Impact of Organic Farming on Household Income of the Smallholders: A Case Study from Bangladesh

摘要

The role of organic fanning (referred to as OF hereafter) on the household income of the smallholders in developing countries has been a topic of interest and some controversy since the launching of OF in the developing world. Meisner (2007) reportedthat OF is suitable only for the farmers who are rich and have larger land holdings and animals but not for the small farmers of Bangladesh. On the other hand, researchers like Kilcher 2002, McNeely and Scherr 2002, and Wilier and Yussefi 2007 recommended that organic agriculture is not just a resolution for more affluent countries but useful even in poorer countries as it can give purposeful socio-economic and ecologically sustainable development. A study in India by Partap, 2006 stated that OF is emerging as a promising option for small and marginal farmers of India. Due to increasing consumer awareness of health and environmental issues, the demand for safe organic food has been growing significantly all over the world for the past several years andthis offers producers and exporters in developing countries opportunities to improve their incomes and living conditions (FiBL, 2006). The statistics showed that global sales of organic food and drinks have increased by 43%, reaching 33 billion US dollar (25.5 billion Euros) in 2005 from 23 billion US dollar (17.8 billion Euros) in 2002 (Wilier & Yussefi, 2007). The market for organic foods is anticipated to generate sales of 133.7 billion US$ by 2012 (ITC, 2006).