More than cereal-based cropping innovations for improving food and livelihood security of poor smallholders in marginal areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

Following the marginality approach developed at ZEF, we identified five underperforming sub-districts in Bangladesh, where poverty and other socioeconomic dimensions of marginality are widespread, but agricultural potential is also high. Results from extensive quantitative and qualitative surveys suggest that development strategies in these areas should focus on three pathways: agricultural intensification, income diversification and agricultural diversification based on options available for the smallholders in the localities. Cereal-based technology under agricultural innovations could be part of the solution, but should be integrated into other income diversification and agricultural diversification strategies. Intensive crop systems, hybrid seeds, water management technologies, non-crop farming, non-farming enterprises are suggested as potential technology innovations for the study areas.