CONTRIBUTION OF HOMESTEAD AGROFORESTRY PRACTICETOWARDS REDUCING POVERTY OF JALOKATHI DISTRICT

Abstract

Homestead Agroforestry is an important consideration for socioeconomic development in our country and also all over the world. Systematic Agroforestry practice is being popular day by day in Jalokahti district of Bangladesh. Considering the situation, the present study aims to contribution of homestead Agroforestry practice towards reducing poverty of Jalokathi District and explore the contribution of the selected characteristics of the homestead farmers on homestead Agroforestry practice. Data were collected by purposive random sampling method of 60 respondents from 350 farmers of three villages of Jalokathi union of Jalokathi Sadar upazila under Jalokathi district by using a pretested interview schedule during the period of 15 June 2017 to 15 December, 2017. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16. Findings indicated that near about half (48%) of the respondents had high knowledge on homestead production and high Agroforestry contribution (household income) (52%) to reduce poverty under managed Agroforestry. Unmanaged Agroforestry also contributed to reduce poverty (77% with medium household income) but lower than managed Agroforestry system. Out of 8 selected characteristics of the respondents, educational qualification, homestead size, current housing condition, current household assets, current sanitation system and knowledge on Agroforestry had positive significant relationship with Contribution of homestead Agroforestry (i.e. household income) towards reducing poverty. The rest of the variables namely: age and family size did not show any significant relationships with Contribution of homestead Agroforestry (i.e. household income) towards reducing poverty.