Results3.1. Household characteristics and their participation in theaction researchThe average age of the HSP household heads (48 ± 4.36 years)was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that (33.75 ± 3.75) of MSPhousehold heads, but all were classed as middle aged, consideringthe population of Bangladesh (Table 1). Heads of HSP householdswere found to be more educated than those of MSP households,and for this reason HSP household heads tended to be employeesin small jobs and businesses. Agriculture was the main occupa-tion of MSP households, and their household size was significantlylarger (p < 0.05) than that of HSP. There was no significant differ-ence (p > 0.05) in the size of landholdings owned by HSP and MSPhouseholds, but because of their involvement in agriculture, MSPhouseholds leased in additional land (0.34 ± 0.15 ha). The annualincome of HSP households was not significantly higher (p > 0.05)than that of MSP households, but due to doing at least one addi-tional job, MSP households had relatively higher annual income.