Mishkat Marziya

Department of Geography & Environment

University of Dhaka

E-mail: marzia_du@yahoo.com

Agricultural Pattern of Rasulpur Village (Gazaria Upazila)

(Rabi Season)

Agriculture is the science and practice of producing crops. The other sub-sectors of

agriculture are livestock, poultry, fish & fisheries, & forest & forestry. The agriculture

of Bangladesh largely depends on the amount and distribution of the rainfall i.e. the

southwest monsoon, which comes during June-October.

Cropping pattern is a spatial and temporal arrangement of crops within a cropping

year, largely determined by physical, biological, and socio-economic factors. There

are three cropping seasons (Rabi, Kharif-I or Pre-Kharif, and Kharif-II) during a year

in Bangladesh. A large number of cropping patterns are generally practised in

Bangladesh, depending on the crop production environment which is greatly

influenced by land type, soil texture, flooding regimes, rainfall (amount and

distribution) and resource base of the farmers. Some dominant cropping patterns

under variable crop production environments are as follows:

Table 1: Some dominant cropping patterns under variable crop production environments.

  Rabi Kharif-I Kharif-II

Rainfed

condition

Wheat/Potato/Pulses/Oilseeds/Sugarcane Boro

Aus/Jute

Fallow

Irrigated

condition

Wheat/Boro/Wheat/Potato/ Tobacco/Vegetables Fallow T

Aus

T Aman

Fallow

General description of Gazaria Upazila

Gazaria upazila is situated at the eastern part of Munshiganj district. The upazila is

bounded by Sonargaon & Homna Upazilas on the north, Matlab upazila on the

south, Daudkandi upazila on the east, Munshiganj Sadar, Sonargaon Upazila & the

Meghna River on the west. It is situated between 23029’ & 23036’ North latitude &

90034’ & 90043’ East latitude. The upazila has an area of 130.92sq.Km.

(50.56sq.mile).

Figure 1: Gazaria upazila

Administrative Unit

Gazaria thana was established in 1954 & was turned into an upazila in 1983. It

consists of 8 union parishads, 114 mouzas & 133 villages (Population Census-

2001).

Climate

Climate is sub tropical. Hot weather is from March to May, Southwest monsoon from

June to September, Northeast monsoon from October to December) and winter from

December to February.

Gazaria upazilla receives an annual average rainfall of 1169 to 2850 mm, the most

of which come from southwest monsoon. The rains normally begin in the second

week of June and lasts till September (Southwest monsoon), which marks the main

growing season (locally known as Kharif). The month of July is when the area

receives most of its rain. The second rainfall occurs in October-November. Winter

starts in December and lasts till March (locally known as Rabi season) and crop

production is through small irrigation. No or very little rainfall is expected during this

period.

Table 2: Average Temperature of Gazaria Upazila (2000)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average

Temperature

(0C)

18.8 21.6 26.1 28.7 28.8 28.8 28.6 28.7 28.7 27.3 23.7 19.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average Temperature of Gazaria Upazila (2000)

Month

Aver

age

Tem

pera

ture

0C

Chart 1: Average Temperature of Gazaria Upazila (2000)

Main occupations

Agriculture 37.05%

Agricultural laborer 17.2%

Wage laborer 2.28%

Fishery 4%

Commerce 13.75%

Service 12.10%

Transport 1.71%

Others 11.91%.

Population

According to the Population Census of 2001, Gazaria upazila has a population of

13810 with a growth rate of 0.73.

1981 1991 20010

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Growth rate of population of Gazaria upazila(1981-2001)

Year

Gro

wth

ra

te

Chart 2: Changing growth rate of population of Gazaria upazila(1981-2001).

Soil

The area is covered with different soils. As per soil structure, three types of soil are

in the Gazaria upazila. Figure 2 shows the soil group of the study area. Heavy

clayey soil prevails over the major part of the study area. Light clayey soil occupies

the second position in the area, while Heavy loamy soil prevails over a smaller area.

Figure 2: Soil classification map of the study area - Gazaria upazila

Literacy

Average literacy 53.8%

Male 57.4%

Female 50.1%

Agriculture

Agriculture is the main activity in the study area. The main food grains grown include

potato, maize, pepper, onion, mustard, winter vegetables, etc. Sugarcane and a

variety of other pulses are also grown. These crops are grown either under irrigation

or rain fed or both.

The area is characterized by two growing seasons. The main growing season starts

in November and ends in April (Rabi). The main source of water for crop production

is the moisture stored from wet monsoon. The second growing season starts in June

and last until September (Kharif).

Land use

Cultivable land 7430 hectares, fallow land 24 hectares; single crop 45%, double crop

45%, triple crop 10%. Cultivable land under irrigation 29%.

Photograph 1: Photograph of potato field.

Photograph 2: Photograph of mustard field.

Land control

19% are landless

37% small peasant

28% intermediate

16% rich

Cultivable land per head 0.057 hectare.

Methodology

Data are collected from secondary & primary sources. Secondary data are collected

from Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI), Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics

(BBS), and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). The primary data are

collected from the plot to plot observation of Rasulpur village. Excel & Arc GIS

software’s are used in study for producing tables, charts & digitizing maps.

Observation

Rabi is the driest season for agriculture in Rasulpur village. During the field survey, it

was found that potato is the main commercial & dominant crop of Rasulpur village in

the rabi season. Because of its high productivity & high price in the market, potato is

grown more than the other crops. Moreover the soil & climatic condition in rabi

season are best for potato cultivation. Beside these IRRI, mustard & wheat are

cultivated.

Table 3: Number by type of holdings & land use.

MauzaAll

holdings

Agricultural

labor

households

Operated

area

Cultivated

area

Net

irrigated

area

Net fertilized

area

Rasulpur 623 127 335 273 40 205

Source: BBS (2001)

Table 4: Agricultural Land Use according to Percentage (%).

Agricultural Land Use Percentage (%)

Fallow 0.68

IRRI 4.44

Mustard 7.85

Potato 83.62

Wheat 3.41

Total 100

Source: Field Survey (2011)

1%

4%8%

84%

3%

Percentage(%) of Agricultural Land Use of Rasulpur village

FallowIRRIMustardPotatoWheat

Chart 3: Agricultural Land Use according to Percentage (%)

Reference

Agro-climatic survey of Bangladesh(1975), IRRI, Manila.

Population Census – 2001Community Series, ZIla: Munshiganj; Bangladesh

Bureau of Statistics.

Census of Agriculture (1996), Zila Series- Munshiganj; Bangladesh Bureau of

Statistics.

Upazila Nirdeshika Series- 411(2002), SRDI, Dhaka, Bangladesh.