Cooperative rice farming within rural Bangladesh. Issue 1 (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Milovanovic, Vladimir; Smutka, Lubos
• Is Part Of: Journal of co-operative organization and management. Volume 6:Issue 1(2018:Jun.)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Smallholder cooperatives -- Food security -- Rice farming -- Farm mechanization; Cooperative societies -- Management -- Periodicals; Cooperative societies -- Periodicals; Cooperative Behavior -- Periodicals; Cooperative societies; Cooperative societies -- Management; Periodicals; 658.04705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcom.2018.03.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-297X

Abstract

Highlights: Rice farming in Kurigram Sadar is characterized by community-supported agriculture. Farming practices of Kurigram Sadar farmers are labor intensive and inefficient. Over 80% of Kurigram Sadar farmers would participate in cooperative farming. Mechanization could lead to substantial production increases and cost savings. Government support and regulation are crucial for reviving cooperative movement. Abstract: It is often questioned whether cooperative agriculture by smallholder farmers can replace individual agriculture. This paper draws on a case study of rice farming in Kurigram district, Bangladesh, and provides insight into cooperative rice farming and potential of mechanization. Various cooperative practices (e.g. group rice harvesting and threshing) have been collectively adopted and used by small-scale rice farmers in Kurigram Sadar ever since the Liberation War of 1971. Rice farming in Kurigram Sadar is characterized by informal community-supported agriculture, which is both labor intensive and inefficient. Agricultural mechanization and institutionalized cooperative farming can reverse the situation and indirectly contribute to food security. Applied scenarios demonstrate potential benefits of cooperative farming, ranging from an estimated 12.6% rise in rice production due to reduced post-production losses and 41.5% increase due to intensified cropping to 92% cost savings through labor substitution. Kurigram Sadar rice farming is of great relevance to other parts of rice-growing Bangladesh as well, as most of the country is dominated by smallholder farmers employing similar agricultural practices.