Comparative advantage in Bangladesh crop production

"This study uses data from 1996/97 through 1998/99 to examine the relative efficiency of production of crops in Bangladesh and their comparative advantage in international trade as measured by net economic profitability (the profitability using economic, rather than financial costs and prices), and the domestic resource cost ratio, (the amount of value of non-tradable domestic resources used in production divided by the value of tradable products). The economic profitability analysis demonstrates that Bangladesh has a comparative advantage in domestic production of rice for import substitution. However, at the export parity price, economic profitability of rice is generally less than economic profitability of many non-rice crops, implying that Bangladesh has more profitable options other than production for rice export. Several non-cereal crops, including vegetables, potatoes and onions have financial and economic returns that are as high as or higher than those of High Yielding Variety (HYV) rice. The relatively minor role in cropping systems of these crops despite their higher returns, can largely be attributed to high price risks associated with marketing, suggesting the need for further development of agro-processing industries, rural infrastructure, and marketing networks." Authors' Abstract

Rice price stabilization in Bangladesh

To meet its overall objective of ensuring food security for all households, the Government of Bangladesh undertakes several activities: it intervenes in markets to stabilize prices, targets food distribution to poor households and provides emergency relief after natural disasters. This paper provides measures of the variability of domestic and international rice prices, and examines the mix of government intervention and private sector participation in rice markets. The analysis shows that the relatively high degree of price stability achieved in the 1990s was due in large part to private sector imports that stabilized markets following major production shortfalls. Domestic rice procurement contributed relatively little to raising domestic producer prices at harvest time, involved only a small percentage of farmers, and incurred excessive costs following successful harvests because of procurement prices set far in excess of market prices.Price regulation ,Food security South Asia ,Government policy ,Markets Prices ,Rice Bangladesh ,

Delay in DOTS for new pulmonary tuberculosis patient from rural area of Wardha District, India

Vast majority of active tuberculosis patients seeks treatment, do so promptly, still many patients spend a great deal of time and money “shopping for health” and too often they do not receive either accurate diagnosis or effective treatment, despite spending considerable resources. Objective: To find out the time taken to, for diagnosis of tuberculosis and to put patient on DOTS from the onset of symptoms and pattern of health seeking behavior of new pulmonary tuberculosis patients. A cross-sectional rapid assessment using qualitative (FGD) and quantitative (Interview) methods conducted at DOTS center of tertiary care hospital from rural Wardha. Participants: 53 pulmonary tuberculosis patients already on DOTS, in intensive phase. Main outcome measure: Delay in initiation of DOTS & health seeking behavior Results: Median total delay for starting DOTS was 111 days, (range: 10 to 321 days). Patient delay was more than provider delay. Patients delay was more in patients above 60 years, illiterate, per-capita income below 650 Rupees and HIV TB co-infection. Pattern of health seeking behavior was complex. Family physician was the preferred health care provider. Patient visited on an average four providers and spent around 1450 rupees (only direct cost) before DOTS begin. Time taken from the onset of symptoms and start of DOT is a cause of concern for the tuberculosis control program. Early case detection is important rather than mere achieving target of 70% new case detection. Program manager needs to implement locally relevant & focused strategies for early case detection to improve the treatment success, especially in rural area of India

Distortions to Agricultural Incentives in Bangladesh

Distorted incentives, agricultural and trade policy reforms, national agricultural development, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, F13, F14, Q17, Q18,

Bumper crops, producer incentives and persistent poverty

Food aid has played a useful role in Government of Bangladesh efforts to increase food security in the last three decades, adding to foodgrain availability, supplying wheat for targeted distribution to poor households, and helping to finance development projects and programs. However, sustained increases in domestic production of both rice and wheat have increased the likelihood of disincentive effects arising from continued large inflows of food aid. The analysis shows that if good rice harvests continue so that real rice prices remain at their levels of 2000, and if international wheat prices return to their average 1995-99 levels, then public wheat distribution may need to be cut to levels below the current amount of food aid received (650 thousand tons in 2000/2001) to avoid reducing domestic prices below import parity. However, resources will continue to be required for programs that increase access to food by the poor, contribute to increased utilization of food and result in improved nutritional outcomes, even if the need for food aid to increase availability of foodgrains diminishes.Food relief Bangladesh. ,Food security. ,Development projects. ,Rice Prices Bangladesh. ,Wheat Prices. ,

Communities in conservation: Protected area management and enhanced conservation in Bangladesh

In the last few decades, the natural resource base of most developing countries has decreased alarmingly because of enormous population pressure and extreme poverty. Bangladesh is no exception, having lost most of its forest in the last 30 years. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has adopted various approaches to conserve the country’s remaining biodiversity, including protected areas (PAs). However, the creation of PAs alone has not produced positive conservation results as expected, due to a purely ecological focus that excluded the needs of local forestdependent people. The introduction of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) for nature conservation in PAs is relatively new for Bangladesh compared to other South Asian countries, but it seems to have effected significant changes. The GoB recently adopted CBNRM in five of its PAs as part of a pilot programme in collaborative management. This paper is a case study of the changing trends in PA management, people’s livelihoods and attitudes in and around one of these pilot sites. We observed that some changes have already taken place in forest resource collection patterns and in the attitudes of people in the locality. People’s income sources and dependency on protected forests have also noticeably shifted away from forest areas in the Communities in conservation: protected area management and enhanced conservation in Bangladesh last year. Although gradual, people’s participation seems to be changing the direction of future forest conservation in Bangladesh. We conclude that bringing a larger number of people under various income-generating schemes, clearly defining the rights and responsibilities of the local people in PAs and ensuring more effective governance should be the next steps for the future of participatory management in the country

Characterization of Cadmium Sulfide Films Deposited by Chemical Bath Method

Thin filmcadmium sulfide is a leading candidate in the fabrication of large area solar cells. The chemical bath deposition method is one of the least expensive sources for the fabrication of device quality cadmium sulfide thin films.Inthe present work, the deposition of CdS films on glass substrate from an aqueous solution containing cadmium acetate, ammonia, ammonium acetate, and thiourea are investigated. The structural properties of CdS films are characterized. Good quality thin films within 0.1 - o.5 |im thickness were obtained in30 minute deposition time, and at 70*-90*C. The films show preferential orientations. The optical transmittance of the films are in the range of 40-65% for wavelengths above the band gap absorption, making the filmssuitable as a window material inheterojunction solar cells

A REVIEW ON COVID-19-A GLOBAL BATTLE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH

Currently, the globe is affected by a severe pandemic scenario of COVID-19 infection. The Covid-19 infectious disease is spreading everywhere on the globe particularly in developed countries like China, u. s. Italy, France, Spain, Iran, England, Germany, South Korea, etc. a deadly disease of a unique coronavirus (COVID‐19 or 2019‐CoV) infection has exhibited significant threats to global health, and also the economy. Following an outbreak of pneumonia without a transparent cause within the city of Wuhan in China, a novel strain of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was detected in December 2019. Coronavirus is called for the spikes that protrude from their membranes just like the sun's corona. In line with WHO, Common signs of infection embrace fever, cold, cough, and respiratory difficulties like dyspnea, pneumonia. Within the absence of treatment for this virus, there's an imperative got to notice various strategies to manage the unfold of disease. It's “Corona time,” however; unfortunately, it's the virus that we tend to speak. In this paper, the origin of the viral infection, the clinical characteristics of Covid-19, etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms treatment and hindrance of Covid-19 are comprehensively detailed. At the time of this writing there are more queries than answers. The aim of our article is to provide a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 to the peoples, so they'll better understand it and prevent it

Re-examining Students’ Perception of E-Learning: An Australian Perspective

Purpose – Australian tertiary institutions are increasingly incorporating technologies, such as social media and Web 2.0 tools into teaching in response to changing student needs. The purpose of this paper is to revisit a fundamental question, frequently asked in marketing, “what do our ‘customers’ [students] think now?” This will help determine the effectiveness of application of these technologies in courses and teaching programs in a changing competitive educational environment. Design/methodology/approach – Using a mixed method approach, data were collected through 31 qualitative interviews and a survey of 231 university marketing students. Quantitative techniques included summary statistics, factor analysis and t-test. Findings – Results indicate while students’ perceived flexibility and better learning outcomes as positive aspects of e-learning, they have concerns about flexibility for self-paced learning, self-motivational issues, lack of human interaction and fostering teamwork. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to one Australian university operating in domestic and international markets. However, the study needs to be replicated for better generalizability across the sector. Practical implications – The findings question the effectiveness of e-learning as an alternative approach to face-to-face learning pedagogy. However, regular review of current e-learning tools is needed to help match student and tertiary institution expectations. Originality/value – This study re-investigates students’ perception in relation to the benefits that e-learning is expected to yield. It is one of the few studies questioning whether these promised benefits are valued by the tertiary student fraternity

Study of areas and development strategy for regional planning in East Pakistan.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of City and Regional Planning. Thesis. 1965. M.C.P.Bibliography: leaves 178-180.M.C.P