Exploring Crops and Cropping Systems in the Charland Areas of Mymensingh, Bangladesh: A Survey-Based Study

Charlands are dynamic and flood-prone environments where farmers must adjust their cropping practices to changing water conditions and limited resources. This study assessed the socioeconomic characteristics of farmers, documented existing cropping practices, and identified major cropping patterns in selected char areas of Mymensingh, Bangladesh. A survey was conducted among 84 randomly selected farmers from Dakshin Kalibarir Char in Mymensingh Sadar and Ujan Kashiar Char in Gouripur Upazila. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire during 20–28 April 2021 and analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS. Most farmers were middle-aged (57.1%), and agriculture was the major occupation of about three-fourths of the respondents. Educational attainment was generally low, with 61.9% having primary-level education, while 78.6% operated small farms of up to 0.99 ha. Farmers’ knowledge of crop production practices was mainly low to medium, with 36.9% having low and 47.6% having medium knowledge. The cropping pattern Boro rice–Fallow–T. aman rice was dominant, followed by 61% of the farmers. This pattern reflects the seasonal water dynamics of charlands, allowing farmers to cultivate Boro rice during the relatively dry period, leave land fallow during rising water levels, and grow T. aman rice under rainfed conditions. Overall, cropping decisions were closely associated with farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, available land, crop-management knowledge, and seasonal water conditions. Strengthening extension support, practical training, and locally suitable cropping options could improve the productive use and resilience of charland farming systems.