Economic impacts of betel leaf cultivation on farmers

Abstract

Substantial deforestation has occurred in the Teknaf peninsula. This chapter presents a detailed case study on the effects of betel leaf cultivation, as one of the likely causes of deforestation, on local people's livelihoods in the village of Marishbania in the Teknaf peninsula. Grown as a cash crop, betel leaf is a popular masticant across South Asia. The practice of betel leaf cultivation in the TWS entails the construction of a pan boroj, which is a shed constructed out of forest resources that offers shade for protecting the leaves from sunlight. This shed requires annual renovation. In September 2010, a questionnaire was administered among all 207 households in the village. The compiled data revealed differences in household characteristics, which were analyzed in detail, with groups being categorized according to when villagers first began cultivating betel. The results of a statistical analysis conducted on households' income levels revealed statistically significant differences in income levels between households that began cultivating betel during the last 10 years and those that began cultivating it earlier. A particularly notable finding was that betel leaf cultivation was not necessarily associated with increased incomes for those who have been cultivating it during the last 10 years.