Mapping Marginality Hotspots and Agricultural Potentials in Bangladesh

ZEF Working Paper Series No. 144

43 Pages Posted: 27 Jul 2013

See all articles by Mohammad Abdul Malek

Mohammad Abdul Malek

University of Bonn

MD Amzad Hossain

University of Dhaka - Department of Economics

Ratnajit Saha

BRAC

Franz Gatzweiler

Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn

Date Written: June 1, 2013

Abstract

Although Bangladesh made some remarkable achievements in reducing poverty and in improving social and economic outcomes in recent decades, about one-third of the rural population still lives below the upper poverty line most of whom depend on agriculture as their primary source of income. One of the reasons for their poverty is the low productivity that results from sub-optimal use of inputs and other technology. To foster agricultural productivity and rural growth, technology innovations have to reach all strata of the poor among small farming communities in rural Bangladesh. For that purpose, technology opportunities need to be brought together with systematic and location-specific actions related to technology needs, agricultural systems, ecological resources and poverty characteristics to overcome the barriers that economic, social, ecological and cultural conditions can create. The first step towards this is to identify underperforming areas, i.e. rural areas in which the prevalence of poverty and other dimensions of marginality are high and agricultural potential is also high since in such areas yield gaps (potential minus actual yields) are high and productivity gains (of main staple crops) are likely to be achieved. The marginality mapping presented in this paper has attempted to identify areas with high prevalence of societal and spatial marginality – based on proxies for marginality dimensions representing different spheres of life – and high (un/der utilized) agricultural (cereal) potentials. The overlap between the marginality hotspots and the high (un/der utilized) agricultural potentials shows that Rajibpur (Kurigram), Dowarabazar (Sunamgonj), Porsha (Naogaon), Damurhuda (Chuadanga), Hizla (Barisal), Mehendigonj (Barisal), Bauphal (Patuakhali) and Bhandaria (Pirojpur) are the marginal areas where most productivity gains could be achieved.

Keywords: marginality, agricultural potentials, marginality hotspot mapping, agricultural potential mapping, crop suitability mapping, marginality and potential overlap mapping

Suggested Citation

Malek, Mohammad Abdul and Hossain, MD Amzad and Saha, Ratnajit and Gatzweiler, Franz, Mapping Marginality Hotspots and Agricultural Potentials in Bangladesh (June 1, 2013). ZEF Working Paper Series No. 144, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2298663 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2298663

Mohammad Abdul Malek (Contact Author)

University of Bonn ( email )

Regina-Pacis-Weg 3
Postfach 2220
Bonn, D-53012
Germany

MD Amzad Hossain

University of Dhaka - Department of Economics ( email )

Dhaka
Bangladesh

Ratnajit Saha

BRAC ( email )

75 Mohakhali
Dhaka, 1212
Bangladesh

Franz Gatzweiler

Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, 53113
Germany

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