Historical Background and Diffusion Process of Rice Prawn Gher Farming System in Bangladesh —A case study of Khulna District—

摘要

This paper aims to explain the historical background and the rapid diffusion process of rice prawn gher farming in the southwest Bangladesh. The research was conducted in Bilpabla village under Du-muria Thana in Khulna District. Case studies (two landlords-one from Bilpabla village and the other from Rayermahal village, two tenants-both of them have rented in gher land from first landlord, and the first introducer of gher farming in the study village) are used to explain the historical background andthe rapid diffusion process of gher farming. Primary data are also used in this study. The findings of the study indicate that the participation of landless and marginal farmers is one of the main reasons to diffuse and expand the rice prawn gher farming rapidly. The farmers were innovated more easily to operate the rice prawn gher farming compared to modern variety (MV) technology in Bangladesh because the farmers used indigenous inputs for gher operation such as prawn fingerlings (from rivers and sea) and meat of mud snails for prawn feed (from swamplands, rivers and paddy fields) at the early stage of gher farming. The gher farming system has redistributed the landholding patterns and some marginal and landless gher farmers became small landownersafter the successful operation of gher farming. The landlords change the tenants if the tenants break the rules and regulations of rental agreements. The landlords mainly change the tenants if the tenants do not pay rent on time. The rice prawn gher farming system has changed the rental agreement from sharecropping to fixed cash.