Abstract
Though conservation agriculture is currently being practiced to varying degrees in different
countries of the world but it is an initial stage in Bangladesh. The conventional agriculture has
made the production cost much higher but yield is decreasing day by day. The purpose of this
study was to document the adoption status of CA based cropping systems and their impact on
profitability at farm level of Bangladesh. The study was conducted at two Upazilas namely,
Durgapur in Rajshahi District and Baliakandi in Rajbari District. The study was guided by three
specific objectives which were: to determine adoption status and the factors influencing
adoption of CA technology of selected cropping pattern; to examine production practices and
changing profitability of selected crops with the adoption of CA technology and to determine
the financial rate of return on investment in 2-WPT operated CA tillage technologies (VMP &
PTOS). The research design was a simple random sampling with a sample size of 240 farmers
and purposively selected 60 service providers followed by household servey.The data collection
tools were a semi structured interview schedule; case studies; focus group discussion and key
informant interviews. Descriptive statistics (number, mean, standard deviation and
percentages) and inferential statistical analyses (logit model, profitability analysis, ANOVA
model, financial and sensitivity analysis) were done, using STATA 12 and MS Excel software.
The results of the study shows most of the CA adopters were low level adopter under VMP and
PTOS which were 48.33% and 46.67%, respectively according to number of CA technology
practices. The adopters were adopted more area in Rabi season under VMP and in Kharip I
under PTOS compared to other two seasons which were 21.77% and 23.62%, respectively. The
results also revealed that strip tillage was practiced more compared to other conservation tillage
practices. Results from the logit model showed that education; farm size, availability of service
provider and training on CA had significant and positively related to adoption of CA
technology. In profitability analysis gross margin and net return was higher in case of VMP and
PTOS adopters compared to conventional farmers in selected crops. The study results also
showed BCR over total cost of VMP and PTOS adopters were higher than that of
conventional farmers. The study also reveals that among these six crops lentil was more
profitable than that of mustard, jute, T. Aman, wheat and maize under VMP and PTOS adopters.
The ANOVA model concluded that though crop production was profitable under both the
adopters (VMP& PTOS) compared to conventional farmer but VMP adopters were better than
PTOS adopters. Thus, there is a huge scope to increase production of different crops under VMP
in High Barind region. According to financial analysis both the CA tillage technology (VMP
&PTOS) are profitable. But sensitivity analysis indicates that if gross benefit decreases by 20%
and O & M cost increases by 20% VMP owners could earn profit but PTOS owners earn profit at
opportunity cost level and are making loss also. The result of sensitivity analysis clearly
indicates that O & M cost, gross benefit and subsidy has a strong influence on the profitability
of service provider of CA technology. From the case studies results it was concluded that in
spite of some problems, CA technology practices are potentials for both the farmer and service
provider in Bangladesh. In order to further expansion of CA technology the Government,
NGOs, research institute and respective Manufacturer Company should come forward.
Accordingly, build up mechanism to make available CA tillage technology and its
implementation with subsidized price to the service providers and farmers.