STUDY ON CITRUS BIODIVERSITY AT HOMESTEAD LEVEL OF JAINTAPUR UPAZILA IN SYLHET DISTRICT

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the status of citrus biodiversity and their relative prevalence in the homestead area of Jaintapur Upazila in Sylhet District, during 3 July to 25 November 2013. Sixty local people from six Unions were interviewed to investigate the status of citrus biodiversity and their relative prevalence in the study area. It also explored the relationships between the selected characteristics (independent variables) namely age, education, family size, homestead land size, farm size, number of trees in homestead, problem confrontation during citrus cultivation, total annual income, annual income from citrus, training participation, organizational participation, socio-economic aspect and number of citrus species in homestead (dependent variable). Correlation analysis indicates that five selected characteristics of the farmers namely homestead land size, number of trees in homestead, total annual income, annual income from citrus and socio-economic aspect showed significant positive relationships with the diversity of citrus species, while no such significant relationship was observed with age, education, family size, farm size, problem confrontation and organizational participation of the farmers. Training participation of the farmers had negative relationship with the diversity of citrus species but not significant. A total number of 15 citrus species were recorded from the studied homestead areas. Among these tree species the most prevalent species was Zara lebu followed by Ada jamir, Komola lebu, Kagzi lebu, Batabi lebu, Deshi lebu, Kurun jamir and Elachi lebu. The highest number of citrus species was found in Charikata Union followed by Fatehpur, Chicknagul, Jaintapur, Darbasta whereas the lowest number of citrus species was identified in Nijpat Union. Sorbati lebu (Citrus limmetta) and Deshi lebu were identified as endangered while Kolombo lebu and Pati lebu as critically endangered species of citrus. Kot lebu, Tuna lebu and Sulang lebu are extinct from the study area. On the other hand Zara lebu (Citrus medica), Ada jamir (Citrus assamensis), Kata jamir (Citrus jambhiri), Kurun jamir (Citrus aurantium), Elachi lebu (Citrus limon), Kagzi lebu (Citrus aurantifollia), Komola lebu (Citrus sinensis) are found in safe condition as they are grown commonly in most homestead of study area.