Sustainability of Organic Vegetable Farming in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Organic farming is considered as a sustainable way to produce food for the world growing population. In Bangladesh, the preference for organic food is increasing and there is opportunity to grow more vegetables. But, it is argued that the expansion of organic farming practices has remained limited despite organic agricultural movement in the country since 1980s. Thus, the main objective of this study was to examine the sustainability of organic vegetables farming (OVF) in rural Bangladesh.  A cross sectional study was undertaken in five selected villages across the country where 60% of the OVF from the villages was sampled as respondents. The data was collected using semi-structured interview schedule. Frequency, percent, mean, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used in the analysis. Results reveal that the respondents were socioeconomically marginal. The average score of the sustainability measurement index of the economic dimension was 91/180 (moderate sustainably). The average score of the index of socio-territorial dimension was 124.75/180, so high sustainably. The Average score of the index of agro-ecological dimension was 154.25/180, also high sustainably. A positively weak significant association was obtained between education, farm size, farming experience, annual income and membership of association, and sustainability of OVF. On the other hand, the association between age and sustainability of OVF was negatively weak significant. The overall sustainability of organic vegetable farming (OVF) was moderate. Ensuring availability of organic pesticides, training and subsidy by agencies (GOs and NGOs) would go a long way to nurture the sustainability of organic farming in rural Bangladesh.

Keywords— Farming, Organic, Rural, Sustainability, Vegetables.