DHAKA: The number of landless farmers is on rise in the rural areas of the country, a research shows.

A professor of Kyoto University of Japan, Koichi Fujita, conducted the research in Bangladesh which depicted a grim picture of increasing number of landless farmers since 1990. It changed the demography and economy in the rural areas, he said.

Mismanagement in the market, natural disaster, internal migration – all these contributed to the sufferings of the farmers who, in their rising number, rushed for support from the landlords and handed over their lands for credits.

“Those who were once owners of acres of land became landless for indebtedness. The number of farmers having over five acres of land gradually shrank,” Prof Fujita said.      

Fujita cited examples from South Chamuria of Kalihati in Tangail and Ghogra village of Sherpur where he conducted a survey for his research.

It shows that 24 per cent of farmers have lost their land and became farm-labourers in the last 20 years while 31 per cent of farmers became bidi-labourers (local cigarette manufacturer).

“Fifteen percent of the farmers became rickshaw puller,” Prof Fujita said.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) supported Fujita in conducting the study which was presented at a programme on Tuesday.