Sugarcane for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production under Ambient Environment

Sugarcane is a food-cum-cash-cum-industrial crop with high varietals resistance, anti-erosive and thus helps preserve biodiversity in tropical and subtropical zones. Sustaining sugar requirement as a source of food for an ever-growing world population in the changing ambient environment due to gradual depletion of natural resources, pollution, rising costs, low productivity and expansion of urban communities are some of the major challenges in the present century. Sugarcane and sugar productivity per se in many developing countries as well as Bangladesh, where sugarcane is growing, however, productivity is still remained far below than potential due to multiple abiotic environmental factors and socio-economic reasons. Due to high demand of cereals and vegetable crops sugarcane is being pushed to stresses (water-logging, flood, drought and salinity) prone marginal lands. Sugarcane as a long duration high in-put crop is facing enormous challenges and ardently waiting for productivity boost which is only possible through introduction of modern biotechnologies in its production-processing–diversification system. Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute developed stresses (water-logging, flood, drought and salinity) tolerant high yielding varieties of sugarcane and production technologies especially intercropping for sustainable production under ambient environment in particular agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions of resource poor farmers. Technologies for ancillary crops (Date-palm, Palmyra-palm, Palm-leaves, Stevia), jaggery (locally known as gur) and mushroom production on sugarcane bagasse as functional food have been developed as well as sugar beet adaptation is being trying to sustain sugarcane and sugar production. Sugarcane and sugar producing genetic resources are also being conserved. The aim of this paper is to attempt to present the potential of sugarcane for sustainable agriculture and food production as regards the environment as well as to discuss current status of sugarcane and sugar production as food given emphasis in Bangladesh.OtherShinshu University International Symposium 2010 : Sustainable Agriculture and Environment : Asian Networks II 　信州大学国際シンポジウム2010 : 持続的農業と環境 : アジアネットワークII ― アジアネットワークの発展をめざして―. 信州大学農学部, 2010, 85-91conference pape

Poverty Alleviation — A Push Towards Unsustainability in Bangladesh?

Social, economic, educational and infrastructure development programs in Bangladesh, including national and international aid and grants, focus on the agenda of ‘poverty alleviation’. However, they are not performing well as social and environmental degradation is on the increase. The paper analyses the reasons for the failure of development programs from a sustainability point of view. Some explanations are provided through the views of Bangladeshi rural activists, including Baul philosophers. They cover: (1) exclusion of poor people from participation in development programs, especially in natural resource management; and (2) widespread corruption accompanying foreign aid. ’Moderate poverty’ is seen in Bangladeshi culture as acceptable given the country’s conditions. It actually promotes a more sustainable way of living. ‘Poverty’ should be seen as culturally embedded and within the context of population growth and sustainable consumerism. ‘Poverty alleviation’ as promoted in development projects in Bangladesh is neither possible nor desirable, as it is not coupled with the means to achieve sustainability. The paper makes recommendations how to overcome poverty, using local knowledge and developmental wisdom. The outlined approaches relate to sustainability education, self-reliance and pro-sustainable ways of living

Problem with Human Resource Accounting and A Possible Solution

The idea of Human Resource Accounting (HRA) has been a debatable issue by academicians, accountants and standards setters universally. This study critically assesses the concept of HRA in order to unveil its strengths and weaknesses. Descriptive and content analyses were used in collecting data through documented texts, journal articles and other publications. The existing models proffered under the HRA were adequately reviewed and objectively criticized so that more comprehensive could be developed. The study revealed that the conceptualization of HRA, the ideas incorporated therein, and arguments are good for the accounting profession and corporate financial reporting. But the existing models yet proposed are not in a state to implement HRA practice worldwide. Hence this paper proposes a solution in line with existing framework of accounting that could be adopted by the standard setters. The study, however, recommends that more interest should be accorded to the concept of HRA in order to stimulate more comprehensive researches aimed at simplifying the concept and boosting its applicability. Key Words: Human Resource Accounting (HRA), Human Capital, Intellectual Capital, Matching principle, IAS, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS

Superiority of Islamic Banking in Comparison with Conventional Banking in Bangladesh - A Comparative Study

This paper investigates the financial performance of interest- based conventional commercial banks and interestfree Islamic banks in Bangladesh using descriptive statistics ttest and test of hypotheses Data has been processed through Statistical Package for Social Science SPSS software The data consist of accounting figures of 4 interests based conventional commercial banks and 4 interest free Islamic banks from 2009 to 2013 The study revealed mixed results The study found that conventional commercial banks are superior in terms of performance regarding in commitment to economy and community development productivity and efficiency where performance of Islamic banks in terms of business development profitability liquidity and solvency is superior to that of conventional bank

Microeconomic Impact of Remittances on Household Welfare: Evidences from Bangladesh

This paper investigates the impact of both international and domestic remittances and migration on household welfare in Bangladesh. We employ a number of variables such as different types of poverty measures, household consumption expenditure, expenditures on health and education etc. to define household welfare. We use the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2010 to estimate the impact of remittances on household welfare. To address the issue of self-selection, we have used the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique. The results reveal that although both internal and external remittances have significant impact on reducing poverty and increasing consumption expenditure, the degree of impact is much higher for external remittances compared to internal remittances. However we find no impact of remittance on household expenditure on education and healthcare

Impact of Overseas Remittances on Economic Growth: Evidences from Bangladesh

Overseas remittance earnings have become a major source of financial inflow for Bangladesh economy in recent years. However, the advantages of this huge remittance inflow may not be effectively channeled to the economic development via investment and/or efficiency effect. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the nexus between remittances and economic growth in Bangladesh. Using time series data over a 40 year period 1972-2013, this paper investigates the causal link between overseas remittances and economic growth in Bangladesh by employing a number of econometric techniques namely Johansen Cointegration approach, Vector Error Correction (VEC) Model and the Granger Causality test. The cointegration test suggests that there exists a long-run relationship between remittance and economic growth in Bangladesh. Further, the result of Granger Causality shows that remittances do lead to economic growth in Bangladesh. The statistically significant relationship between remittances and economic growth may inspire the policy makers to consider remittances as an alternative policy instrument to motivate the growth of Bangladesh economy

Reproductive biology of Gagora catfish (Arius gagora) at Meghna river system, Kushiara River, Bangladesh

The gagora catfish, Arius gagora is a species of Ariidae family normally exist in estuaries and tidal rivers of Bangladesh and India. In the present study, the reproductive biology of A. gagora was assessed in Meghna River system at Kushiara River. Length-weight relationship was found strongly correlated for male (r2 = 0.98), female (r2 = 0.97) and combined sex (r2 = 0.81), respectively. Chi-square tests revealed no significant difference between sex ratios round the year and not deviated from the expected value of 1:1 (χ2 = 5.57) and the critical chi-square value calculated was 143.25. The fecundity found to be ranged from 43333.12±829.83 to 53948.81±1743.28 in April to August. The relationship of fecundity with ovary weight (r2 = 0.79), ovary length (r2 = 0.88), total length (r2 = 0.85) and total weight (r2 = 0.68) were found positively correlated. Monthly study of gonadosomatic index (GSI) revealed that the breeding season for this fish species may be between July to August with a single peak spawning month in August. Size at sexual maturity was estimated as 30.01 cm total length. Fulton's condition factor (K) value varied in both males and females and indicates that the overall health condition of both the male and female were excellent. Breeding season was found significantly correlated with rainfall, but not with other biological, meteorological, and hydrological parameters. Ovarian development of A. gagora was assessed macroscopically and three broad gonad developmental stages were identified. Maturity was specified based on the presence of green egg in the peritoneal cavity. These findings should benefit and improve the sustainable management and conservation of this species both in Bangladesh and its bordering countries

INDUCED SPAWNING AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAMESE KOI, Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792), USING SALMON GONADOTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE ANALOGUE (S-GnRHA)

The present research work has been carried out to obtain evidence on breeding and embryonic growth of A. testudineus by using S-GnRHa. Fish were injected with three different doses (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mL/kg body weight) of synthetic hormone S-GnRHa each with three replications, where male brood fish received half of the doses of female. The fecundity of A. testudineus was ranged from 47,227 to 77,561 during the study period and except control group all the hormone received group ovulated within 12 hours of hormone injection. Among all groups, the highest fertilization rate (89.33%), highest hatching rate (79.5%) as well as highest survival rate (67.0%) was obtained at 0.5 mL/kg body weight hormone dose recipient group. The fertilized egg’s diameter was recorded as 77.59 ± 3.50 µm. The first cleavage had appeared within 18-25 min of fertilization and eventually the morula, blastula, and gastrula stages were observed at 3:10 h, 4 h, and 5:30 h, respectively after fertilization. Larvae with distinguished head, body form and tail appendage spotted between 17-22 h and the larvae started hatching at 19 h after fertilization. The average length of larvae accounted as 105.41 ± 3.73 µm. The findings of present study revealed that 0.5 mL/kg S-GnRHa could be efficient dose for successful induced breeding of A. testudineus

Utilization of fermented wheat bran extract medium as a potential low-cost culture medium for Chlorella ellipsoidea

Microalgae, Chlorella ellipsoidea is an excellent energy source for food and biofuel production. Nevertheless, the production cost of C. ellipsoidea using Bold's Basal Medium (BBM) is expensive, which led to exploring the alternation of a low-cost medium for large-scale production. Low-cost fermented wheat bran extract medium (FWBEM), which has good nutritional properties, might be an alternative approach to mass production of C. ellipsoidea. The present study was conducted to evaluate the growth and production of C. ellipsoidea using different concentrations of FWBEM. Wheat bran was fermented at the concentration of 8.33, 6.66, and 5.00 g/L water and used as treatments for T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The BBM was used as the control medium (T1). The growth and production of C. ellipsoidea were monitored at three days intervals through cell dry weight, specific growth rate, optical cell density, chlorophyll a content, and cell numbers. Those growth data revealed that C. ellipsoidea cultured at 6.66 g/L (T3) concentration did not vary significantly with the standard inorganic BBM. However, T2 and T4 showed substantially lower cell growth and chlorophyll a content than control and T3. Compared to the BBM, a significant reduction in production cost was obtained in the FWBEM. Based on the cell biomass growth, pigmentation, and production cost, FWBEM at a 6.66 g/L could be used as an alternative medium to BBM. Therefore, FWBEM has excellent potential to be used for the low-cost production of C. ellipsoidea

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE PETROLEUM ETHER EXTRACT OF THE LEAVES OF Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn

Two new compounds, normal alcohol containing of higher carbons and isomer of β-sitosterol were isolated for the first time from the petroleum extract of the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa. The structure of the compound has been established on the basis of UV, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectra and identified as nonanol and isomer of β-sitosterol.   Keywords: Lagerstroemia speciosa, petroleum ether extracts, isolation, 1-nonanol, 2 β-sitostero, spectral analyses