A Profitabilty Study on Fodder Cultivation and Competing Crops in Selected Areas of Bangladesh Sayeed M. A., Rahman S. M. A., Alam J., Sarker N. R., Begum J. Bangladeash Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka-1341. Abstract The study was conducted on 6 different areas covering 300 fodder cultivating farmers with the objectives of analyzing the profitability of fodder and competing crops, marketing of fodder and their constraints to production. Results of the cropping pattern analysis showed that the highest income was accrued from standing fodder-based-cropping pattern, such as T. Aman + Potato + Napier; amounting to Tk 155284 in Rangpur, Potato + Napier; amounting to Tk 112955 in Munshigonj; T. Aman + Napier; amounting to Tk 84356 in Santhia, Khesari + Jumbo; amounting to Tk 41576 in Shahzadpur; Matikalai + Boro; amounting to Tk 24850 in Tangail and Matikalai + Boro; amounting to Tk. 23040 in Madaripur. Like-wise, the highest amount of income was accrued from harvested fodder-based-cropping pattern, like T. Aman + Potato+ Napier; amounting to Tk 170739 in Rangpur, Potato + Napier; amounting to Tk 161204 in Munshigonj, T. Aman + Napier; amounting to Tk 114606 in Santhia, Khesari + Jumbo; amounting to Tk 53856 in Shahzadpur, Matikalai + Boro; amounting to Tk. 38967 in Madaripur, and Matikalai + Boro; amounting to Tk 38211 in Tangail. The study further revealed that BCR for standing fodder sale for Napier, Baksha, Para, Khesari, Matikalai, Jumbo, Triticale and Maize were 3.45, 3.44, 4.90, 3.18, 3.73, 4.90, 0.83 and 1.93, respectively. Similarly, BCR for harvested fodder sale for Napier, Baksha, Para, Khesari, Matikalai, Jumbo, Triticale and Maize were 3.17, 3.72, 1.78, 3.86, 4.26, 2.06, 0.88 and 1.56, respectively. Marketing of fodder showed that per acre standing fodders were sold at Tk. 18000, Tk. 9750, Tk. 10000, Tk. 13500, Tk. 14125, Tk. 35000, Tk. 11950 and Tk. 23750 for Napier, Baksha, Para, Khesari, Matikalai, Jumbo, Triticale and Maize, respectively. The per acre harvested fodders were sold at TK. 103552, Tk. 63051, Tk. 32965, Tk. 25870, Tk. 26367, Tk. 29636 Tk. 7852 and Tk. 24375 for Napier, Baksha, Para, Khesari, Matikalai, Jumbo, Triticale and Maize, respectively. The major problems faced by the fodder-cultivating farmers were lack of training on HYV fodder cultivation techniques, unavailability of cuttings and seeds of different fodders. Therefore, it is suggested to provide training on HYV fodder cultivation techniques and also establish HYV fodder nurseries by the initiatives of the Government and NGOs so that the farmers may get cuttings or seeds of different fodders in time. Top Key words Standing fodder sale, harvested fodder sale, cropping patterns, profitability, BCR. Top |