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Drought in Northern Bangladesh: Social, Agroecological Impact and Local Perception

Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam
Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, 5400, Bangladesh

Anjum Tasnuva
Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, 5400, Bangladesh

Subaran Chandra Sarker
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, 5400, Bangladesh

Md. Masudar Rahman
Department of Geography and Environmental studies, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

Md. Sanaul Haque Mondal
International Rice Research Institute, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh

Md. Mujahid Ul Islam
Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, 5400, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The 1994, 2000 and 2006 drought appeared to bad memories in the northern region of Rangpur division, Bangladesh. The objective of this research was to explore social and agro-ecological impact of drought and local perception in the study area. A semi-structural questionnaire was employed from February to March, 2014 where 120 respondents were chosen stratified sampling to acquire information at drought prone area. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used as a main tool for purpose of the study. The results revealed that drought were adversely impacted on social and agro-ecology in the study area. Local perception depicted that drought is as a curse of God and the outcome of sin while some perceive are evaluated as human negligence and shortage of water. The study was also revealed that higher knowledge variability were belonging to group 3 and group 4 people. The descriptive and inferential statistics indicated that there was a significant correlation between literacy and occupation type with social and agro-ecological impact of drought. But, there were no significant relationship between age, household size and land ownership with social and agro-ecological impact of drought. It is suggested that if awareness and literacy level increases to diminish social and agro-ecological impact of drought in the study area.

Keywords: Northern Bangladesh, Local perception, Knowledge variability, Agro-ecological impact and Literacy level

Location: Rangpur and Nilphamary

Start Date: 00-02-2014

End Date: 00-03-2014

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Drought

Objectives:

To examine the impact of drought on social and agro-ecology and local perception in the northern Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Study Area: The study area is situated in the north-western region of Bangladesh which covers 2 % of the total area of Bangladesh. The study area comprises of 3 Upazilla in two drought-prone districts namely Rangpur and Nilphamary. It is located at 25° 77′N latitude to 89° 41′E longitude. Climate of the study area has a tropical wet and dry. Annual rainfall is about 1430 mm and average temperature is 25⁰c

Study Design: The study was mainly based on primary data. Data were collected through long session of interview from February to March 2014. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed to collect primary data for the study. A detailed field survey was conducted through in depth interview using both open and closed-ended questionnaire. By adopting quantitative research method, the study attempts to explore the local perception about drought and direct impact of drought on drought prone area. For qualitative research, this study was employed field observation and focus group discussion to get socio-demographic characteristics, livestock loss and biodiversity, stability distribution in the study. The interview session was carried out into Bangla language. Because most of the respondents are illiterate and they expressed their experience about 1994, 2000 and 2006 drought by Bangla language which translated into English. The semi-structure questionnaires were prepared and approved by the panel of experts including the faculty member of Disaster Management of Begum Rokeya University and agriculture researcher in the study area. The questionnaire reliability was 80% by using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient method. The focus group discussion were including 6-8 people per group, and key informant interview such as union chairman’s (local representative of union parishad) and school teacher were held for achieving aim of this study. The mail purpose of this group discussion that motivates the drought affected people to delivering information willingly. The focus group discussions through interview were able to get vital information on changing attitude, knowledge variability and behavior of local people in the study area. Northern Bangladesh were selected purposively due to severe drought affect region where Rangpur and Nilphamary district of Badarganj, Taraganj and Kisharganj upazila (local administrative area) were chosen three unions name Radhanagar, Ecorchali and Putimari as a drought prone area.

Here proportional stratified sampling technique was used for the selection of three unions of severe drought affected people. A total of 140 questionnaires were distributed; 120 questionnaires were finished and back owing to time and other logistical constraint a contribution rate of 85 percent in the study area. Finally, the questionnaire was pre-tested before data collection. A semi-structured questionnaire comprised of five portions. The first portion consists of the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. The second portion focuses on people perception and perceptive knowledge about drought over the last 10 to 20 years. The third portion consists of social impact adapted by drought affected people. The fourth portion contains agricultural impact which depleted agriculture production. The last portion contains ecological impact of drought owing to loss of flora and fauna in the study area. The scale was used for the construction of perception basis of 30 statements/items. A five point Likert scale of rating was employed as follows: strongly disagree, disagree, do not know, agree and strongly agree. It was rating of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for positive response and the rating was reversed for negative response with respondent statement dealing with drought perception and biodiversity impact. Drought impact was assessed by knowledge variability based on box plot model. Pearson correlation coefficient study was done at the same time and pursued by the same statistical technique. The research work deal with mainly two questions: (1) what is the local perception of drought especially drought prone area (2) What are the impacts of drought on social, agro-ecology in Northern Bangladesh

Software Package: The data obtained from the questionnaire were coded, processed and analyzed through SPSS (16 versions), Box plot model (7 version) and MS excel (7 versions). Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to explore the social and agro-ecological impact of drought in the study. Location map was prepared by Arc View GIS (3.3 versions). Statistical analysis revealed that a stratified sampling of 120 questionnaire will result in a mean sampling error (e) of 3% at 95% significance level of .05 and a standard deviation (s) of 0.5.

Source of Information: International Journal of Ecosystem, 2014; 4(3): 150-158, p-ISSN: 2165-8889, e-ISSN: 2165-8919

Article Link (Online Journal): http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.ije.20140403.07.html

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Drought is a slow onset natural disaster which creates a threat to social and agro-ecological balance in the northern region of Bangladesh. In the study area, there was always irregular rainfall and the cultivation period requires more water which hampered by upstream dam of Teesta river as well as makes a problem in the drought affected area. The result was shown that the social and agro-ecological impacts of drought are decreased with the increase of literacy level as well as awareness and knowledge variability and the use of new innovative technology. Education plays a crucial role in order to raise the respondent’s knowledge and awareness building about drought. Local perceived analysis about drought depicted a negative opinion belong to group 1 and group 2 people. Knowledge variability indicated that highest knowledge variability was identified in group 3 and group 4 due to higher education level. Correlation analysis revealed that significant strong positive correlation was existed between education and occupation type with social, agro-ecological impact of drought for group 3 and group 4 of people in the study area. From the discussion, it can be concluded that the social impact of drought led to migration tendency in the study area. Agriculture impact of drought included decrease in food production. Ecological impact of drought brought about loss of livestock including goat, sheep and boar, increase in mortality rate of fish in ponds and decrease of biodiversity of plant species. Therefore, it is suggested that if awareness build up and literacy level increase to reduce these adverse impact of drought in the northern Bangladesh. This study has recommended that Government should take initiatives with different training program, implementation of strategic plan, job opportunity and relief during drought season. Future research is needed to in depth assessment of culture, health and biodiversity impact of drought in the study area.

Knowledge Management: Journal