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Assessing Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change by Farming Communities in Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh

M. B. Ullah
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. H. Rahman
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Southwestern coastal Bangladesh is characterized by low-lying topography, high productive mangrove ecosystem and unique biodiversity. At the same time, the region is highly prone to cyclones, coasting flooding, and salinity, which causes huge losses to agriculture production and rural livelihoods. Marginal and small farmers are affected more. The objective of this paper is to examine the extent of climatic variations and to analyze farming communities’ vulnerabilities and adaptations to climate change in the saline prone southwestern coastal Bangladesh. We used both primary and secondary data for this study. We collected primary data from Atulia and Padmapukur unions of Shyamnagar upazila under Satkhira district of Bangladesh in April 2013. We collected secondary data from published statistics. We did not find significant changes in temperature and rainfall over time but salinity level has increased over time. Major vulnerability faced by farming communities due to climate change were saline water intrusion, scarcity of safe drinking and irrigation water, and problems on crop production, livestock rearing, fresh water fish culture, and sanitary latrines. Major adaptations practiced by farmers were culturing saline water shrimp in farms, harvesting rain water, drinking pond’s water, catching fish from the sea and river, and desalinization of river water by constructing embankments. Agricultural adaptation practices such as saline tolerant rice varieties cultivation, crabs fattening, sowing and planting date shifting, mulching, soil flashing, fertilizers management, seeds sowing using dibbling method, raise or slopping bed method crop cultivation in embankments, pit method crop cultivation, changing cropping patterns, zero tillage, and sorjan method crop cultivation can helps minimize the impacts of climate change, particularly to vulnerable smallholder farmers. Policies and programs are needed to develop and disseminate these adaptation practices complemented by farmers’ training on these practices.

Keywords: Adaptation, Climate change, Farming community, Vulnerability

Location: Satkhira district

Start Date: 01-04-2013

End Date: 30-04-2013

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Adoption and mitigation technology

Objectives:

1. To examine the extent of climatic variations and to analyze farming communities’ vulnerabilities and adaptations to climate change in the saline prone southwestern coastal Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Satkhira district, an area of 3,858 square kilometer, and population of 1.85 million is one of the most vulnerable coastal districts. It is comprised of 7 sub-districts, among them Shyamnagar and Assasuni is exposed coast. Sathkhira district is highly climate induced hazards prone area especially cyclone, tidal surge, coastal flood, drought, salinity and arsenic contamination. Shyamnagar upazila is characterized by large area facing towards the sea ; severely affected by Aila, a severe cyclone occurred on 25 May 2009, saline water intrusion both in surface and sub-surface water, serious scarcity of safe drinking and irrigation water, commercial shrimp farming using saline water, and high level of poverty led large rural out-migration. This study focused on extent of climate variations, vulnerability and adaptations to climate change.The specific objectives of the study were to examine the extent of climatic variations, and to analyze farming communities’ vulnerabilities and adaptations to climate change in the saline prone southwestern coastal Bangladesh. The study was conducted applying a mixture of both primary and secondary qualitative and quantitative data. Primary qualitative data were collected by conducting 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in five villages under Atulia and Padmapukur unions, Shyamnagar Upzail, Satkhira District in April 2013 and seven consultation meetings with various organizations engaged in the field of climate change in Bangladesh during different months in 2013. Secondary data were collected from different sources including reviewing the literatures published statistics, field visits, and sharing and validation workshops. Primary quantitative data were collected from 81 households including 28 women respondents from 5 villages under Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district. Separate FGDs were conducted in five categories of respondents, namely farmers, fishermen, traders, mixed (men and women) and women group. The share of individual FGD group in total FGD was 19% farmers, 19% fisherman, 19% traders, 19% mixed of men and women and 24% women only. Group comprising of 15-20 members were selected based on their experiences and knowledge about the locality. The purpose of those discussions was to gather opinions of households regarding vulnerabilities and practical solutions to climatic variability. Prior to FGD, various templates such as means of livelihood, vulnerability, and existing adaptation strategy were prepared for collection of more authentic information from households. Two workshops were also conducted at union level ensuring the participation of chairmen and members of union Parishad, service providers, NGOs representative, teachers and religious leaders in regards to justify, validate and further improvement the findings gathered from village level discussion.

Source of Information: J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 7(2): 31–35, 2014; ISSN 1999-7361

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Coastal communities affected by climatic variability and change do not have much knowledge on technology to adapt with vulnerability to salinity. They have very poor adaptive capacity on cropping practices, livestock and fresh water fisheries. The adaptive capacity on non-farm livelihood aspect was also unsatisfactory.

Knowledge Management: Journal