The research was conducted to examine the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of adopting water saving technologies (WST) and address its impact on enhancing the livelihood condition of the farming community in four districts of Bangladesh. A total of 480 farmers (80 from focal and 400 from control group) were surveyed from Mymensingh, Comilla, Bogra and Gaibandha districts for collecting necessary data and information. Profitability analysis revealed that focal farmers’ net return was almost 67.0 percent higher compared to that of control farmers. According to average productivity index, crop productivity of Boro rice for focal farmers was 31.7 percent higher in comparison with control farmers. The productivity grade was also high in case of focal farmers but it was of medium level in case of control farmers. The study revealed that applying WST in Boro rice production, focal farmers could save 12.7 percent more irrigation water than that of control farmers. It was experienced that water productivity of Boro rice in case of focal farmers was 0.153 kilogram per meter cube which was around 20.0 percent higher than control farmers (0.127 kilogram per meter cube). Most of the focal farmers (78.8 percent) experienced improved environmental quality after adopting WST. The study found that focal farmers’ income from rice crops was almost 6.0 percent higher than control farmers in the study areas. Difference-in-difference (DID) analysis indicated that focal farmers’ monetary income was increased significantly after adopting WST compared to control farmers. From German correlation sensitive poverty index (GCSPI), it was reflected that 51.9 and 62.6 percent focal and control farmers, respectively were deprived of all the index indicators of a single dimension or at a combination of the indicators across dimensions. On the contrary, 48.1 and 37.4 percent focal and control farmers, respectively were privileged of the indicators which implies a better livelihood condition of the focal farmers for adopting WST. SWOT analysis represented that increase in water productivity as major strength, less availability and access of machineries in the market as major weakness, savings of labour cost as major opportunity and environmental vulnerability as major threat of practicing WST by the farmers in the study areas. Considering the research findings, some crucial policy recommendations have been arisen which are: i) nourishment of farmers’ knowledge about water saving irrigation technologies; ii) arrangement of training programs by different local, national and international institutions; iii) regular extension contact from the view point of extension agents; iv) ensuring the availability of sufficient machineries in the market through import from abroad by the government; v) enhancing direct financial support as well as subsidy programmes by the government to the farmers; vi) accessibility of the farmers to institutional credit; and vii) restricting the overuse of groundwater and use of chemical fertilizers to protect the environment from being damaged.

The study was conducted to assess the prospects and challenges of hydroponic fodder production in Bangladesh. A total of 40 farmers were selected purposively from Kishoregonj and Jashore districts as sample for the study. A combination of descriptive, mathematical and statistical techniques was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that average household and farm size of the farmers were 5.0 persons and 0.48 hectare, respectively. Average annual income of the farmers was Tk. 92312, of which 56.1% income was from farming activities and 43.9% income was from non-farming activities. Majority of the technology adopting farmers (35.8% farmers) were within the late majority group. Profitability analysis showed that net return and benefit cost ratio of hydroponic fodder production were Tk. 5400 per decimal and 1.82, respectively. Farm size, farming experience, training and extension contact had significant impact on farmers’ adoption of hydroponic fodder production technology. Nutritional quality of fodder, high installation cost, medicinal value for human consumption and sensitivity to temperature were the major strength, weakness, opportunity and threat of hydroponic fodder, respectively. This fodder production technology is sustainable from the perspectives of energy use, environmental safety, economic viability and social/political equity. The study recommended that input support (especially seed), motivation, training programmes and extension services by different government and non-government organizations should be properly organized and implemented in town and water logging areas to raise the farmers’ awareness for the adoption of hydroponic fodder production technology.

The research was conducted to evaluate the impact of practicing conservation agriculture on farmers’ livelihood enhancement in five districts of Bangladesh. A total of 500 farmers (50 from focal, 200 from proximal and 250 from control group) were surveyed from Mymensingh, Bogra, Tangail, Sherpur and Jamalpur districts for collecting necessary data and information. Profitability analysis revealed that benefit cost ratio of focal, proximal and control farmers was increased to 2.58, 2.24 and 2.18, respectively from 2.07, 1.93 and 1.96, respectively after practicing conservation agriculture. According to Enyedi’s crop productivity index, crop productivity of focal farmers in response to the entire region was moderately lower compared to proximal and control farmers, but it was expected to increase in the next years of crop production if practicing conservation agriculture would be continued. It was evident from percentage perception index (PPI) that most of the focal farmers (58.0 percent) experienced improved environmental condition after adopting conservation agriculture. Probit regression analysis depicted that minimum soil tillage operation, permanent organic soil cover, and application of compost and vermicompost had significant influence on improving environmental quality. The estimates of logistic regression model showed that educational level of household head, farm size, farm income, extension contact and farming experience of the farmers were significant factors in explaining the variation in adopting conservation agriculture practice by the farmers. From multidimensional poverty index (MPI), it was reflected that 20.8, 41.8 and 44.6 percent focal, proximal and control farmers, respectively were deprived of all the index indicators of a single dimension or at a combination of the indicators across dimensions. On the contrary, 79.2, 58.2 and 55.4 percent focal, proximal and control farmers, respectively were privileged of the indicators which implies a better livelihood condition of the focal farmers for practicing conservation agriculture. SWOT analysis represented that increase in income for farmers, and market demand and opportunities were the major strength and opportunity, respectively; and scarcity of cowdung and price fluctuation were the foremost weakness and threat, respectively regarding practice of conservation agriculture. Problem confrontation index (PCI) depicted that the major problems faced by the farmers included lack of good quality inputs, high price of inputs, lack of knowledge on conservation agriculture practice, less production due to minimum tillage, lack of extension service, etc. Considering the research findings, some crucial policy recommendations have been arisen which are: input support and extension services should be properly implemented, and initiative for scientific and technical training programmes should be arranged by different government and non-government organizations to enrich the knowledge of the farmers on conservation agriculture practice.