Determinants of productivity and problems associated with betel leaf cultivation in Sylhet region of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study aimed at evaluating the determinants of productivity of betel leaf cultivation among the farmers of two districts namely Sylhet and Moulvibazar administered under Sylhet division, Bangladesh. A total of 80 respondents were selected as the sample using multistage random sampling technique for achieving objectives of the study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire during the month of March, 2020. Based on the objective’s descriptive statistics, ANCOVA and stepwise regression model were employed to analyze the data. The study found that, most of the farmers of betel leaf were followed their indigenous knowledge and technology to cultivate betel leaf. ANCOVA and stepwise regression model were employed to identify the factors as well as their impact on betel leaf production. The study identified the factors that significantly influenced the productivity of betel leaf farming i.e. the involvement of marketing agreement, access to training, access to irrigation, amount of cow dung applied and land area under betel leaf cultivation. The study also confronted some problems associated with the betel leaf cultivation like excess rainfall during peak season, insufficiency of irrigation water, disease attacks and low price of betel leaf. Therefore, this study provide essential information that can be used by the growers, scientists, exporters, policy makers to increase the productivity of betel leaf cultivation in the future. This study will build a foundation for further research based on the present background.