This research shows how the renowned Cement producing industry could cause minor environmental manipulation all around the factory area although they might partially use both agricultural and unproductive land. The land quality around the factory is not appreciable for farming in an extended way. The nutrients could be restored in the long term process, but it will cause a lot of cash which is not feasible for poor farmers. So for rehabilitation of this area, after collecting clay in a bi-yearly rotation system, the factory authority may deliver the inputs to the corresponding farmers for aquaculture and help to improve single crop growing lands by delivering natural green manure. A brief and specific sustainable clay collection plan and criteria for selecting land and subsequent activity describes in this study. This plan should be followed for ensuring long-term sustainable clay supply within minimum environmental cost.

Keywords: Sustainability, Clay mineral, Nutrient, Yield, Farm friendly Industrialization

This research work was conducted to assess the livelihood status of the Khasia tribe and their perception of the impact of the social safety net programs (SSNPs) on their livelihood assets. A total of 120 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire from Gowainghat and Jaintiapur of Sylhet District. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Descriptive statistics and a sustainable livelihood framework, ‘Asset pentagon’ were used for data analysis. The household-level livelihood assessment reveals that the annual average income of the agricultural household (Tk.106346.67) was higher than the average annual non-agricultural household income (Tk.79250.98). Again, the average annual expenditure of the agricultural household (Tk.96039.44) was higher than non-agricultural household (Tk.55921.04). However, the savings of non-agricultural households (Tk.23329.94) were higher than agricultural households (Tk.10307.67). In analyzing the livelihood pattern using different asset categories, the study reveals that SSNPs had significantly improved educational facility (77.5%), medical facility (50.8%), social group participation (56.7%), self-managerial ability (59.2%), social accessibility (52.5%), cash in hand (41.7%), and cash in the bank (46.7%) in the study area. The study recommends SSNPs such as vulnerable group feeding (VGF), vulnerable group development (VGD), widow allowances, and disability allowances for more effective support. These findings will be supportive of improving the livelihood condition of the Khasia tribe as well as other indigenous communities and disadvantaged groups of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Livelihood, Khasia tribe, Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs), Sustainable livelihood framework.

This research aimed to assess the fish biodiversity and present status of the Dholai river in Companigonj Upazila under Sylhet district. A semi-structured questionnaire survey was used to gather the relevant information from 64 fishers from November 2019 to April 2020. This research identified 56 fish species under 21 families and ten orders. The most dominant order was Cypriniformes 32.14%, following Siluriformes 28.57%, Perciformes 14.28%, Channiformes 7.14%, Synbranchiformes 5.36%. The species availability status was observed in four categories and achieved as 17 species of commonly available (30.36%), 14 species of moderately available (25%), 17 species of less available (30.36%), and eight species of fishes were rarely found available (14.28%). A total number of five nets, one trap, one hook, and a line were recorded. The peak amount of mean Catch per Unit effort (CPUE) in the current jal was 3.67±1.50 kg/day, and the lowest was in borshi at 0.09±0.01kg/day. The highest diversity index value was 2.55 in January, and the lowest was 1.21 in April, with a mean value of 1.98±0.05. The peak richness index value was 2.76 in January, and the lowest was 1.79 in April, with a mean value of 2.36±0.1. The peak evenness value was 0.73 in January, and the lowest value was 0.41 in April, with the mean evenness value 0.61±0.05. The peck amount of fish production was in January as 478±70 kg/day, and less value was in March at 109±12 kg/day. The local fishermen identified several threats to fish biodiversity, fish habitat, and fish production of the Dholai river. The establishment of the fish sanctuary, control of river pollution, minimizing exploitation of sand and rock, conservation of angling gears ever, and maintaining fisheries rules and regulations will be effective for the conservation of fish biodiversity of the Dholai River.

Keywords: Fish biodiversity, Assessment, Dholai river, Bangladesh

The focus of the study was to determine the extent of problems perceived by fish farmers in using modern fish production technology. Data were collected from randomly selected 40 farmers of eight villages of Rajanagar union under Derai Upazila, Sunamganj district using a pre-tested interview schedule from 4 September to 20 September, 2020. Through FGD with the fish farmers, 10 problems were identified. A 4-point rating scale was used to ascertain the severity of each problem, where “3” indicated a “very severe problem”, “2” for “severe”, “1” for “less severe” and “0” for “not at all severe problem”. Results revealed that the overwhelming majority (85%) of the fish farmers had medium to a high problems with adopting modern fish production technologies, while only 15% had low problems. The major perceived problems were the high price of fish feed, lack of supply of quality fish feed, lack of a system for ensuring a reasonable price of fish at the local market, lack of proper understanding of the use of modern fish production technology, and lack of sufficient capital for fish farming for which only 24% of fish farmers adopted ‘Thai Pungus culture’ followed by 17% Thai koi culture, 15% Pabda culture, 14% Tengra culture and 10% Carp culture- despite having all potentials to be adopted by farmers. Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient (r) showed that education, farm size, extension media contact, and knowledge of farmers had a significant negative relationship with their perceived problem in using modern fish production technology.

Keywords: Fish farmer, Modern fish production technology, Problems, Haor

An experiment was carried out in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh to identify seed yield potentials of four lablab bean genotypes – namely, SB010, SB003, BP003, and IPSA Sheem-2 are grown in the winter season. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The genotypes differed in various morphological and seed yield attributes. Among the genotypes, the highest number of dry pods per plant was recorded in SB010 (155.50) followed by IPSA Sheem-2 (91.30), whereas the lowest was observed in SB003 (68.30). The number of dry seeds/pod was almost similar among the genotypes, ranging from 4.93 (IPSA Sheem-2) to 4.73 (SB010). The highest seed yield was recorded from the genotype SB010 (1.75 t/ha) followed by BP003 (0.90 t/ha), while it was the lowest for the genotype of SB003 (0.52 t/ha). Therefore, the genotype SB010 would be recommended further for the regional seed yield trial.

Keywords: Seed yield, Lablab bean, Winter season

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) process is important for sustainable land resource planning and management. Among different MCDM techniques, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is popular for its simplicity in use as well as it offers complex unbiased decisions. A GIS (Geographical Information System)-based AHP is essential for land-use suitability analysis. The AHP is a trusted decision-making method proved with a mathematical formula that has multi-purpose utilities. It provides an opportunity to select important alternatives among numerous factors along with proper ranking. It also maintains consistency among the factors using the sensitivity analysis. The limitations of the AHP are that the expert’s opinion may vary for the time being, and it always follows straight models. Nevertheless, the AHP could be used by scientists, land-use planners, and land policymakers for suitable land selection with a view to sustainable land management.

Keywords: Analytical hierarchy process, Land suitability assessment

The focus of the study was to determine the knowledge of the farmers about modern techniques of pineapple (Ananas comosus) production in hilly areas. For doing so, 13 questions were constructed on various yield enhancing aspects of modern pineapple production, including selection of quality sucker to the uses of hormones, and identifying the exact symptom of harvesting in the pineapple field. Data were collected from randomly selected 75 respondents of three villages – namely, Radhanagor, Mohazerabad and Lakhai of Sreemangal upazila, Moulvibazar district using pre-tested interview schedule from 1 September to 2 October, 2020. A score of 2 was given for each correct answer, 1 for partially correct answer and 0 to each incorrect answer. Thus, the score obtained for 13 questions represented the knowledge score of any respondent. Results revealed that about 57% of the pineapple growers had medium knowledge of modern method of pineapple production, while 28.0% had low and only about 15% had high knowledge in this regard. However, an overwhelming majority (87%) of them had strong knowledge about maturity symptoms of fruits, the majority (53%) had clear knowledge about Giant Kew and Honey Queen-two modern varieties of pineapple, and 51% could flawlessly answer the modern planting methods in terrace, about 48% correctly answered planting time, sucker number and sucker qualities for plantation. In comparison, 79% of the respondents did not know major diseases and pests of pineapple and their remedies. They (76%) had no clear ideas about irrigation requirements and their determining factors. About 60% of the respondents had either partially correct or inadequate knowledge of hormone applications. Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient (r) indicated that age (0.265*), educational qualification (0.447**), annual income (0.238*), experience of pineapple cultivation (0.479**) and communication exposure (0.766**) were found to positively significant relationship with the knowledge of pineapple growers, while family size (0.091), farm size (0.176), land area under pineapple cultivation (0.140), credit received (0.129) had no significant relationship.

Keywords: Farmers' knowledge, Pineapple