Environmental Perspectives and Distance Decay Function: A Case Study of Rural Periodic Markets in Nawabganj Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh

Abstract

Generally Rural Periodic Market (RPM) means a small scale market where people solemnize their every day purchasing and selling for mainly consumption purposes and continuing every day’s economic activities. The evolution and development of rural periodic markets are usually conditioned by population pressure, transport intensity, consumer’s income, inter-center distance and range of goods. This study concerns with the environmental perspectives and Distance Decay function of the rural periodic markets of Nawabganj upazila in Chapai Nawabganj district. The main theme of this study is that the present way of life of the people of the study area is closely interlinked with the rural periodic markets. Moreover, many people talk about the various aspects of rural periodic market including its environmental consequences. But none of the environmentalist or think-tank did conduct any comprehensive and rigorous study in this field. Being a much talked about issue, the researcher has conducted this study with a view to identifying and understanding the spatial nature of rural periodic markets and its impact on physical and human environment. Some selected methodology like social survey, observation and case study along with some techniques of data collection and analysis where some environmental aspects have been given special priority in the present study. The study area has a total 40 RPMs, and out of these 6 RPMs are growth center, 17 RPMs revenue collection haats and 17 non-government RPMs. The findings for the questionnaire survey in the study area shows the location of the RPMs and its historical background, land forms as well as physical condition of the area, climate, population density, agricultural, literacy and transport have been presented. Then the site and situation of RPM in each union has been discussed where only one RPM and the subject have been represent as the representative of the whole situation of the particular study area. The initiation and development of RPMs in the study area involved four factors such as personal influence (22.5%), population pressure (35%), communication facilities (17.5%) and surplus production (25%). The study area’s Rn value is 1.06 which is close to one and therefore, it indicates that the haats of this upazila are randomly distributed. The RPMs have been classified into four classes i.e. 08 is in 1st order haat, 09 is in 2nd order haat, 09 is in 3rd order haat and 14 RPMs are in 4th order. Temporal distribution of RPM means distribution relates with time context. Daily RPMs is 01, weekly 09 and Bi-weekly 30. Spatio-temporal synchronization of RPM such as same day markets 5.55 km., adjacent day markets 3.81 km. one day separated markets 3.47 km. and two days separated markets are 3.21 km. In Nawabganj sadar upazila out of nine RPM rings two are incomplete rings and seven are complete RPM rings. The main focus of the study is to determined trade as well as the spatial interactions among the markets and the products being assembled. The convergence of the product has been examined in the light of distance and perishability. There are two parameters which have analyzed the background of physical factors and social milieu. Such association has been documented in a matrix to find out the development of the positive and negative relationship. The total calculative positive impact points are one thousand five hundred thirty seven (+1537) and the total negative impact points are minus nine hundred and ninety (-990). So it may get 547 positive points often deleting the negative impact points from the total positive impact point and it is said that the study area have the positive impact of Rural Periodic Markets. However in order to get more expected positive value points regarding environmental perspective all RPMs should be established in well planned and environment friendly manner.