Ratna Begum is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Finance and Cooperatives, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. She received her B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics and M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics (Finance) from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Her research interests are Agricultural Finance, productivity, efficiency, risk, Women empowerment, aquaculture and food and nutritional security.