Bangladeshi Rural households are practicing Betel leaf-based Agrisilviculture for many years. Although, the practice lacks a scientific basis for getting full benefits by households. Households need capacity-building support to realize the true potential of Agrisilviculture at the homestead level as well as outside the farm level.
Joya Ahsan, a rural household woman of Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh replied “What is Agrisilviculture? When asked about the Agroforestry system?
The Agrisilviculture system is a practical model of Agroforestry. This system includes agricultural crops such as grains, vegetables, spices, etc growing with trees on the same land. Tree types include timber, fruit, medicinal, fuel, etc. Meanwhile, the selection of agricultural crops and tree types depends on beneficial interaction and economic output from the interaction.
Real Field Example of Agrisilviculture
A COMMON EXAMPLE OF AGRISILVICULTURE PRACTICE IN COX’S BAZAR IS GROWING BETEL LEAF VINES ON BETEL NUT PLANTS WHICH ARE CALLED BETEL LEAF-BASED AGRISILVICULTURE. INTERESTINGLY, JOYA AND HER NEIGHBORS ARE PRACTICING THIS ON THEIR HOMESTEAD FOR A LONG TIME.
We have visited many homesteads in the Kurigram and Sylhet districts of Bangladesh. We found similar betel leaf & Betel nut-based Agrisilviculture practices in Cox’s Bazar.
We asked Faria Hasan, a housewife of Kurigram of Bangladesh about the benefits and challenges of Betel leaf-based Agrisilviculture practice. The main selling point of this practice is interesting. According to her ” the buyer collects betel leaf when leaves become mature enough to sell. We do not have to harvest the leaves ourselves. Therefore, male members of the household do not need to involve in this production system. This practice is fully women-oriented and women-led in rural areas. The income from this is kept by women and used by women.
According to traders of Betel leaf, ” the price of betel leaf varies based on the season. It varies from BDT 20 to BDT 140 per bira. A bira is a selling unit for betel leaf in Bangladesh. About 144 pieces of betel leaf called one bira.
The pre-mature withering of leaves and water-logged conditions are the main challenges of betel leaf cultivation in homestead areas. However, the local agricultural department is helping households to overcome mentioned problems. Finally, we have explained Betel leaf-based Agrisilviculture to Joya which she practices.
