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Drought Risk Reduction Through a Socio-economic, Institutional and Physical Approach in the Northwestern Region of Bangladesh

Umma Habiba
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan

Rajib Shaw
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan

Yukiko Takeuchi
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

In Bangladesh, drought is seasonal and can destroy crops, causing hardship to poor agricultural labourers and others who cannot find alternative sources of income. Droughts most commonly affect the northwestern region, which generally has less rainfall than the rest of the country. In this context, this study attempts to measure the existing level of drought resilience with indicators related to Socio-economic, Institutional and Physical (SIP) conditions in two of the most drought-prone districts, namely Rajshahi and Chapai-Nawabganj. The results of 14 sub-districts (upazilas) show a variation of 2.41 (lowest resilience) and 3.61 (highest resilience) in a scale of 1–5. Some of the critical areas that need improvement include education and awareness, conflict resolution on water usage, policy enhancement, coordination among different stakeholders and proper land-use pattern. SIP methodology can be used as a rapid planning tool at the district level, and as a micro-level planning and improvement tool at the sub-district level. The tool has potential application for a participatory and process-based approach of engaging local stakeholders in minimizing drought risks in future.

Keywords: Drought; Northwestern region; Resilience; SIP approach

Location: Rajshahi and Chapai-Nawabganj

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Drought

Objectives:

To measure the existing level of different socio-economic, institutional and physical conditions of the drought affected area through the SIP (Socio-economic, Institutional and Physical) approach and
To compare drought resilience among the upazilas (sub- districts) of two drought-prone districts.

Methodology:

The study was conducted with the help of the Deputy Commissioner (bureaucratic head of the district) of Rajshahi and Chapai-Nawabganj, and the questionnaire was filled by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (who is responsible for supervising all upazila level administrative/development works as well as preparing coordinating upazila development plans of the respective upazila) with the consent of other officials such as Upazila Agriculture Officer, Upazila Live Stock Officer, Upazila Fisheries Officer and so on. It has been made a survey in the relevant offices in the upazila level, had focus group discussions with the local officers, and explained the importance of the indicators and questionnaires. This process was adopted to reduce the uncertainties in the filling up the questionnaires. In addition to the questionnaire survey, secondary data were collected through government, NGOs and donors in Bangladesh, such as Climate Change Cell under Ministry of Environment and Forest, LACC of CDMP under Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, BMD (Bangladesh Meteorological Department), BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council), CEGIS (Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services), BCAS (Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies) and UNDP (United Nations Develop- ment Program) at upazila (sub-district), district and division level. Secondary data include rainfall, temperature, ground-water table, land use, natural resources, services and facilities, live- stock, cropping pattern and agricultural production, water resources and related problems.

Three specific dimensions (social, institutional and physical) were chosen as the most relevant issues of drought risk reduction. Each dimension was divided into different sets of primary and secondary indicators. Altogether, there were 11 primary indicators (five for social, three for institutional and three for physical) and 55 secondary indicators (each of the primary indicators were divided into five secondary indicators). Depending on these indicators, socio- economic, institutional and physical resilience was calculated, which provides an appropriate scenario of an upazila’s current drought situation and it has been considered as a rapid planning tool. Data on each of these primary and secondary indicators were collected through a comprehensive set of questionnaires. Each question should be ranked between 1 (poor, not sufficient/existent) and 5 (good) in a five-point rating scale. Additionally, survey respondents were requested to assign weights for the indicators and dimensions in order to reflect the priorities of the upazila and the relevance of the indicators to the local situation. Simple arithmetic functions such as weighted mean index and aggregate weighted mean index were used to calculate the scores for indicator and dimension, respectively.

Source of Information: Environmental Hazards, 10:2 (2011): 121-138, ISSN: 1747-7891 (Print) 1878-0059 (Online)

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17477891.2011.582311

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Drought resilience measured with indicators from overall, Socio-economic, Institutional and Physical (SIP) conditions in two of the most drought-prone districts, namely Rajshahi and Chapai-Nawabganj. The overall drought resilience of 14 sub-districts (upazilas) ranged from 2.41 (lowest resilience) to 3.61 (highest resilience) in a scale of 1–5. Furthermore, the maximum and minimum values lied between 1.77 and 3.68, where the lowest value stands for institutional resilience and the highest value stands for social resilience. Depending on the score, the drought resilience level is divided into five categories from very high (4.0>3.4), high (3.4>2.8), medium (2.8>2.2), low (2.2>1.6) to very low (1.6>1.0). Some of the critical areas that need improvement include education and awareness regarding the present disaster situation of Bangladesh, conflict resolution on water usage, policy enhancement, coordination among different stakeholders and proper land-use pattern. This situation arises only during periods of drought time due to the scarcity of water. Water scarcity causes not only social conflict but also health problems. SIP (which can be used as a rapid planning tool to minimize drought impacts at the micro-level, eg., sub-district/upazila level) methodology can be used as a rapid planning tool at the district level, and as a micro-level planning and improvement tool at the sub-district level.

Knowledge Management: Journal