Determinants of tobacco cultivation in Kushtia district, Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was undertaken to assess the extent of the area used for tobacco cultivation and to determine some selected characteristics of tobacco farmers that significantly influence farmers’ cultivation of tobacco. The selected characteristics were- age, education, farm size, annual income, tobacco cultivation experience, family labor, time spent in tobacco cultivation, profitability, agent contact, input availability, level of pest infestation and market security perception. The study was conducted at three villages of Mirpur upazilla under Kushtia district with the help of an interview schedule from September 12 to October 3, 2018. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the farmers were randomly selected from a population of 424 tobacco farmers. Out of the total population, 106 tobacco farmers were selected as the sample of the study. Multiple linear regressions were used in order to identify the important factors for tobacco cultivation. The findings also revealed that age, education, annual income, family labor and agent contact have a significant positive contribution to tobacco cultivation. Therefore, to reduce tobacco cultivation area coverage by the farmers, the policy should be made by giving emphasize on the significant factors.