CROP AGRICULTURE OF CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS: REVIEWING ITS MANAGEMENT, PERFORMANCE, VULNERABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Abstract

This paper presents the crop production systems with their impacts on environment in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) of Bangladesh. Boro-fallow-T. aman, fallow-fallow-T. aman and fallow-aus+non-rice (jhum) are the major cropping patterns in CHTs. Crop agriculture in hill is mainly divided into two systems i.e. plain land plough agriculture and non-plough slope agriculture. In valley and foothill, irrigated seasonal and annual crops are cultivated extensively. In hilly slope; shifting cultivation, horticultural plantation, agroforestry and mixed fruit gardening are practiced in Bangladesh. Shifting cultivation (jhum) is a traditional system being practiced in the CHTs by the tribal communities. An increasing trend of fruit cultivation and production is observed in CHTs. Agroforestry and perennial fruit gardening showed lucrative economic benefits with environmental stability in this region. Extensive jhum practice creating a dilemma in conserving nature and food production. Soil erosion is extensive in CHTs due to shifting cultivation and monocropping systems. Tobacco and, slash and burn method of cultivation are very destructive to land and forest ecosystems. Sustainable alternate land use of jhum farming including multistorey agroforestry and multistrata fruit orchard have evolved in some areas of CHTs. Although alternate land use practices started, extensive expansion should be ensured rapidly for the development of agricultural