Productivity and profitability of mustard and boro rice patterns in haor areas of Netrakona

Abstract

On-farm trial was conducted at the farmers’ field of Madan, Netrakona under On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Mymensingh during 2023-24 and 2024-25 to develop alternate cropping pattern Mustard (var. BARI Sarisha-14)-Boro rice (var. BRRI dhan92)-Fallow and to compare its productivity and profitability against farmers existing cropping pattern, Fallow-Boro (var. BRRI dhan29)-Fallow. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with six dispersed replications. Two cropping patterns viz., alternate cropping pattern (Mustard-Boro rice-Fallow) and farmers’ existing cropping pattern (Fallow-Boro-Fallow) were tested as variables of the experiment. The unit plot size was 1000-1200 m².  The result of the study showed that two crops could be grown successfully in sequence in the tested site.  Mean rice equivalent yield of alternate cropping pattern was 13.33 t ha^-1 which was 111 % higher over existing cropping pattern (6.33 t ha^-1). Land utilization index, harvest index and profitability of developed cropping pattern were higher than farmers’ existing cropping pattern. The mean gross return (Tk. 2,78,600 ha^-1) and gross margin (Tk. 1,27,960 ha^-1) were higher in developed cropping pattern compared to farmers’ existing cropping pattern. The marginal benefit cost ratio (2.15) also indicated the superiority of the alternate cropping pattern over the farmers’ existing cropping pattern.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 50(2): 171-180, June 2025