The present study was done to examine the employment and income generation of small farmers through family poultry. The objectives of the study were to identify socio economic features of family poultry, to examine the impact of family poultry on household improvement, to determine cost, return and profitability of family poultry, to identify the problems faced by family poultry farmer and for its improvement. The data were collected from 90 family poultry farms from Sadarupazila and Trishalupazila of Mymensingh district through face to face interview. The result of the study shows that, the average gross return, gross cost and net return of family poultry farms were Tk. 7314.84, Tk. 3698.90 and Tk. 3615.94 respectively. The Benefit cost ratio was 1.98. Therefore, family poultry farm is highly profitable. The study also determined the impact of family poultry production on livelihood of poultry farmers. The income of 60% poultry farms has increased and for savings, it was 32%. The physical assets (agricultural tools and furniture and equipment’s) of poultry farms have improved by 57% and 27% respectively. Sanitation, drinking water facility and medicinal facility of poultry farmers were improved by 26%, 18% and 37% respectively. It is also found from the study that the livelihood of 38% poultry farmers was improved through family poultry production.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(2): 247-254, December 2015

In Bangladesh, attention to women empowerment through agricultural technology adoption is not new, but it has not always been acted upon accordingly. This study attempts to carry out an investigation through using both quantitative and qualitative research tools to examine the extent of women's technology adoption in agriculture and their consequent empowerment attainment in selected villages of Mymensingh sadar. To achieve the objectives of the present study, necessary data were collected by using simple random sampling technique, the study selected total of 60 women respondents. The quantitative analytical tools employed to attain the specific objectives included various descriptive statistical measures, perception index and women empowerment index by adoption technology. The results of perception index analysis indicated that majority had moderate to high favorable perception on greater extent of women's engagement in adoption agricultural technology among which may had low to moderate favorable perception on consequent empowerment attainment. The findings show that almost in all cases, decision was taken jointly by male and female. It is very satisfactory case that decision is taken by female alone particularly in the cases purchase of agricultural equipment, maintenance of agricultural equipment, motivating to use agricultural technologies, selling of old machineries. The value of average women empowerment score is 1.81, which is below from the average empowerment score 2.

The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of aquafarming on rural communities particularly on the fishermen in terms of socio-economic condition in some selected area of Muktagacha upazila in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. For collection of data through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools with a well-structured questionnaire from July to December, 2017 a total of sixty fishermen were selected randomly. Twelve livelihood aspects of fishers were selected and Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to evaluate the changes of socio-economic status. The findings of the study revealed that through aquaculture majority of the respondents about 58.3% moderately changed their livelihood status, while 31.7% reached higher level and only 10% of the respondents were under lower level. Out of twelve selected livelihood aspects seven were positively correlated but four of them had no relationship with their changing livelihood pattern through aquafarming. The survey identified that fishermen faced various problems such as social, economic and technical. Mostly lack of capital, illiteracy on fish farming, unawareness on health, vulnerability and few institutional supports were the main constraints in their upliftment. The findings of the research revealed that aquafarming resolutely contributing for the development of socio-economic condition of fishers in the explored area and recommended that GOs, NOGs and stakeholders should take more steps for sustainable development.

This study analyzed the gender role in agricultural activities with respect to the change of technologies and determine their implications for improvement of household status in Netrokona district. The study followed the simple random sampling technique to select 300 sample respondents for household survey through the semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis such as, number and percentages, was used. Multiple regressions used in order to explore the relationship between the income and other factors. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques were utilized. Women perception index (WPI) was measured using rank ordered approach. The findings showed that there has been significant change occurred with the livestock rearing activities which are 116.79% after adoption in new technology. According to this study, male are involved in decision making in the following activities as reported by the respondents: sale of produce (84%), purchase and repair (78%), weed control (70%), land preparation (76%), spraying (65%) and planting (51%), where women respondents reported that they are mostly involves in harvesting 89%, processing 81%, manuring 48% and weed control 59%. Our research also shows that 78% and 73% of men have owned small equipment and thresher, Ox-plough, and power tiller where women own only 21 percent, 2 percent, and 5 percent respectively. It is evident that the perception regarding farming with adoption of new technology attain highest score and 2nd highest ranked perception is technical training on technology, similarly the 3rd ranked occupied is adoption in HYV where last rank score on use of indigenous technology. It means that most of them prefer modern technology in terms of productivity. The experience on modern technology of respondents has a positive coefficient and it was 0.492. Given these facts, our research has explained what keeps women’s rates of modern agricultural technology adoption low.

This study attempt to identify the factors which influence in rural women income after participating small scale agricultural farming, their contribution to the household as well as their empowerment status. The research has conducted in three villages of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Total 75 respondents (women) from three villages of Trishal Upazilla selected purposively. The qualitative data were collected by conducing FGDs, KIIs and Case studies with purposively selected in the study area. The qualitative analytical tools used to attain specific objectives included various narrative, descriptive and continent analysis. Based on the qualitative analysis it showed that women participated in agricultural faming mainly to increase income and to enhance self-respect. Their income from this had brought remarkable positive change in their life and they had better control over their decision and income. These results relate directly to the common rural women’s everyday experience and facilitate an understanding of complex real-life situations. This study reveals the information of the status of women in their family, their decision making ability, their contribution in family income, their status as a member of different groups like NGOs and other social groups which altogether reveal their empowerment status. Finally their active economically participation in small scale farming assist them to overcome prejudice, socio-economic barriers and highest empowerment attainment in the context of Bangladesh.

Lemon (lebu) cultivation, a minor fruit production activity, is increasingly becoming popular among the marginal peasants. The present study aimed at exploring the potentials of lemon production and its impact on the changes in the livelihood pattern of the rural farmers as well as its impact on women empowerment. Based on qualitative and quantitative data collected from Mymensingh district in Bangladesh in 2015, this paper argues that life and livelihood of the citrus producer has significantly changed over the last decade. Income from the sale of lemon is the principal livelihood means and gender non-differentiated participation in the production process further enhanced the sustainability of the livelihoods. It also contributed to employment generation for those who are not directly involved in the lemon cultivation such as power tiller driver, irrigation pump driver, fertilizer & pesticide retailer, small lemon collector, lemon supplier in the study area. Moreover, increased participation of women in the citrus cultivation has changed not only their economic well-being but also social status, honor, planning and decision making power, and self-esteem. This study also shows that marginal and vulnerable poor women including landless women, female member of women headed household and widows significantly benefited from citrus cultivation. Yet, lack of cooperative society, financial support, credit facility, technical support, storage facility and marketing support are identified as the potential problems to achieve a sustainable growth of lemon production activity.