ECONOMICS OF ALTERNATIVE GOLDA AND RICE FARMING IN POLDER AREAS OF KHULNA DISTRICT

The study `attempted to assess the profitability of producing both Golda and Aman paddy farming and to explore the effects of key inputs on production processes of Golda and Aman paddy. Two villages of Pankhali Union in Dacope Upazila of Khulna district in Bangladesh were selected purposively for the study. In total, 120 farmers, at the rate of 60 from each enterprise, were randomly selected for the study. Descriptive statistics, activity budgets, Cobb-Douglas production function model were employed to achieve the objectives. The major findings of the study were that both T. Aman paddy and Golda production were profitable. Per hectare total cost, gross return and net return of Golda farming were estimated at Tk169,274.00, 123,256.00 and 75,226.00, respectively. Similarly, per hectare total cost, gross return and net return of T. Aman farming were Tk 33,097.00, 59,723.00 and 26,626.00, respectively. It was observed that coefficients of post larva, human labour, feed and stocking of others fish fry were positive and had significant impact on gross returns of Golda. Similarly, the coefficient of human labour, power tiller and insecticide were positive and had significant impacts on gross returns of T. Aman paddy production. Finally, findings of the study rule out some policy recommendations