Farmers and farm managers in Bangladesh encounter difficulties when assessing the field effectiveness of agricultural technology, typically due to the lack of precise data for accurate evaluations. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) are two of the important technologies of precision agriculture (PA). Using these technologies machine performance can be evaluated precisely. The paper provides a rationale for utilizing Real Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System (RTK GNSS) technology to evaluate different operational attributes (transplanting track, efficiency and turning time loss) of a rice transplanter. Geo-referenced data for rice transplanter operation during the Boro transplanting season (January-May, 2020) were collected by the GNSS receiver from a field located at Dumuria upazila, Khulna, Bangladesh. The field efficiency of rice transplanter calculated from GNSS receiver data was found higher (73.83%) compared to that obtained from manually observed data (50.948%). This is because GNSS measured time loss more precisely than manual method. Geo-referenced machine data can enable farmers and farm managers to plan their farm operation according to their accurate machine performance. The findings of the study are anticipated to provide valuable guidance for decision-making, minimize inefficiencies, and improve the overall performance of agricultural technologies like rice transplanter.

Seed viability is essential to have a homogeneous plant population. The seed industry cannot adopt traditional procedures for seed viability evaluation since they are destructive, time-consuming, and need chemicals. This study aimed to investigate the potential of combining hyperspectral and color image features to differentiate viable and non-viable paddy seeds. The hyperspectral and color image of the 355 paddy seeds was captured and later used to examine their viability. An image processing algorithm was developed to extract features from color images of paddy seeds and investigated significant differences in the retrieved feature data using variance analysis. The spectra were extracted from the selected region of interest (ROI) of the hyperspectral paddy seed image and averaged. In the next step, the partial least square discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) model was developed to distinguish viable and non-viable paddy seeds. Initially, the PLS-DA model was developed using spectral data with different preprocessing techniques, and the result obtained an accuracy of 88.9 % in the calibration set and 86.1 % in the prediction set using Savitzky-Golay 2nd derivative preprocessed spectra. With the fusion of spectral and significant color image features, the model's accuracy improved to 93.3 % and 90.9 % in the calibration and prediction sets, respectively. Results also showed that the fusion of selected color image features with Savitzky-Golay 2nd derivative preprocessed spectra could achieve higher F1-score, recall, and precision values. The visualization map for the viable and non-viable paddy seeds was also developed utilizing the most effective predictive model. The results demonstrate the possibility of using the fusion of the hyperspectral and color image features to sort seeds according to viability, which may be applied in developing an online seed sorting method.

Mechanical rice transplanting has been emerged as an alternative of traditional rice transplanting in Bangladesh. Hence, this study analyzed the financial viability of rice transplanter operation businesses for agropreneurs using the "RuralInvest" software developed by FAO. The analysis considered that seedlings were raised by the farmers themselves and the estimated lifespan of a rice transplanter machine was set at 6 years. The direct beneficiaries were identified as 4 individuals, while an additional 40 individuals were considered indirect beneficiaries of this business model. The financial assessment based on field data revealed favorable indicators with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 45.09%, a net present value (NPV) of BDT 644276, a payback period of 2 years and an annual net income of BDT 199860. By adopting the mechanical rice transplanting agropreneur model, individuals are provided with an opportunity to generate income while contributing to the widespread use of mechanical transplanting methods. This not only addresses the challenges of labor scarcity and high wages but also improves the timeliness of transplanting thereby enhancing food security in Bangladesh.

Combine harvester is one of the most crucial pieces of harvesting equipment in modern agriculture. Farmers and entrepreneurs employing a combine harvester need to focus on two pivotal factors: its profitability and optimal replacement time. Proper performance in this scenario can lead to prompt, and high-quality farm operations, enhancing income and simultaneously reducing product expenses significantly. This paper proposes a web-based application that would allow estimating the economic life and feasibility of combine harvesters in Bangladesh. The minimum cost value determination process has been used to estimate economic life by applying the double declining depreciation method. A high-level Python web framework has been used for the design and development of the software. The combine harvester exhibits a consistent economic life of 10 years for 300 to 450 hrs of annual use, with an increase in average yearly use from 300 to 450 hrs. As average yearly usage increases, the combine harvester's economic life declines drastically after 500 hrs of operation. Comparison with manual estimation shows that economic feasibility estimated by the web-based app provides more relevant data. The web-based app provides a useful tool for farmers, and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh to estimate the economic life and feasibility of combine harvesters, enabling better decision-making and improved managerial policies.

Long time storage of paddy is a concerning issue at farm households and rice mills of Bangladesh due to inadequate sustainable storage technologies. Hence, paddy storage facilities of 20 rice mills and 40 farm households of Mymensingh division were investigated following semi-structured questionnaires to know the existing paddy storage technologies, problems, and future needs. Traditional gunny bags are used in rice mills for storing consumable paddy whereas 77.5%, 20%, and 2.5% farmers use dole, gunny bag and plastic bag, respectively. About 60%, 17.5%, and 7.5% farmers under the study use GrainPro bag, metal/plastic drum, and motka, respectively for storing paddy seed. Despite using preventive chemicals about 2.4%, 3.4%, and 3.3% paddy loss occurs during storage in automatic, semi-automatic, and major rice mills, respectively. To solve problem, about 80% of rice mill owners demanded for hermetic cocoon.

Ensuring agro-farm security has become a paramount challenge in the context of Bangladesh's growing agricultural sector. In response to the escalating challenges of theft and aggressive activities plaguing agricultural farms in Bangladesh, this research presents an innovative IoT-based smart agro-farm security system. Through comprehensive system design, program development, and testing, the system detects unauthorised access and triggers alarms, sending real-time notifications to the farmer's house and mobile device. The system consists of a sender station (farm shed) and two receiver stations (farmer's house and mobile device). The sender station integrates a range of sensors (laser and vibration sensors), including GSM and a transceiver controlled by an Arduino Mega. The receiver stations comprise an Arduino UNO, indicator lights, high-sound alarms, and remote access on the farmer's mobile device. Testing showed 100% responsiveness for the laser sensor and 90% for the vibration sensor. This system went through a rigorous process of testing which resulted in an overall system efficiency of 90%. This innovative solution empowers farmers and agro-farm entrepreneurs to protect their valuable assets, contributing to enhanced farm security in Bangladesh and promoting agricultural industry sustainability.

The landscape of Britain has been significantly reshaped by the waves of immigration from its former colonies following World War II. This immigration has had profound implications on Britain's geographical, cultural, social, political, and economic dimensions. Immigrants, in their quest for belonging, find their cultural heritage adapted to the new land, yet a sense of nostalgia for the homeland lingers as fragmented memory. From a postcolonial theoretical perspective, the aesthetics of immigration are characterized by cross-cultural, transnational interactions, and the experience of 'double-time.' The discourse of post-war migrancy challenges the dominant Eurocentric narratives and stereotypical representations of the Third World, presenting a counter-discourse that fosters hybrid and transnational identities. The present paper focuses on the impact of post-war immigration, specifically from Trinidad, on British culture, and explores the potential ambivalent productivity of a multilingual and multiethnic Britain. It delves into the concept of culturally hybridized and ambivalent Britishness, shaped within the 'contact zone' of various ethnocultural encounters, as portrayed in V.S. Naipaul's The Mimic Men and Sam Selvon's The Lonely Londoners.

Major rice mills rely on weather for paddy drying and they cannot dry paddy in time. On the other hand, existing mechanical dryers of automatic and semi-automatic rice mills can dry either parboiled or aromatic paddy. Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Innovation Lab (PHLIL)-Bangladesh project, Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University has developed a 12 ton capacity BAU Recirculating Paddy Dryer suitable both for parboiled and aromatic paddy for rice mills. Now, this dryer needs to be introduced and scaled up to the rice mills. For this reason, effect of the BAU Recirculating Paddy Dryer on the performance of a major rice mill need to be analyzed first. Even, different types of rice mills may face different challenges that need to be addressed for scaling up the proposed dryer. Hence, key informant interviews were conducted with owner and manager of Moti Auto Rice Mill, Shyamganj Bazar, Purbadhala, Netrokona and a focused group discussion was conducted with rice mill workers to identify the concerning issues that need to be addressed for scaling of the BAU Recirculating Paddy Dryer in Bangladesh. The study found that the capacity utilization of the Moti Auto rice mill has increased from 33.3% (before adopting the dryer) to 60% (after adopting the dryer) as the miller does not need to wait for favorable weather for paddy drying after the adoption of BAU Recirculating Paddy dryer. Women did not lose their job as the miller is still using the concrete drying floor for paddy while there is a clear sunny day in parallel to the dryer. The male workers are getting more jobs to do (loading, unloading and parboiling) which has increased their weekly income by about USD 14.3 after the adoption of the dryer. Workers involved in sun drying operation of paddy in the rice mills found poultry rearing, cattle fattening and goat rearing as the highly demandable and profitable alternatives of their present job. However, they have opined that they will need training and credit facility to involve themselves in those income generating activities.

Overwhelming majority of farm households in Bangladesh are smallholder. Purchasing all the agricultural machines for farm activities is beyond the reach and not rationale for them. Even, a smallholder farmer cannot utilize the full capacity of a small-sized machine. Micro agripreneurs (single) with one or two machines also cannot maintain their livelihoods on custom hiring business because of seasonal use of machines. Agripreneurs having machines for all farm activities under a single shed would provide all the necessary services to farmers on custom-hire basis and on the other hand able to maintain their livelihoods round the year. Organized farmers‘ group may also acquire agricultural machines and ensure farming services to her members. However, these agripreneurs (youth and adult farmers) are lacking knowledge and skill on operation and maintenance and custom hiring business of agricultural machinery. To address these issues, a study was conducted to compare the performance of single, single shed and farmers‘ group agripreneurship models for custom hire service provisions of agricultural machines. All three models are found beneficial for the agricultural machinery service receiving farmers. However, from the point of business model, single shed service point (S3P) is found more sustainable in terms of benefits and maintaining livelihoods of the agripreneurs round the year and ensure services to the farmers. Beyond service provisions to the farmers, the S3P is also acting as the center of awareness, knowledge, capacity building and networking for the potential agripreneurs, youth and adult, farmers, students, academicians, researchers, extension officers and policy makers. S3Ps are also promoting the operation and maintenance of agricultural machines, custom hiring business strategies, day to day accounting, business scheduling and sustainability of the business. Farmers‘ group agripreneurship is also found beneficial in terms of financial resource mobilization for having the machines and providing services to group members; however, management of operation and services are found lacking in motivation as the operator of the machines does not personally own them. Since, farmers are getting agricultural machinery services from the S3Ps hence they are adopting synchronize cultivation practice of crops- a key concern for sustainable agricultural mechanization for a country having fragmented land like Bangladesh. Considering the above mentioned situational analysis, it is imperative that the single shed service point (S3P) service model would have played an important role for strengthening agricultural mechanization in Bangladesh.

Major rice mills of Bangladesh are gradually running out from the paddy processing subsector, a serious concern for national food security. This study investigated the paddy drying methods of 22 rice mills to device a sustainable solution for major rice mills. Weather dependency and high sun drying time (48-96 hours) of paddy are responsible for low capacity utilization of major rice mills. Despite of high demand, appropriate dryer size for major rice mills was still unexplored. Present capacity utilization of major rice mills (27.6%) can be optimized to 72.5% with a 12 ton dryer. Analyzing drying mechanism of recirculating dryers, the study also proposed for a single dryer for both parboiled and aromatic paddy rather than following existing practice. This will make mechanical dryer affordable to major rice mill owners and new investors in this subsector.

Postharvest food loss and waste (FLW) is one of the key challenges in global agri-food, potential thread to food security, natural resources, and human health. Insufficient drying facility is one of the predominant drivers for postharvest FLW. The BAU-STR dryer (Capacity: 500 kg/batch) that was developed at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), under the Feed the Future and USAID-funded “Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Innovation Lab (PHLIL)-Bangladesh” project is a proven women-friendly mechanical batch dryer would be effective solution of postharvest FLW reduction and thus mitigate the impact of FLW on the livelihoods of underserved communities in Nilphamari, Bangladesh. The objectives of this study were to investigate the existing drying status of maize through survey and test the performance of the BAU-STR dryer for maize at the Nilphamari region. Farmers of the study areas sun dry their maize on field, yard, mat/canvas and concrete drying floor. On an average it required about 3.5 sunny days to dry maize with an average sun drying loss of 5.75%. On the other hand, the experimental results showed that BAU-STR dryer required about 4.5 to 5 hours to properly dry one batch of maize depending on the initial moisture content. Drying loss of maize in BAU-STR dryer was found about 0.575%. Thereby, the BAU-STR dryer has the potential to save about 5.175% of FLW compared to traditional sun drying of maize. BAU-STR dryer can be replicated and used as loss saving drying technology for underserved communities of Bangladesh as well as other developing maize growing countries in the world.

Paddy is processed into rice through rice mill. Major rice mills of Bangladesh are gradually running out from the paddy processing business as they are unable to properly dry paddy under the open sun. Financial condition of major rice mills does not allow them to adopt separate mechanical dryers for parboiled and aromatic paddy. Considering the mentioned situations, an integrated 12 ton capacity recirculating paddy dryer was designed in Bangladesh context and installed at Moti Auto Rice mill, Shyamganj Bazar, Purbadhala, Netrokona. The rotor rpm of the dryer was kept 5 to control grain exposure time to hot air in each cycle of recirculation. Drying temperature was monitored with Fluke data logger connecting K type thermocouple sensors. The results obtained from the first one set of experiments showed that hot air temperature distribution within the dryer was uniform and both parboiled and aromatic paddy was successfully dried in the designed dryer. About 17.5 hour and 3.03 hour were required to dry about 12 ton parboiled (29.4% to 13.3% moisture content) and aromatic paddy (16.7% to 12% moisture content) exposing 69.2°C and 72.9°C hot air temperature respectively, on an average. Milled rice recovery of the mechanically dried paddy was found higher compared to sun dried paddy. The performance of the installed husk fuel-based dryer was found better compared to the existing sun drying method. However, further experiments of the 12 ton dryer will be required before recommending the dryer as a viable drying solution in order to protect the major rice mills from complete shutdown.

This paper analyzes the textual function of cultural representation of subaltern identity in the construction and maintenance of First and Third World relations in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea. It focuses on dominant discursive practices that pervade the texts, exploring how the hegemonic ideology of the West is operational in constructing value systems while simultaneously rendering the Third World subjects as subaltern. Both works are upheld by language use that facilitates the understanding of hierarchical structures of power relations and the possibilities of resistance to that project. It shows how Mr. Rochester has been a dominant voice and an authoritative figure in the dehumanizing legacy of patriarchy and imperialism. In Jane Eyre the dominant discursive space restricts the individual identity of Bertha Mason about whom no subjective voice is given to her to claim her identity. But Wide Sargasso Sea functions as a “re-inscription” of Jane Eyre in the sense that Antoinette/Bertha voices and struggle for her identity. Her subjectivity and individual identity are not given but distorted by dominant power structures and discourses that presents ideological contention in the existing social relations and identities.