Abstract:
The study was conducted to explore the farming practices followed by the farmers in char areas (sandbars
that emerge as islands) of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh, and determine their livelihood status
considering natural calamities. A total of L20 farmers were selected randomly for data collection. Data
were analyzed with a combination of descriptive statistics, mathematical and statistical techniques. The
results of the descriptive statistics showed that majority of the farmers were engaged in crop-livestock homestead and agroforestry [C-L-HA) farming system (52.5o/o). Profitability analysis reveals that crop,
livestock and poultry were found profitable under crop-livestock-poultry [C-L-P) farming system. The
differences in productivity of agricultural enterprises between char land and main land were found
significant in most of the cases. Food security indices indicated that 68.0% households were food secure
[average ca]orie intake 2268.9 kcal) and remaining 32.00/o households were food insecure (average calorie
intake 1882.4 kcal). Livelihood framework analysis revealed that livelihood status of the char dwellers
incorporating farmers' asset possession, activities and strategies, well being, and external policies and
institutions was improved by their production practices. Applying severity ranking model (SRM) and
agreement index (AI), river erosion, flood, cyclone and drought were found most frequent in the study
areas that caused severe damage to respondents' cultivable land, assets, agricultural enterprises and basic
necessities. The study recommended that input subsidy and output price support, and social safety net
programmes should be properly implemented by the government to protect the char dwellers in crisis
period and enhance their livelihood condition.
