Discrepancy of Adopting Cropping Patterns between Beneficiary and Non-Beneficiary of Agricultural Extension Programs Conducted by NGO

Abstract

The southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh is hardly suitable for agriculture due to high salinity, drought and shortage of soft irrigation water. The study aimed to identify the different climate-resilient cropping patterns, assess the impacts obtained due to the various extension services, find the causes of adopting resilient cropping patterns and figure out the problems faced by the farmers during adoption. A total of eighty-two (41 NGO-beneficiary and 41 non-beneficiary) respondents were selected randomly. In the study area, most beneficiary farmers practiced ‘Fallow-T.Aman-Vegetable’ while most non-beneficiary farmers practiced ‘Fallow-T.Aman-Fallow’. The cropping intensity of beneficiary respondents (214.8%) was higher than non-beneficiary respondents (176%) and also the benefit-cost ratio was higher (3.67) than non-beneficiary (3.13). Both beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers' agricultural knowledge was high (92.7%). Beneficiary respondents mentioned ten causes for adopting climate-resilient cropping patterns among which the most important was ‘crops are less prone to natural disasters’ (index 87.32%) where most of the non-beneficiary respondents (99.51%) notified the cause as ‘an increase in cropping intensity as they adopt it by observing the benefits obtained by the beneficiary farmers. Soil salinity is the major problem among fifteen problems for both respondents when adopting a climate-resilient cropping pattern while no farmers were found to face no problem. Thus, from the above findings, it might be concluded that the NGO beneficiaries are receiving ample extension benefits which should be nurtured and improved by the government.