Pineapple-based agroforestry in Bangladesh: Determinants of market choice and quantity of supply decision

Abstract

Agroforestry is a land-use system integrating trees, crops, and sometimes livestock, offering a promising solution for both environment and agricultural resilience. The primary objectives of the study were to examine the determinants of market choice and quantity of market supply of pineapple in the agroforestry system in the Sal-forest under Tangail district in Bangladesh. Data were collected by using stratified randomly selected 200 pineapple farmers of Madhupur sub-district in Bangladesh and conducted 15 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 2 In-depth Interviews (IDIs). The study employed a multivariate probit model and multivariate linear regression. The pineapple farmers simultaneously selected 3 markets to maximize their profit: local market, district market and central market. Small and medium farmers are more likely to sell their products in local markets, and large farms are more likely to sell products in central and district markets. Multivariate probit regression analysis showed that training, farm size, and farmer ambition negatively influence local market selection by farmers. Ethnicity, training, experience, farm size, and knowledge of quality requirements had a positive influence on district market selection. Investment in production and uncertainty in buyers’ stability had a negative influence on central market selection. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that the age of respondents, total production, and association involvement positively impacted quantity of supply in the local market. Training, total production, and farmers’ ambition positively impacted district market supply. Farm size and average price of the pineapple positively impacted the quantity supply in the central market. The district and central markets offered better returns although several obstacles limited pineapple producers’ access to these markets. The uncertainty of buyers in accessing the central market (more profitable markets) needs to be addressed by stakeholders to encourage more agroforestry pineapple-based producers to select the right markets.