Md Abdur Rahman-Al-Mamun¹, Kamrun Naher Azad², Motia Gulshan Ara³, Jannatul Fatema⁴, Zoarder Faruque Ahmed¹ and Mst Kaniz Fatema¹

¹Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
²Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
³Department of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602
⁴International Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IIAST), Rangpur-5400, Bangladesh

An informative study was carried out on 30 shrimp farmers of Shyamnagar upazilla in Satkhira district, situated in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. The study was conducted to evaluate the livelihood analysis of the farmers based on progressive shrimp farming. The findings showed that majority of the respondents (56.67%) were dependent on shrimp farming and others involved in some subsidiary occupations like business, agriculture, service etc. The annual incomes of major shrimp farmers (56.67%) were 50,000-2,00,000 BDT, 23.33% were 2,01,000-5,00,000 BDT and rest 20% were 5,01,000-  20,00,000 BDT, respectively. The findings revealed that livelihoods of all farmers in the study area had improved by practicing extensive shrimp farming.  Most of them uplifted their living status by ensuring some housing (50%), drinking (90%), electricity (73.33%), sanitary (56.67%), medical (100%) and banking (73.33%) facilities. In addition, majorities of them also increased their expenses on children’s education (80%), health management (56.67%), and purchasing entertainment equipment (63.33%). In contrast, the expenses on buying cattle or other animals decreased (56.67%) showing their livelihood mainly depends on shrimp farming.

Keywords: Shrimp, Farming, Livelihood.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: kanizfatemafm@bau.edu.bd (MK Fatema)

How to cite this article: Mamun MARA, Azad KN, Ara MG, Fatema J, Ahmed ZF and Fatema MK (2019). Impact of progressive shrimp farming on farmers livelihood in southwestern region of Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 01-06.

Yamin Ara Khatun¹, Md. Nuzrul Islam², Md. Abdur Rahman³

¹National Institute of Advance Nursing Education and Research (NIANER), Bangladesh
²Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Bangladesh
³Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahanginagar University, Bangladesh

Adolescent is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood. It is an important segment of life .Evidence has shown that adolescents and youth in Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to health risks, especially in the area of reproductive health. They need proper direction and considerable confidential care during this time. This descriptive cross sectional study aimed to examine therural mothers’ awareness of reproductive health needs and care for their adolescent girls in selected rural areas from Sadar Upazila of Dinajpur district, Bangladesh. It was hypothesized that mothers’ awareness on reproductive health needs and care of their adolescent girls would have significant association with their adolescent girls’ reproductive health (RH) condition. The technique of purposive sampling method was applied to recruit 225 rural mothers who had adolescent girls. Data was collected by face to face interview with a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed with statistical package for social science (SPSS). The awareness was assessed by Likert scale. Most (91%) of the participants were Muslim and 73.3% was house wives. Significant statistical association was found between awareness of reproductive health needs and mothers’ educational level, number of child, number of family member as well as monthly family income. Based on the finding rural mothers’ awareness of RH needs and care for their adolescent girls was far from satisfactory level. These findings may be considered as baseline information and can benefit the policy makers and programme planners in developing further strategy to increase the rural mothers’ awareness of reproductive health needs and care for their adolescent girls.

Keywords: Mothers’ Awareness, Reproductive, Health, Adolescent Girls.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: yaminbd92@gmail.com (Khatun YA)

How to cite this article: Khatun YA, Islam MN and Rahman MA (2019). Rural mothers’ awareness of reproductive health needs for their adolescent girls. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 07-12.

Nusrat Jahan Methela¹, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam¹, Mamun-Al-Munsur², Md. Habibur Rahman²

¹Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali – 3814, Bangladesh.
²Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh – 2202, Bangladesh

The investigation was conducted at the Horticulture Farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, Bangladesh during the period from 2015 to 2016 to determine the performance of stem pruning on the growth and yield of tomato variety, Ratan. The experiment consisted of three treatments- no pruning, two stem pruning and three stem pruning laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The shoots had significant effects on the plant height of two and three stem pruning over no pruning. Number of flowers, fruit length, fruit diameter were significantly higher in double stem pruning over triple stem pruning and no pruning. Number of fruits per cluster, number of ripe fruits per plant, individual fruit weight, fruit weight per plant and fruit yield per plot were higher in double stem pruning followed by triple stem pruning over no pruning. Moreover, double stem pruning had higher yield (57.16 t/ha), afterwards triple stem pruning (54.55 t/ha) over no pruning (49.77 t/ha).

Keywords: Tomato, Stem pruning, Growth & Yield.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: shafik.ag@nstu.edu.bd (MS Islam)

How to cite this article: Methela NJ, Islam MS, Munsur MA and Rahman MH (2019). Growth and yield performance of tomato by stem pruning. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 13-18.

Md. Shamsul Alam¹, Md. Abdur Rahim², Sima Panahi Rad³, Sadia Afrin⁴

¹Horticulture Division, Bangladesh Institute of nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.
²Department of Horticulture, BAU, Mymensingh, Mymensingh- 2202, Bangladesh.
³Department of Horticulture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴VDB Project, Horticulture Division, Bangladesh Institute of nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh-2202. Bangladesh.

The study was undertaken by the problem of late planted garlic in Bangladesh and similar tropical regions where production is only possible during the short cool winter period after which rapid increase in temperature as well as humidity adversely affect the growth. A experiment  were carried out to  assess the effects of different levels of nitrogen and potassium on growth and yield of two lines of garlic under dry land condition at BAU, Mymensingh in order to develop suitable variety (ies) and optimum doses of N and K get high yield and to overcome the stated adverse situation. The present research was carried out at the Alliums field laboratory, Horticulture Farm and laboratory of the BAU-Germplasm Centre, Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from 2016-2017). The 3-factor experiment had 4 levels of nitrogen (Factor A), 4 levels of potassium (Factor B) and 2 garlic lines (Factor C) as follows –Factor A: 4 levels of nitrogen N₀ : 0 kg N/ha     (urea : 0 kg/ha; 0 g/plot); N₁ : 75 kg N/ha (urea : 166.66 kg/ha; 24 g/plot); N₂ : 125 kg N/ha (urea : 277.77 kg/ha; 41.66 g/plot);N₃ : 175 kg N/ha (urea : 388.88 kg/ha; 58.33 g/plot); Factor B: 4 levels of Potassium (K₂O at 0, 50, 100, and 200 kg/ha) ;K₀ : 0 kg K₂O/ha (M.P : 0 kg/ha; 0 g/plot); K₁ : 50 kg K₂O/ha (MP : 83.33 kg/ha; 12.49 g/plot); K₂ : 100 kg K₂O/ha (MP : 166.66 kg/ha; 20 g/plot); K₃ : 200 kg K₂O/ha (MP : 333.33 kg/ha; 40 g/plot) and Factor C: 2 Garlic lines: G₂ and G₁₉. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications using 20cm×10cm plant spacing. The size of a unit plot was 1.5m×1m accommodating 96 plots. The total number of plants per plot was 75. Planting date of the lines was 9 Nov., 2016 and harvesting date was 28^th March, 2017The three-factor experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Unit plot size: 1.5m × 1m, Plant spacing: 20 cm × 10 cm; Total number of treatments: 4×4×2=32; Total number of unit plots: 32×3 = 96; Total number of plants per plot = 75, Date of planting: 9 Nov.2016 and Date of harvesting: 28 March, 2017. The results revealed that the plant height, number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of bulb, length and diameter of bulb, total number of cloves, yield per plot and yield per hectare were significantly influenced by the treatment of the experiment under study. Results showed that Garlic line G₁₉ produced the highest yield in all the studied parameters under dry land condition. The highest yield was recorded from the maximum dose of nitrogen (175 kg/ha). Potassium also showed good effect on yield, and the maximum yield was obtained from the maximum dose of potassium (200 kg/ha). There was significant interaction effect of garlic lines, different doses of nitrogen and potassium on bulb yield per plot as well as per hectare. The maximum yield per plot (2.74 kg/plot) and per hectare yield (18.25 t/ha) were recorded from garlic line G₁₉ x 175 kg N/ha x 200 kg K₂O/ha and the minimum (1.70 kg/plot) and (11.31 t/ha) from garlic line G₂ x 0 kg N/ha x 0 kg K₂O/ha respectively.

Keywords: Dry land, Garlic, growth, Nitrogen, potassium, Yield.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mithuhort@yahoo.com (MS Alam)

How to cite this article: Alam MS, Rahim  MA, Rad SP and Afrin S (2019). Effects of nitrogen and potassium on growth and yield of two lines of garlic under dry land condition. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 19-30.

Md. Shajahan Kabir¹, Sadika Sharmin¹, Gauranga Chandra Shaha²

¹Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
²Market Facilitator (MF) World vision, Bangladesh

The main purposes of the study were to assess the extent of participation of rural women in agricultural activities at Jinaigati upazila under Sherpur district and to explore the roles of the selected variables of the rural women and their extent of participation in different agricultural production.  Data were collected from randomly selected 65 respondents during the period of September to October, 2018. Appropriate scales were used to measure the variables of the study. Correlation(s) test was used to ascertain the relationships between the concerned independent variables and dependent variable. Based on the empirical results from the OLS analysis the findings can be presented in such a way that education of women, farm size, experience, and training received, of agricultural farming has significant impact on rural women income by the involvement of women through small scale agricultural production in the selected areas. Women are preferred to discuss with their male counterpart about their farm management activities. Respondents have more decision making process such as cash management, travel and recreation, children’s education, voting in election, post harvest operation, use of money after selling and so on. The computed PCI of the 6 problems ranged from 376 to 348 against possible range from 0 to 465. Thus, the PCI of individual problem could range from 0 to 465, where 0 indicating ‘no’ problem confrontation and 465 indicating ‘high’ problem confrontation. It might be concluded from the gist findings that, the participation of women in homestead vegetable production is still not satisfactory and necessary steps concerning extension approach should be taken to increase the vegetable production by ensuring barrier-free participation.

Keywords: Rural women, agriculture development.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mskabir786@gmail.com (MS Kabir)

How to cite this article: Kabir MS, Sharmin S and  Shaha GC  (2019). Rural women roles in agricultural development activities at  Jinaigati Upazila of Sherpur  District. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 31-38.

Md. Ripul Kabir¹, Ayesha Seddika², Mamunor Rasid³

¹Sociology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
²Department of Sociology, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
³Mass Communication and Journalism Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

The objective of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic status of the tobacco factory workers of Rangpur district. Survey research design was carried out to investigate the study. Random sampling technique was used to collect data from 80 tobacco factory workers. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed and data were collected from October to December, 2017. The study reveals that more than 57 percent respondents were in the age between 34 to 53 years and most of them were illiterate and Muslim. It’s also evident that they were involved with others works beyond their main occupation. There also remained a positive association of socio-demographic factors of the workers with their daily income (F-27.058 where-P<.000). They were discriminated in earnings and by gender and sometimes they were to face embarrassing situation. Their entertainment also went with higher income level (p<.001). All kinds of discrimination and embarrassing situation they visage should be eliminated from the working atmosphere.

Keywords: Socioeconomic, status, tobacco, discrimination, harassment.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mrkabirku03@gmail.com (MR Kabir)

How to cite this article: Kabir MR, Seddika A and Rashid M (2019). Socioeconomic Analysis of Tobacco Factory Workers of Rangpur District in Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 39-45.

Md. Moniruzzaman¹, Md. Saiful Islam¹, Saymuna Tarin Lupa¹, M. N. Hossen¹, Sonia Sku¹, Md. Ariful Islam²

¹Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh-2201, Bangladesh
²Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

The main objective of the study was determining the present status of fish fauna and socio-economic conditions of the 80 fishermen in Chikli River, Saidpur district during January 2016 to July 2016 by using questionnaires, field visit and interviewing with the fishermen. The results indicated that about 27 species of fish fauna were found in Chikli River, among them 23 species were indigenous and 4 species were exotic. Major dominant species were Rui (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Bata (Labeo bata), Kharsa (Labeo angra), Shingi (Heteropeneustes fossilis), Taki (Channa punctatus), Shol (Channa striatus), Magur (Clarias batrachus), Tengra (Mystus tengara), Tengra (Mystus bleekery), Chanda (Chanda nama), Mola (Amblypharyngodon mola), Mola (A. microlepsi), Darkina (Rasbora rasbora), Boal (Wallago attu), Kakila (Xenentodon cancila) in the study area. During the study period two critically endangered (Puntius sarana, Pangasius pangasius), three endangered (Labeo bata, Ompok pabda, Channa marulius) and four vulnerable (Chanda nama, Salmostoma phulo, Channa orientalis, Notopterus notopterus) fish species were found in the Chikli River. Assessment of socio-economic condition of fishermen showed that fishermen belonged to the age groups ranged from 27 to 67 years with an average of 47.39 year. Fishermen of 52.5% were middle aged and 36.2 % old aged having age above 51 years and 11.3% of them belonged to young age category. Level of education of the fisherman ranged from 0.5 to 12 years of schooling having an average of 5.53. The present study suggested that fishermen communities should be educated by creating awareness for the proper conservation, management and enhancement of biodiversity in the Chikli River.

Keywords: Fish fauna; Socio-economic condition; Chikli River.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: monirenvsc@gmail.com (M Moniruzzaman)

How to cite this article: Moniruzzaman M, Islam MS, Lupa ST, Hossen MN, Sku S and Islam MA (2019). Assessment of fish fauna and socio-economic condition of fishermen in Chikli River. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 46-53.

Mohosena Begum Tanu, Md. Saiful Islam, Arun Chandra Barman, Sonia Sku, Md. Nazmul Hossen, Shishir Kumar Dey

^{Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Mymensingh-2201, Bangladesh}

A study was conducted from June 2016 to July 2017 to determine the current status of pearl producing mussels in Meghna river of Bangladesh. To complete this study thirteen sampling site along the Meghna river region (Meghna Ferry Ghat, Kuliarchar, Char Monoharpur, Kumilla-Lanch Ghal, Rasulpur Ferry Ghat, Gazaria-Launch Ghat, BFRI Fishing Ghat, Haimchar, Char Alexander, Ramgati Meghna Ghat, Char Maksumul Ferry Ghat, Kajir bazar, Hatiya bazar) were visited. The study was conducted to identify pearl producing mussels and factors driving the changes of mussel’s diversity and distribution in Meghna river. A total of five species of musels were identified belonging two families where as four species were pearl producing mussel. Unionidae was found the most dominant order of the total mussel’s population. Among five species of mussels two species were recorded as threatened in Meghna river while Parreysia corrugata found as vulnerable and another species Lamellidens phenchooganjensis found as endangered. To collect the mussels different gears and crafts were usually used in the study area. Highest numbers of mussels were collected by moiyajal. Available species of mussels L. marginalis, L. corrianus, Parreysia corrugata, L. phenchooganjensis and Meretrix meretrix were collected by the fishers in Meghna river. Most of them were found all the year round but winter is the best season (October to December) to collect the mussel easily. The highest and lowest weight was recorded 200g and 80g of the mussel name Lamellidens marginalis and Meretrix meretrix respectively.

Keywords: Freshwater mussels,Pearl, Meghna river, Water quality, Distribution.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: msi.89p@gmail.com (MS Islam)

How to cite this article: Tanu MB, Islam MS, Barman AC, Sku S, Hossen MN and Dey SK (2019). Pearl producing mussel diversity and distribution in Meghna river of Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 54-59.

Mst. Farhana Yasmin and Mohammad Zakaria

Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh

An investigation was conducted in the experimental field of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur to find out the effect of planting time and density of top shoot cuttings in potato production. There were three planting times (P₁ – 25, November, P₂ – 05, December and P₃ – 15 December) and three plant spacing ( S₁ – 50 X 10 cm, S₂ – 50 X 15 cm and S₃ – 50 X 20 cm)  to evaluate the economic benefit. The treatment effects were found significant in most of the characters studied. The plants of early planting (25, November) produced higher foliage coverage (70.94 %), plant height (66.16 cm), number of branches / plant (4.40), number (6.57) and weight (208.90g) of tuber per plant and yield (27.80 t / ha). The higher plant density (closer spacings) increased the foliage coverage (64.77 %), plant height (52.76 cm) and yield (22.73 t / ha) while wider spacings increased the plant vigor (6.00), number of branches / plant (3.58), number of tuber / plant (5.62). The plants grown from early planted top shoot cuttings with closest spacing produced highest foliage coverage (73.73 %), plant height (69.20 cm) and per hectare yield (30.73 t / ha). The plants of early planted top shoot cuttings produced the higher percentage of medium and large tubers irrespective of spacings.

Keywords: Planting time, Spacing, Potato.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: chaityth@yahoo.com (Mst. Farhana Yasmin)

How to cite this article: Yasmin MF and Zakaria M (2019). Effect of planting time and density of top shoot cuttings in potato production. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 60-69.

Arun Chandra Barman, Mohosena Begum Tanu, Mohammad Ferdous Siddique, Sonia Sku, Abu Rayhan, Yahia Mahmud

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Mymensingh-2201, Bangladesh

In order to establish appropriate culture techniques for non-nuclei (rice) pearl production, a study was conducted from July 2014 to June 2017 with net bag hanging method and grazing method at Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Pear was produced by inserting certain number of tissue slices in freshwater mussel Lamellidens marginalis. Earthen pond was used for stocking operated mussels (80/decimal). Different water quality parameters viz., Temperature, Dissolve oxygen, pH, Ammonia, Alkalinity, Calcium, Phytoplankton and Zooplankton were monitored and observed within normal range. After three years of culturing, survival rate of operated mussels in grazing method was found higher (42.1%) than in net bag hanging method (40%) but pearl production rate was higher in net bag hanging method (43%) than in grazing method (39%). Accumulation of nacre layer of produced pearl was found 3.14±0.2mm with high and medium shiny luster in net bag hanging method whereas, in grazing method, nacre layer was 3.76± 0.2mm with medium and low shiny luster. The study showed that both in view of pearl production rate and shining of luster of produced pearl, net bag hanging method gave better result than grazing method.

Keywords: Pearl, Lamellidens marginalis, Mantle tissue, Mussel, Nacre.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: aruncbt@yahoo.com (AC Barman)

How to cite this article: Barman AC, Tanu MB, Siddique MF, Sku S, Rayhan A and Mahmud  Y  (2019). Maximizing pearl production in freshwater mussel (Lamellidens marginalis) against tissue slices. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 70-77.

Rounok Jahan¹, Md. Abdul Mannan², S.M. Dheloar Hossain³, Imdadur Rahman⁴, Hazrat Ali Khan⁵, Md. Zakir Hossain⁶, Mosharaf Hossain⁷

¹Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
²ACI Motors, Dhaka
³Janata Bank Limited, Dhaka
⁴Bangladesh Police, Dhaka
⁵Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, Dhaka
⁶Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Rajshahi
⁷Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur

Most of the developing countries like Bangladesh import this machinery from industrialized countries. As a result, most machinery is expensive and their operating cost is higher. If these machineries could be manufactured locally these might be adapted to our agro-ecological zones, are of lower price and moreover, local manufacturing companies would promote employment facilities as well as poverty alleviation. The present study was conducted to know the status of small scale agricultural machinery produced my local manufacturers in Mymensingh region. The study demonstrated that there were major problems in the promotion of local Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Workshops are lack of capital, infrastructure, skilled personal, bank loan complexity, electric supply problem, lack of technical knowhow, unequal demand, storage, credit, marketing, insufficient use of public media for creating awareness among the farmers, absence of government initiatives, seasonal demand of agricultural equipments etc. The facilities of all the manufacturing workshops are not sufficient. Maximum employees have no academic certificate or training from any institute. There is no Agricultural engineer in any workshops in the study area. However government should promote these workshop for quality production agricultural machineries by taking appropriate strategies and supports.

Keywords: Agricultural Machinery, Small scale, Manufacturer, Bangladesh.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: zakzuberi@gmail.com (AC Barman)

How to cite this article: Jahan R, Mannan MA, Hossain SMD, Rahman I, Khan, HA, Hossain MZ and Hossain M (2019). Present status of small scale agricultural machinery manufacturers of Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 6(1): 78-86.