VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ON THE DYKES OF BRACKISH WATER GHERS: STATUS AND CHALLENGES

ABSTRACT: The embankments (Dykes) of the shrimp farms (Ghers) have been taken under vegetable production which deserves to be expedited for further implications. The aims of the study were to identify the status and problems of vegetable production on dykes in brackish water Ghers along with its impact on food security. Data were collected from purposively selected 67 respondents following accidental random sampling of the Dacope upazila of Khulna district in Bangladesh from July to November, 2017. The average area of the dykes was 8.89±4.69 decimals, and the average width was 1.73±0.34 m. The dykes were prepared either by spading or by preparing pits. The farmers grew vegetables in Kharif-2 season (July 01 to October 15). The farmers usually grew 16 types of vegetables as mixed crops, among which bitter gourd was dominant followed by cucumber and pumpkin, following two cropping patterns: vegetable-fallow-fallow and vegetable-vegetable-fallow. The cropping intensity was 162%. The majority of the respondents harvested vegetables four times. In terms of yield, the tomato (60 t ha-1) was dominant, followed by brinjal (57.09 t ha-1) and cabbage (55.41 t ha-1). The dykes are occupying an area of 4,149.75 ha which would be able to produce 1, 04,438.83 tons of vegetables. Twenty-nine associated problems were identified, among those “rats attack” was the most severe problem. The confronted problems should be overcome through appropriate measures, and a typical model should be developed through research for dyke vegetable production to make it more resilient and profitable.

Keywords: Dyke vegetable production, status, food security, and problems.