Abstract
Productivity and sustainability of farming systems in Bangladesh was examined to determine
the scale and effect of modern technology adoption between 1960s and 2000. Four Farming
Systems Research and Development (FSRD) and one Multilocation Testing (MLT) site in five
diversive AEZ with long record of technology use were selected as reference locations of the
study. Twenty modern technology adoption were reported by respondents till 2000. In 2000, the
reported contribution of technologies on yield/production was found 10 to 60 percent in different
crops, fruits, forest plant, fish, poultry, duck, cattle due to modern variety/new species/breed,
timely tillage and line sowing, chemical fertilizer, chemical biocides, irrigation and feed use. The
yield/production unit¹ had shown twice or more increase in grain crop, potato, mustard,
vegetable, fish pond, cattle milk and poultry meat in 2000 over traditional culture. Incase of
factor productivity, land/biological productivity was found increased in grain crop, mustard,
potato, vegetable, fish, poultry and cattle in 2000 over 1960s. A number of indicators were used
for measuring farming systems sustainability. One of which is diversity of farming systems,
firstly system or enterprise, remained same in studied environment friendly AEZ and increased
in environmentally limited AEZ; secondly number and size of species availability in system,
showed increase in vegetable, plants, total fish, domestic animals and birds in maximum AEZ,
increased area of grain crop, potato, mustard, vegetable, pond fish, poultry at the cost of other
species; thirdly varieties of species available showed increase in wheat, jute, potato, vegetable,
mustard, pond fish, except in rice in 2000 over 1960s. Ability of environmental risk aversion by
crops increased due to modern technology use. Regarding effects on environmental elements
respondent identified four elements (soil, water, plants and animals) affected by 7 primer and 23
intermediate causes. However, only half of these intermediate causes were found directly
related to modern technology use in agriculture. Again, farmers observed that soil hardening,
structure damage and low soil fertility recovered after two crop season following, green
manuring and by adding organic materials. The per cent of total demand met from agricultural
produce in 1960s and in 2000 ranged from 15-65 and 50-127 in grains, potato, vegetable,
spices, onion, duck, poultry in majority AEZ, respectively. Food substitute used in 1960s ranged
from 6 to 14, reduced to 0-1 in three AEZ and 4/7 in rest two AEZ in 2000. Poor farmers in 2000
were found living more days on principal food with less half fed days. All these are the sign of
reduced poverty line and better food security. The more remunerative crops in 1960s were rice,
jute, mustard, vegetable and in 2000 mustard, potato, vegetable, fish. The respondents were
found in favour of modern technology use in future.