PATTERN AND LEVEL OF ON-FARM AND OFF-FARM EMPLOYMENT OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS: EVIDENCES FROM AN AREA OF GAIBANDHA DISTRICT

In Bangladesh the labour absorption capacity of agriculture has declined because of population pressure, land distribution structure, increasing application of labour saving farm technologies, etc. As a result, the off-farm sector in the country has attracted attention in recent years as it has performed an increasingly significant rural income augmentation function. In the study area rural males utilized about 29 and 66 percent mandays on on-farm and off-farm activities and rural females utilized 17 and 42 percent women days on on-farm and off-farm activities respectively. Family size, educational level, higher family income and use of farm machinery were positively and farm size was negatively related to off-farm employment. For Bangladesh rural areas with acute employment and under employment, increased efforts should be made to create off-farm employment opportunities