28. Changing pattern of rural income diversification and its impacts on household economy: A study on a selected village in Jashore District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is an agrarian country and majority of its population depends on either agriculture or its associated activities. Being a developing country, Bangladesh is characterized by densely populated, widespread unemployment, high incidence of landlessness and labor surplus economy. Under such a land scarce condition, farmers in rural areas have been gradually inclining towards different alternative income generating activities. The study was conducted to assess the nature and extent of occupational diversification, its changes and impacts on household income over time. Data was collected from a selected village, Lebutala in Jashore district of Bangladesh in two different years. In 2000, a total of 107 households were randomly selected which have split and increased to 124 in 2017. Once again, the entire 124 households were interviewed in 2017. Result of the study shows that farmers in the studied area have significant diversity on their income sources. Almost all (94%) of them have dual and 24% of them have multiple occupations. Contributing 40% of the household income, agriculture is still predominant occupation in the rural area. Besides, rural business, dairy farming and self-employed occupations have become more attractive alternatives than the previous time. Result also unveils that the average rural household income (BDT 16,983 per month) has significantly increased over the time. In 2017, more than 61% of the sampled rural household earned above the national rural income level of BDT 13,353 per month. Increases in diversification of income sources were responsible for this enhancement of rural household income. Further diversification is suggested through proper development of small business, dairy farming and selfemployment generating activities in rural areas.