86 percent people with disabilities directly involved in agriculture: study

A total of 86 percent people with physical and leprosy disabilities in Bangladesh are directly involved in agriculture while income of 88 percent of farmers with disabilities has been reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The information was revealed in the 'Research Findings Dissemination and Journalist Award Giving Ceremony' at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) Complex auditorium in the city today organised by The Leprosy Mission International-Bangladesh and supported by Bangladesh Krishak League, ICCO-Cooperation and NOREC.

Two studies titled 'The Role of People with Disabilities in Agriculture' and 'Covid-19 Impacts on the Lives and  Livelihoods of People with Disabilities' were conducted in between September and December 2020.

Research Findings 

A total of 210 physically challenged people in 32 upazilas under 16 districts of Bangladesh attended face to face interviews as key respondents in the study.

Of them 42 percent were found as the main wage-earning members of the family.

According to the study findings, 62% of persons with disabilities are involved in poultry farming, 52% in livestock rearing, 36% in vegetables farming while 37% in cultivation.

The study conducted by TLMI-B also reveals that only 12.86% farmers with disabilities are government-recognised farmers while the rest of 87.14% farmers with disabilities are deprived of the government services in agriculture sector.

Besides, only 4% of the farmers with disabilities are associated with the agriculture-based committees at union, upazila and district levels and the remaining 98% are not associated with any committee.

The study findings also reveal that 24% farmers with disabilities face problems regarding disable-friendly agricultural equipment.

Meanwhile, 31% of the farmers with disabilities face difficulties in getting agri-loan, while 32% of the farmers with disabilities informed that they have no money or capital to start agriculture despite having capability.

In response to another question in the quantitative study, 67 percent of the farmers with disabilities said they need capital assistance, 55 percent said they should be included in government policy, 51 percent demanded fertilizer while 48 percent wanted seed assistance.

A separate study titled "Covid-19 Impacts on Life and  Livelihood of Farmers with Disabilities in Bangladesh", reveals that income of 88 percent farmers with disabilities has been reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study shows also 81 percent farmers with disabilities were deprived of proper treatment facilities thanks to the pandemic.

The study also reveals that 65.14 percent farmers with disabilities lost the scope of income during the lockdown due to the pandemic. On the other hand, 36 percent farmers with disabilities have been forced to work at low wages.

After reviewing the study findings, the researchers suggested that since changing of any policy is a lengthy process, the government agricultural facilities should be made available for all the farmers with disabilities on priority basis by issuing gazette notification as an emergency response to Covid-19.

Nine Journalists Awarded 

The Leprosy Mission International-Bangladesh awarded nine journalists for reporting on persons with disabilities in agriculture.

Attending the event as the chief guest, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud handed over the crests to the reporters at the event.