Md. Fakhrul Islam¹, Mohammad Shadiqur Rahman¹, Md. Rajib Sharker²

¹Department of Fisheries, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University, Melandah, Jamalpur-2012,  Bangladesh
²Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh

The present study was conducted at three fish markets in Jamalpur based on existing fish marketing systems to explore the marketing activities, fish distribution channel and constraints associated with fish marketing. The marketing chain from farmers to consumers passes through a number of intermediaries such as, local fish traders (paikers), suppliers, wholesalers and retailers. Questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Based on the survey of 75 traders (25 in each market) from the three different markets in Jamalpur, the average daily supply of fish in Sokalbazar (Anandaganj Bazar, Jamalpur sadar), Melandah and Islampur markets were estimated approximately at 3.5-4,1.5-2 and 2-2.5 tons respectively. Nearly most of the fish (75%) was imported from outside and only 25% fish was locally supplied. The price of fish depends on market structure, freshness, species quality, size, supply and demand of fish in the market and it was found that the price of carp increases with increases in size. There was seasonal variation in prices where highest in summer (April to June) and lowest in winter (October to January) during the fish harvesting season. However, lack of cold storage facilities, insufficient ice supply, poor water supply, exploitation by middlemen, poor transport system, inadequate drainage system, high transportation cost, poor sanitation facilities and inadequate infrastructure were reported to be the major constraints which hindering the marketing system in the surveyed areas.

Keywords: Fish marketing, Marketing channel, Constraints, Jamalpur, Bangladesh.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: fakhrul022@gmail.com (Md. Fakhrul Islam)

How to cite this article: Islam MF, Rahman MS and Sharker MR (2021). A study on fish marketing system in Jamalpur, Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 01-07. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4783324.

Afroza Islam Lipi

Department of Local Government and Urban Development, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

F-commerce (Facebook and commerce) is the key mechanism today for empowerment of women in a digital platform. Nowadays, Facebook is not only a medium of social contact, but also a booming sector for women in conducting online business. This study aims at exploring the benefits of F-commerce as a new digital platform by which women empowerment can be enhanced. The study also considers the integrated digital platform F-commerce to be utilized for online business activities to assess the economic empowerment of women in Bangladesh. Further it aims to explore the measures to accelerate online business activities as well as increase empowerment which can create a successful F-commerce marketplace. This study is mainly depended on qualitative and descriptive analysis.  Both primary and secondary sources of information are collected. The primary data derived from the open-ended interactive virtual interviews of women who operate online business using the digital platform F-commerce. Available books, journals, documents, newspaper, data, report and magazine articles are reviewed in detail as a secondary source of information. The research findings revealed ultimate results for the benefits, and opportunities, challenges and way forward measures in the F-commerce sector for enhancing empowerment of women. This study also finds out the reasons behind women’s participation and barriers they have to face in F-commerce.

Keywords: Women, Empowerment, F-commerce.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: afrozaislamlipi@gmail.com (Afroza Islam Lipi)

How to cite this article: Lipi AI (2021). Women in F-commerce: a booming sector for women empowerment in Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 08-14. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4840607.

Ibrahima BADIANE¹, Mouhamadou Amadou LY¹, Jean FALL², Justin KANTOUSSAN¹, Robane FAYE¹

¹UFR des Sciences Agronomiques de l’Aquaculture et des Technologies Alimentaires, Université Gaston Berger, Sénégal
²Institut Universitaire de Pêche et Aquaculture, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Sénégal

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fishmeal substitution with Moringa oleifera flour leaves in the diet of juveniles Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus, 1758). Nile tilapia with an average weight of 1.5 ±0.2 g was used in this study. Three hundred (300) juveniles were randomly selected and stored in 15 aquariums of 27.3 L for 60 days. Five (5) isoproteic diets (30 % of proteins) containing different levels of Moringa oleifera’s flour leaves (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 %) noted respectively R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄ and R₅ were tested in triplicate. Water physico-chemical parameters were monitored daily throughout the experiment. Fish were fed 8% of their biomass six (6) times per day (8am, 10am, 12pm, 14pm, 16pm and 18pm). The juveniles were weighted each two weeks and growth parameters were calculated. At the end of the experiment, the pH of the water in the five (5) treatments was between 6.8 and 7.1, the temperature was between 20.7 to 27.3ºC and the dissolved oxygen was between 75.3 and 80.3%. The survival rate ranged from 77 and 87 % and showed that M. oleifera’s flour leaves did not have a negative effect on the survival of the juveniles. The best growth performances and feeding efficiency were obtained with the 25% substitution diet of fishmeal with Moringa oleifera (R₂), followed by diet R₁, R₃, R₄ and R₅. In conclusion, the result of this study shows that it is possible to include up to 20% Moringa oleifera leaf meal in the diet of juveniles of O. niloticus, without compromising their growth. This substitution also reduces food production costs and therefore improves farm profitability.

Keywords: Feeding, growth, Moringa oleifera, Oreochromis niloticus.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mamaly90@hotmail.com (Mouhamadou Amadou LY)

How to cite this article: Ibrahima BADIANE, Mouhamadou A LY, Jean FALL, Justin KANTOUSSAN and Robane FAYE (2021). Producing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on feed supplemented Nebeday (Moringa oleifera) leaves. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 15-23. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4887022.

Mohammad Mahbub Islam¹, Arifur Rahman², Farzana Zarin Eivy³, Md. Mahmudul Hasan⁴, Md. Junaied Alam⁵, Md. Imran Hossain⁶, Muhammad Monoar Hossain Khan⁷, Md. Anayet Husain Topeder⁸, BadrunNahar⁹, Md. Moklesur Rahman⁸, Partha Sarathi Das¹⁰, Md. Mosaraf Hossain¹

¹Research Associate, Land Zoning Project, Ministry of Land, Dhaka
²Quarantine Entomologist, Plant Quarantine Wing, Department of Agricultural Extension, Khamarbari, Dhaka
³Department of Agriculture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalgonj
⁴Deputy Director (Research and Training), Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali
⁵Upazilla Agriculture Officer, Department of Agricultural Extension, Senbag, Noakhali
⁶MS Student, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
⁷Deputy Director, Tambulkhana seed production farm, BADC, Faridpur
⁸Junior Monitoring and Reporting Specialist, Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project, Department of Agricultural,  Extension, Ministry of Agriculture
⁹Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Government Tolaram College, Narayanganj
¹⁰Lecturer, Department of Fisheries, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University, Jamalpur

An on-farm experiment was conducted at the farmer’s field from September 2011 to January 2014 at Narsingdi district which is an ideal location of central terrace ecosystem of Bangladesh. The research was aimed to evaluate the agro-economic performance of eggplant grown under 10-25 years old jackfruit trees using five treatments covering agroforestry (four orientations) and traditional farming (open field) considered as control for crop cultivation. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Each jackfruit tree was considered as a unit plot for a single replication. The earlier established jackfruit orchard was transformed to multistoried agroforestry system. Jackfruit trees were considered as upperstoried crop; lemon, sweet orange, mandarin and papaya were established as middlestoried crops; and eggplant were grown as lowerstoried crops. At lowerstorey light availability on eggplant was 30.81%. Vegetative growth in terms of plant height, plant stem diameter and SPAD value and yield of eggplant were higher in open condition (control). Among different orientations, yield of eggplant were better at south and poor at north orientation in both the years. Soil moisture was higher in agroforestry system than control treatment but soil temperature was higher in control treatment than agroforestry system. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) for jackfruit-eggplant based multistoried agroforestry system was 4.63 and 5.26, in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The land equivalent ration (LER) for jackfruit-eggplant based multistoried agroforestry system 1.80 and 1.83 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Keywords: Eggplant, Lowerstoried, Agroforestry system, Terrace ecosystem.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mahbub229@gmail.com (Mohammad Mahbub Islam)

How to cite this article: IMM Islam, Rahman  A, Eivy FZ, Hasan MM, Alam MJ, Hossain MI, Khan MMH, Topeder MAH, Badrun Nahar, Rahman MM, Das PS and Hossain  MM (2021). Agro-economic performance of eggplant as lowerstoried crop in jackfruit based multistoried agroforestry system in terrace ecosystem of Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 24-36. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4904773.

Trishna Roy, Md. Ruhul Amin, Md. Kamal Uddin Sarker, Farha Anjum Tapu, Md. Nazmul Huda

Department of Agricultural and Industrial Engineering, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur-5200, Bangladesh

Harvesting is one of the most important agricultural and horticultural operations. In Bangladesh, mango harvesting is done traditionally by shaking, plucking with bamboo, picking by hand, by climbing on the tree and from the ground using bamboo stick. The traditional manual harvesting is very labor intensive and thus expensive. There are some risk factors such as the mango could be physically damaged when fall to the ground, sometimes it may fall on the people under the tree and cause accidents. Sometimes people fall from the tree on the ground and cause accidents and even die. This work concerns the development a simple manually operated mango harvester. Two different prototypes of the harvester was designed and manufactured. One is telescopic using different diameter stainless steel pipe and another fixed height using aluminum pipe. The harvester consists of cutting tool, spring, clutch wire, clutch, wheel, pipe and collecting net. The main mechanism used in this concept was simple braking mechanism for cutting operation by using share force of cutting part. The capacity of first prototype (telescopic) and second prototype (second height) was 37.77 kg hr^-1 and 40.95 kg hr^-1 respectively. The percentage of damaged mango was lower than the manual method. The machine fabrication cost is affordable to the farmers and the harvesting cost of first prototype (telescopic) and second prototype (second height) was same US$ 0.01 kg^-1. The simple mango harvester would be an easy solution for mango harvesting.

Keywords: Design, Fabrication, Mango harvester, Capacity, Harvesting cost.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mkusarker2002@yahoo.co.uk (Md. Kamal Uddin Sarker)

How to cite this article: Roy T, Amin MR, Sarker MKU, Tapu FA and Huda MN (2021). Design, fabrication and performance evaluation of a simple mango harvester. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 37-43. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4944393.

Partha Sarathi Das¹, Md. Faridur Rahman², Md. Farhan Amin Bhuiyan², Md. Fakhrul Islam¹, Md. Sazzad Hossain²

¹Department of Fisheries, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University, Melandah, Jamalpur-2012, Bangladesh
²Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

A ten-week experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of blood meal in rice and wheat bran based pelleted feeds on growth and survival rate of Heteropneustes fossilis in the Wet Laboratory of the Faculty of Fisheries of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. For the experiment, 9 aquaria of 60L capacity were used and fish fry of 0.437g of initial average weight were released at the same stocking density (20 fry per aquarium). Three different treatments (T₁, T₂ and T₃) with three replications were used having different percentage of protein containing diets (Diet I -10% blood meal, Diet II -15% blood meal and Diet III -20% blood meal). All three diets having a constant inclusion level of the following ingredients: rice bran 20%, wheat bran 20%, fish meal 20%, molasses 5%, vitamin and mineral premix 1% and chromic oxide 0.5%. Feeds were supplied at 10% body weight twice daily in the morning at 9.00 am and in the afternoon at 5.00 pm throughout the study period. Sampling was done at 7 days interval throughout the experimental period. Water quality parameters were within the acceptable range during the experimental period. The significant highest mean final weight (g), weight gain (g), percent weight gain, specific growth rate (%/day) and the best feed utilization in terms of food conversion ratio were found at 20% blood meal containing diet (Diet -III). The results suggested that 20% blood meal containing feed could be recommended for the intensive culture of H. fossilis.

Keywords: Blood meal, Rice bran, Heteropneustes fossilis, Growth performance, Survival rate.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: sazzadbau@gmail.com (Md. Sazzad Hossain)

How to cite this article: Das PS, Rahman MF, Bhuiyan MFA, Islam MF and Hossain MS (2021). Optimization of blood meal in rice and wheat bran based pelleted feeds for stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis). International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 44-48. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4944629.

Md. Mahbubul Alam

Lecturer in English, Pabna Cadet College, Bangladesh

The present study is an investigation of the advertisements of Kool shaving foam/cream to find out the masculine biases and discourses by analyzing the speeches, linguistic and literary devices, character portrayal and physical setting of the advertisements. Three advertisements of Kool shaving cream, which are retrieved from the YouTube, are taken as samples in this research. Qualitative approach has been adopted to interpret the data. For the findings, analysis and discussion critical discourse analysis (CDA) based on Fairclough’s three-dimension approach is applied. The analysis reveals that while circulating and advertising of Kool shaving foam/cream the advertisers have concurrently disseminated patriarchal ideologies and masculine discourses that have long been being lived out in our society as discursive practices. It is also found that at the end of each sample advertisement it is the veneration of masculinity, not the circulation of the product, which is significantly highlighted. The research carries significance for the academia of media studies, gender studies and other related fields.

Keywords: Advertisement, Kool, Masculinity, Discourse, Critical Discourse Analysis.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mahbubdell06@gmail.com (Md. Mahbubul Alam)

How to cite this article: Alam MM (2021). Glorification of masculinity in the advertisements of Kool shaving cream or foam. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 49-57. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4945039.

Sultana Parvin Mukta^1,2, Tofazzal Hossain Miah¹, M. Harun-Ar Rashid¹, Shahriar Fardhous Bhuyan³, Rumana Mahzabin⁴

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202
²Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN), Dhaka
³Bangladesh Milk Producers’ Co-operative Union Limited (Milk Vita), Dhaka
⁴Department of  Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

A study was conducted to analyze layer farming at Sakhipur Upazila of Tangail district in Bangladesh from an economic viewpoint. Thirty layer farms were categorized as small, medium and large sizes based on the number of birds like 500-1000, 1001-2000 and >2000 birds, respectively. Primary data were collected through the direct interview method from the layer farm owners and interviewed with a pre-tested structured questionnaire to obtain information focusing on the study’s objectives. A Cobb-Douglas production function model was also used to determine the effects of essential variables on a layer farm’s returns for further analysis. Results revealed that 53.33% of farmers were engaged with layer farming as their primary occupation. The annual income of farm families increases 8.37% due to layer farming, which was higher than the income before conducting layer farm. However, total expenditures of raising layer per farm per year were predicted to be BDT 1718276, 1852038, 1861323, and 1809749, respectively for small, medium, large and all farms. Variable costs accounted for 91.77, 92.66, 93.84, and 92.82% of total costs for small, medium, large and all farms, respectively. The total feed costs per year per 1000 birds represent 82.89, 78.63, 79.43 and 80.28% of the total costs of the small, medium, large and all farms, respectively. The average gross return per year per thousand birds was BDT 1837134, 2021400, 2242656, and 2033730 for small, medium, large, and all farms, respectively. Again, the net return per year per thousand birds for small, medium, large, and all farms was BDT 118858, 187193, 371333, and 223981, respectively. It was also found that the benefit-cost ratio of studied layer farms was varied from 1.06 to 1.20. It was observed that 80% of farmers’ socio-economic condition was improved due to layer farming.

Keywords: Layer Farm, Variable Cost, Fixed Cost, Total Cost, Gross Return, Net Returns.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mukta.pearl68@gmail.com (Sultana Parvin Mukta)

How to cite this article: Mukta SP, Miah TH, Rashid MHA, Bhuyan SF and Mahzabin R (2021). Effects of layer farming on socio-economic condition of farmers at Sakhipur Upazila of Tangail district in Bangladesh. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 58-68. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5080287.

Md Morshed Bin Islam

Master of Arts in Labor Policies and Globalization, Global Labor University, Berlin, Germany

This is a policy paper to re-voice of an eco-nationalistic social movement. The Rampal coal fired power plant is one of the deadliest projects in Bangladesh according to the UNESCO. It sits beside the largest mangrove forest in the world. The preservation of this great mangrove forest is not only compulsory for the survival of plants and animals but also mandatory for the human livelihoods surrounding the forest. It is important not to forget that the most diverse effects of using of the black carbon in the power plant will rob the lives of plants and animals and livelihoods of working class people creating ecological as well as social catastrophe with regards to food, shelter, and health. Therefore, the environment protection organizations of Bangladesh must aware of ‘who are the ultimate sufferers of the Rampal coal-fired power plant’ to re-rise a stronger voice against the plant portraying a public supported eco-nationalistic social movement.

Keywords: Black carbon, hegemonic power, eco-compensation and eco-nationalist social movement.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: binislam70@gmail.com (MMB Islam)

How to cite this article: Islam MMB (2021). The Rampal coal power plant in Bangladesh: The vulnerable threat of black carbon. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 69-73. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5119991.

Marufa Khatun, Farzana Afroz, Md. Khaled Hossain

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

The present research work was carried out for the detection of aflatoxigenic fungus from poultry feed samples. During a period of 12 months (from June 2018 to June 2019), a total of 100 poultry feed samples comprising of 50 commercially prepared and 50 self compounded poultry feed were collected from different 5 different farms of Dinajpur districts, Bangladesh. Among the 100 feed samples Aspergillus spp was found on 54 feed samples with 54% prevalence. But Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus spp was found on 48 samples with 48% prevalence. In this study the prevalence of Aspergillus spp was 56% in self compounded poultry feed and 52% prevalence in commercially prepared poultry feed. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Aspergillus spp and also in the prevalence of aflatoxigenic fungus isolated from commercially prepared feed as well as in self compounded feed on the basis of farms. Maximum level of aflatoxin was ≥20 ppb. This study alarms us about the potential risks of Aspergillus spp to public health if contaminate agricultural commodities such as grains or raw materials such as poultry feed.

Keywords: Aspergillus spp, Aflatoxin, Poultry Feed, Potential risks.

Corresponding author.
E-mail address: farzana.afroz2010@gmail.com (Farzana Afroz)

How to cite this article: Islam MMB (2021). Khatun M, Afroz F and Hossain MK (2021). Detection of aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin levels in poultry feed. International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2): 74-80. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5168502.