The indigenous hill-farming system of Khasia tribes in moulvibazar district of Bangladesh: Status and impacts |
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| Authors: | Narayan Saha M Atiqul Azam |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Forestry, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, 3114 Sylhet, Bangladesh;(2) Divisional Forest Office, Bangladesh Forest Department, Sylhet, Bangladesh |
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| Abstract: | Rapid economic growth of the Khasia people has resulted from a most successful betel leaf farming system practiced within
the fringe of reserved forests, where government policies have facilitated effective use of the local people as a labour force
for production, protection and conservation of biodiversity of the surrounding forests. Khasia tribes have traditionally grown
betel leaf plants on naturally occurring trees. Deforestation is a serious problem in Bangladesh, whereas the Khasia people
living within forests are protecting trees for their livelihood, including selling betel leaf, collecting fuelwood and consuming
and selling fruits from support trees. It is a profitable yet sustainable forest production system, maintaining soil fertility,
stable production and optimal family size, and has created employment opportunities for the people living within and outside
the forests. It has enhanced the supply of socially required betel leaf to the local markets, contributed to price stability,
and generated some export revenue. However, the revenue of growers has been reduced by plant diseases and the capture of resource
rent by middlemen. Economic benefits could be further increased through government initiatives to improve management and the
marketing system.
This paper is based on a presentation at the International Conference on Economics of Sustainable Forest Management, University
of Toronto, Canada, May 20–22, 2004. |
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| Keywords: | hill farming betel leaf Khasia tribes sustainable forestry indigenous management |
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