South Asia: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Islands of the Indian Ocean - Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and Southeast Asia - page 255

fabrics. In fact, special jute blankets have been manufac-
tured to protect poor, northern peoples from the winter
cold. Moreover, jute stalks are used as fuel, the leaves can
be eaten, and any remaining debris can be plowed back
into the soil as natural fertilizer.
Sown from March to May and harvested in August,
jute can be grown in uplands or lowlands. One variety
can withstand 5 feet of flooding. In fact, Bangladesh pro-
duces two-thirds of the world' s jute. Until recently , syn-
thetic fibers threatened the jute industry and production
declined. Fortunately , environmental concerns have
made jute desirable once again.
Livestock are of increasing significance in the econ-
omy . In fact, livestock rearing—employing about 20 per-
cent of the labor force—is the most important activity for
the rural poor. Cattle and water buffalo are not only draft
animals, but also provide dung for fertilizer, milk, and
meat for food, and leather, horn, bone, and oil for export.
Bovine animals work as much as 80 percent of the agri-
cultural land and are indispensable for threshing grain
and crushing oilseeds and sugarcane.
Despite the large numbers of cattle, buffalo, goats,
and chickens available, Bangladesh is deficient in meat,
milk, and eggs. This can be attributed to genetic deficien-
cies of livestock, ignorance of breeding, feeding, and
maintenance procedures, and lack of veterinary care. As
a result, Bangladesh is a net importer of live cattle and
milk products.
While Green Revolution technologies have in-
creased yields, beneficiaries are primarily middle-income
and rich peasants who dominate cooperatives and local
power structures. It is important to note that more than

half the land is owned by 10 percent of households and
that 75 percent of rural households are either landless or
possess tiny plots around 2 acres (0.8 ha). Geographer
Abu M. S. Ali (1998) found that small farm size is the
leading cause of unemployment and underemployment
in agriculture (i.e., frequency of unemployment rises
with decreasing farm size). Land reform or any other im-
provements in agriculture must be viewed in the context
of population requirements.

Population and Gender Issues

Bangladesh experienced a population explosion after
1947 with the introduction of health care and improved
sanitation (Figure 9-6). The death rate fell dramatically .
Increasing numbers moved into marginal lands, where
their needs could not be adequately met. This situation
was compounded by migration streams from India.
Bangladesh has a natural increase rate of 1.6 per-
cent. In 2003 the TFR was 3.6; as of 2008 it was 2.5.
Nevertheless, only 53 percent of rural Bangladeshi
women (61 percent urban) are using some form of con-
traception and just short of half are illiterate (59 percent
for men).
In this Muslim society , women are traditionally sub-
jugated by men, marriages are arranged, and acid attacks,
burnings, and dowry deaths still occur. The sex ratio re-
mains imbalanced with 105 males per 100 females. Al-
though there is a tradition of purdah, most women must
work outside. Consequently , strict purdah is practiced
primarily among the middle classes.

Figure 9-6
These Bangladeshis are trying to get onto an
already crowded train. T Trainmen crawl over
the throngs to collect tickets. © RAFIQUR RAHMAN/
Reuters/Landov LLC .