ECONOMIC STUDY ON LENTIL AND MUNG BEAN PRODUCTION IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Lentil and mung bean have been playing very crucial role to ensure food and nutrition security in Bangladesh. Presently, more than two-third of its annual demand are fulfilled by overseas imports. Besides proper utilization of domestic resources, to achieve self-sufficiency, national production enhancement of these pulses has been emphasized. This study was conducted in Madaripur and Faridpur district of Bangladesh to estimate the financial and economic profitability of lentil and mung bean cultivation and to assess its comparative advantage in domestic production. Required primary data for this study were collected from 120 respondents during March to April, 2021. To analyze data, descriptive statistics and policy analysis matrix (PAM) were applied. Findings of the study reveals that per hectare yield of lentil and mung bean were 1.22 and 0.81 metric ton (MT), respectively. Financial analysis shows that the net return of lentil and mung bean production were Tk. 41497 and Tk. 24626 per hectare with a benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 1.66 and 1.63, respectively. The economic profitability of lentil and mung bean production were Tk. 17001/MT and Tk. 13396/MT, respectively. Domestic resource cost (DRC) analysis reveals that both the lentil (DRC = 0.66) and mung bean (DRC = 0.72) had a comparative advantage in domestic production for import substitution. Policy analysis matrix under import parity price suggests also that government policies were favourable to the domestic producers. Findings of the ratio indicators under import parity condition (NPCO, NPCI, EPC and PCR) further show that existing policy environment tends to protect the interest of the lentil and mung bean producers at production level. So, numerous policy supports are there for the producers. For further achievement, government should strengthen the ongoing input and output supports. Input market monitoring, farmers awareness rising, technology oriented training and further research for successful adoption of pulse crops in between the rice based cropping patterns are also warranted.