Some 14 land use patterns were selected during the study period. The study says regardless of land use patterns, annual income per household was Tk 205127 which are higher than national average of Tk 86436 (HIES, 2007). Among the farm household under different land use pattern, shrimp farmers income was relatively higher compared to other sample farmers.
National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP) with the support of the European Union and USAID conduct the study titled ‘Changing Land Use Patterns and Their Impact on Food Security for Farm Households in Bangladesh’.
The study shows that there was a direct relationship between the family size and size of the holding of farm households. Large farmers had relatively larger family size (5.75 persons) followed by medium (5.65 persons), small (4.91 persons) and marginal farmers (4.76 persons).
Irrespective of shrimp and non-shrimp farm households, the sampled farm households earned 77.4 percent of total income from agriculture.
As all sampled farm households were landed farmers, the lion share of household income earned from agriculture and it sustained the food security for the farm households, according the study.
It was observed that household expenditure spent mainly on family food and farming. Moreover, expenditure spent was the highest (47 percent) for farming followed by 31 and 9 percent for food and housing.
The study reveals that housing facilities increased significantly compared to before changing land use patterns. At present, about 24, 54 and 30 percent of farm households have building, tin shed and straw roofed houses while the corresponding percentages were 8, 51 and 27 respectively for the farm households before changing land use patterns.
It is noted that the percentage of building (brick house) increased about 3 times than before. Household water and sanitation facilities had improved. About 57, 42 and 30 percent of farm households had owned hand tube well (HTW), pucca toilet and kutcha toilet respectively.
After changing land use pattern, most of the farm families can meet the doctors for their treatment and health care. There had been a noteworthy improvement in communication facilities of farm households in the study areas.
About 49% and 52% of farm households have access to radio and television and have bicycle or motor cycle whereas it was 15% and 19% before changing land use patterns, says the study.
Ninety three percent of sampled farm households reported that quality and choice of food items increased under changing land use patterns.
Under this circumstance, it implied that farm income, crop yield, supply of food, choice of taking different food items, nutritional status, educational status, and employment opportunity of farm
households and finally the food security increased under changing land use patterns.
The study indicates that rice is still the staple food item of the rural people in Bangladesh followed by vegetables, potato, milk and meat.
The study reveals that average daily per capita calorie intake (2439 Kcal) and protein intake (63.84 grams) which were slightly higher than the national average.
Food intake was relatively higher, as expected, for large and medium farm households and for higher income group households compared to small and marginal farm households and those of lower income groups.
However, large farm households had higher income and consumed more protein followed by medium, small and marginal farm group, respectively, study says.
It is found that the selected new land use patterns have contributed a lot to increase household income of the farmers. In fact, they are enjoying better livelihoods than ever before due to following these new land use patterns.
The study recommended for taking positive steps to improve food intake of small and marginal farmers under the circumstances.
It was suggested that more farmers should be encouraged to follow these land use patterns for earning higher farm income and ensuring food security for farm households in Bangladesh.
Principal Investigator of the study Prof M Serajul Islam told UNB that consumption of rice was similar before and after changing land use patterns. Frequencies of consumption of ruti (crushed wheat) and dal have decreased after changing land use patterns while frequencies of consumption of vegetables, meat, fish, egg, fruit and milk in a year have increased.
He said increased consumption of nutritious food might be attributed due to the increased income with the new land use patterns and better knowledge about nutrition of the farm households.
Prof Islam assessed per capita food intake and nutritional status of different categories of farm households and the average daily per capita calorie intake by households was estimated to be 2439 Kcal which was slightly higher than the national average of 2238.5 Kcal.
“Considering all land use patterns the food energy received from individual food items was the highest for rice (1790 Kcal) followed by potato (100 Kcal), fish (97 Kcal), vegetables (78 Kcal), oil (70 Kcal), milk (64 Kcal) and sugar (58 Kcal) respectively,” he said.
Prof Islam, also teacher of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Bangladesh Agricultural University said that protein is an important nutrient in human diet and the study shows that protein
intake per capita per day was 63.84 grams considering all selected land use patterns.
“However, per capita per day protein intake was relatively higher for those farm households under selected land use patterns who consumed higher amount of food which are mentioned above,” he added.
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