRICT

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Betel leaf cultivation may helps the farmer with regard to farm income and medicinal value. In this context, the objectives of the study was to determine the extent of commercialization of betel leaf cultivation by the farmers and to explore the contribution of the selected characteristics of the betel leaf farmers to their commercialization of betel leaf cultivation. The study was conducted in the Wazirpur upazila under Barishal district. One hundred and two (102) betel leaf growers were selected randomly from a total of 746 growers of four villages of Wazirpur upazila under the Barishal district. A structured interview schedule was developed based on objectives of the study for collecting the data. The researcher himself collected data through personal contact. Commercialization of betel leaf cultivation by the farmers was dependent variable and 10 selected characteristics of the farmers was treated as independent variables. Data collection was started in 15 November, 2020 and completed in 10 December, 2020. Among the respondents, the majority (71.57 percent) of them had high commercialization of betel leaf by keeping very small portion for family consumption. Moreover it was observed that 87.24 percent of betel leaf growers had high to very high level commercialization of betel leaf. The statistical analysis exposed that educational qualification, extension media contact of betel leaf farmers and knowledge on betel leaf cultivation had significant positive relationships with the commercialization of betel leaf farmers. The findings may be helpful to formulate a better policy towards increasing the commercialization of betel leaf cultivation.