IMPLICATIONS OF RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN KUSHTIA SADAR UPAZILA OF BANGLADESH
Keywords:
rural infrastructure, agricultural production, cultivable land, infrastructure land, unplanned population expansion, unplanned human settlement, urbanization, nuclear families, policy measures, vertical infrastructural development, zonal growth planning, population control, satellite towns, multi-storied buildings, land banks, Combined Data Bank, legal actions, land use planning, BangladeshAbstract
This research study investigates the impact of rural infrastructure on agricultural production in
Sadar Upazila of Kushtia District, Bangladesh. With a focus on six unions in the district, primary data was
collected through structured questionnaires from 50 respondents using purposive sampling. Statistical
methods, such as multiple regression and paired-sample t-test, were employed to analyze the data. The results
indicate that cultivable land positively impacts agricultural production, while infrastructure land has a
negative impact on it. Infrastructure built on cultivable land has reduced agricultural production, mainly
caused by unanticipated population expansion, unplanned human settlement, urbanization, and an increase in
nuclear families. The declining cropland in Bangladesh due to unplanned infrastructure development,
increasing urbanization, and industrialization is also highlighted. Suitable policy measures and
recommendations for developing rural infrastructure and agricultural production have been presented. The
study recommends vertical infrastructural development, accumulation of zonal growth planning, imposition
of taxes for new infrastructures, control of population growth, and awareness-raising among people. District
and Upazila-based satellite towns must be developed to protect agricultural land. Villages can be transformed
into small towns, and multi-storied buildings can be built to avoid isolated housing. Land banks can be created
to develop appropriate land use plans in the study area, and a Combined Data Bank can be established to
collect data on land use and agricultural production. Legal actions should be taken to ensure proper utilization
of agricultural land
