Comparative Contribution of Crops and Homestead Forest Enterprises to Rural Household Economy: A Case Study of Keshorita Village in Bangladesh

Despite over-dependence on the crop based farming economy, homestead forestry practices have immense potential to ensure sustainable livelihoods in the rural and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh. A clear understanding of the physical characteristics and economic role of both sectors in rural livelihoods is vital for sustainable resource management. This study focused on the crop and homestead forest tree species diversity, profitability and their relative contribution to the household economy. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 90 sampled respondents for gathering primary data. Statistical software SPSS was employed for necessary data analysis. Findings revealed that rice remained as a single cereal crop whereas species richness of vegetables, timber and fruit trees was 3.20, 11.64 and 11.76, respectively. It was found that Mango and Jackfruit are abundant and profitable fruit trees whereas Mahogany and Jackfruit are the dominant timber trees. On average, crop and homestead forests contributed 36.42% and 20.65% to household income, respectively. Production and income from crops and homestead forests on a per hectare basis were found to vary widely among different landholding size classes, level of education and farming experiences. It is suggested that diversification of crops and forests production along with the improvement of education level amongst farmers could improve family income and ensure better livelihoods.