Beef cattle fattening is a potential income generating enterprise for the small scale farmers’ in haor areas. Thus, the experiment was conducted with the aim to observe the effect of urea molasses straw for fattening bull and contribution to the income generation for small scale farmers in haor areas. The experiment was conducted at the Noagaon village under South Sunamganj Upazila of Sunamganj district from January to April 2017. Ten farmers were selected for rearing and each farmer reared one bull (2-3 years old) for fattening. Two groups of animals, treatment group treated with Urea Molasses Straw (UMS) in diet and control group without UMS supplementation, were laid out with five replications in each group. Data on body weight gain and profitability data were collected and analyzed as Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Feeding of urea molasses straw with the dietary feed had shown a positive effect on weight gain. After the end of the experimental period, mean body weight gain (g day-1animal-1) for the treatment and control group were measured as 496.41 and 236.62 g, respectively. The body weight gains of these both feeding groups were insignificant during the first fifteenth days of the experimental period, however, the difference was significant (p<0.05) for the rest of the experimental period. Moreover, higher gross margin was found in the treatment group (Tk. 14,310) than the control group (Tk. 3,810). Therefore, a significant growth performance with a profitable income for the small scale farmers’ of haor areas might be promising from beef cattle fattening by dietary urea molasses straw treatment.

Keywords: Bangladesh, body weight, profitability, dietary, farmers

This study is an effort to examine the effectiveness of SME loan of Rupali Bank Limited (RBL) through the adequacy, utilization and repayment of credit, profitability of SMEs and impact of loan among the borrowers. One hundred SME borrowers of the RBL in Mirpur area of Dhaka North City Corporation were randomly selected out of which 25 were from each of hotel and restaurant, beauty parlor, readymade garments and construction shop. Both tabular and econometric techniques were used to analyze the collected data. The study revealed that the construction shop owners’ saving were more satisfactory compared to other SMEs because of good earning capability. The adequacy and time requirement for getting loan were satisfactory which reflected RBL’s urge and sincerity to work in favor of small and medium entrepreneurs of the country. SME borrowers were found conscious about purposive utilization of loan money and their repayment performance was more or less satisfactory. Considering all SMEs together, impact of SME loan on family income was ranked the highest. Readymade garments’ cost was largest while it was lowest for the construction shop to obtain loan from the bank. Profitability of SMEs was moderate and the relationship between credit and profitability reflected the valuable contribution of credit in SME business. Corruption at loan sanctioning, lower productivity and contraction of market demand for the product were the major problems of SME financing. The RBL needs to apply flexible formalities and lower rate of interest for SME loans in order to bring effective impact among the borrowers.

Keywords: SME loan, loan adequacy, utilization, repayment, profitability, effectiveness

The present study was undertaken to analyze the relative profitability of dairy cows. The focus of the present study was to quantify the cost and returns and to explore the interrelationship of factors affecting yield, cost and net return. It also attempted to examine the rural employment and income generation potentials of dairy enterprise. Dairy farming was studied in 5 villages of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj district from the study areas sixty farmers were selected randomly, based on the availability of which 30 were local breed raisers and 30 were cross breed raisers. Dairy cow rearing was found to be a profitable enterprise. The per day total cost of rising per cross-breed dairy to be profitable enterprise- The per day total cost of rising per local breed and cross-breed dairy cow was estimated at Tk. 22.65 and 64.40, respectively. Feed cost was the largest single cost item of raising dairy cows. The estimated gross return per cow per day stood at Tk. 57.56 for local breed cows while it amounted to Tk. 229.76 for cross breed cows. In this study, the net retums per dairy cow per day were Tk. 17.62 and Tk. 134.55 for local breed and cross breed dairy cows, respectively. The average milk productions per day per cow were 1.25 litre and 5.60 litre for local breed and cross breed dairy cows, respectively. The study identified some crucial problems such as milk marketing problem, scarcity of feed and fodder, lack of improved breed, lack of veterinary care and services, lack of institutional credit and high price of concentrate feed. The major remedial measures as suggested by farmers is to assurance of supply feeds and fodder, veterinary care and services, supply of institutional credit at low interest, availability of concentrate feeds, improved breeding and marketing facilities. Finally following the summary of the study some policy implications are suggested and scopes for further studies are indicated.

Keywords: Dairy cow, cost, return, profitability, resource use efficiency

The estimation of profitability and to investigate the factors affecting the yield of bitter gourd production at Narsingdi district in 2013 was designed. The study area was selected purposively and a total of 100 farmers were randomly selected. The stochastic Cobb-Douglas production frontier model was used for estimating the factors that affecting bitter gourd production. The study used both descriptive and functional analysis to achieve the objectives of the study. The study divulged that bitter gourd production was profitable in the study areas. Average yield of bitter gourd was found to be 27.5 ton ha-1 and average gross return was Tk. 5,50,000 ha-1. Total cost of production was found to be Tk. 3,06,810 ha-1. Net return and BCR was found to be Tk. 2.43,190 ha-1 and 1.79, respectively. The functional analyses suggested that human labour, Urea, TSP, cow dung and irrigation had positive and significant effect on the yield of bitter gourd in the study areas. Among different constraints, attacked by insect and diseases, lack of quality seed and high price of input were dominant in the study areas. Necessary steps from the concern authority are essential to solve the problems regarding bitter gourd cultivation and to increase the production as well as the income of the farmers in the study areas.

Keywords: Profitability, Bitter gourd, gross margin, net return, BCR, Cobb-Douglas

This study was designed to determine the costs, returns and relative profitability of BR-28, BR-29 and Hybrid Hira rice production. A total of 90 farmers out of which 30 producing each were selected randomly from three villages of Nageswari Upazila of Kurigram district in Bangladesh. It revealed that cultivation of BR-28, BR-29 and Hybrid Hira was a profitable business from the viewpoint of farmers. Analysis of costs and returns showed that variable cost was found to be higher for BR-28 variety. The return per hectare above variable cost for BR-28 was found Tk 44764.26 while for BR-29 and Hybrid Hira variety, it was Tk 53290.24 and 64305.62, respectively. Total cost per hectare for BR-28 was Tk 92635.04 and for BR-29 and for Hybrid Hira variety, it was Tk 92464.07 and 86160.81, respectively. Return above total cost for Hybrid Hira was found higher than BR-28 and BR-29 varieties. Therefore, production of Hybrid Hira was found more profitable compared to BR-28 and BR-29. It was observed from Cobb-Douglas production function that most of the included variables had significant impact on rice production. The study also identified some problems faced by the farmers and they were more severe for the production of Hybrid Hira variety compared to HYV’s BR-28 and BR-29 varieties. The study, therefore, suggests for taking some measures to solve the problems in order to expand production of selected rice varieties in the study areas as well as other parts of the country.

Keywords: Rice, production costs, returns, profitability

The present study was undertaken to estimate the profitability and resource use efficiency under different farm size groups of maize production. In total, 65 farmers (30 small, 30 medium and 5 large) were randomly selected from five villages of Bogra district. Both tabular and statistical analyses were applied in this study. Cost and return analysis reveal that maize is a profitable crop for all categories of farmers. On an average per hectare total cost of maize production was estimated at Tk 46278 for all farmers and Tk 41263, 53554 and 48715 for small, medium and large farmers, respectively. Again, gross margins from maize production were estimated at Tk 67592, 64694 and 74089 for small, medium and large farmers, respectively. However, net returns for the farm size groups of small, medium and large were calculated at Tk 57823, 53895 and 64138 per hectare, respectively. BCR was the highest (2.40) for the small farmers followed by medium (2.01) and large (2.32) farmers, respectively. Cobb-Douglas production function analysis indicated that out of nine variables, the effects of using seed, manure, fertilizer, irrigation and insecticide had significant impact on gross return from maize production for all farmers. Efficiency analysis indicated that most of the farmers inefficiently used their inputs. The findings of the study revealed that large farmers earned higher profit than those of small and medium farmers. The study also indicated some problems and constraints of maize cultivation and suggested some recommendations to improve maize production with a view to increasing the household income and employment opportunities of the farmers.

Keywords: Maize, production costs, returns, profitability, resource use efficiency