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Impact of Hydrometeorological Hazards on Agricultural Production at Chalan Beel, Bangladesh

A. Ahmed
Department of Environmental Science Stamford University Bangladesh, Dhaka.

M.S. Hossain
Department of Environmental Science Stamford University Bangladesh, Dhaka

A.K. Majumder
Department of Environmental Science Stamford University Bangladesh, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The agriculture of Bangladesh is closely dependent on weather, rainfall pattern, and land formation. However, frequent hydro-meteorological hazards cause to adversely affect the normal agricultural process and production. This study aimed to assess the impact of Hydrometeorological hazards on the crop cultivation practices, possible mitigation, and adaptation measures for the farmers at Chalan Beel area under Pabna district, Bangladesh. There are 90 people having land and engaged with crop cultivation directly at Chalan Beel who were been selected by applying the purposive sampling method and interviewed by a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. The results revealed that Rice (93.75 %) and Garlic (47.5 %) are the major cultivating crops at Chalan Beel and 96 % of the farmers were been experienced hydrometeorological devastation. The farmers perceived Nor’wester (77.9 %) as the most frequent hazard causing crop damage following by Heavy Rainfall (71.4 %), Hailstorm (68.8 %), Heavy Wind (45.5 %), Flashflood (42.9 %), Heavy Fog, and Floods (19.5 % and 11.7 %) respectively. It is also identified that Nor’wester (58.4 %) and Heavy Rainfall (58.4 %) had maximum damage whereas Hailstorm (55.8 %), Heavy Wind, and Flashflood also considerable adverse effects on overall crop production in this area. Only 24 % of farmers were found to change their cultivation pattern as the adaptation measure. This study portrayed that hydro-meteorological hazards are adversely affecting crop production at the Chalan Beel area and resulting in economic loss. Therefore, the government should ensure the participation of farmers along with adopting their deliberative in developing a strategic plan for providing technical support for diversification and training to adapt in this hazard-prone area.

Keywords: Adaption, Chalan Beel, Crop damage, Natural hazard

Location: Bangladesh, Chalan Beel

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Health hazard, Environmental Impact

Objectives:

To assess the impact of Hydrometeorological hazards on the crop cultivation practices, possible mitigation, and adaptation measures for the farmers at Chalan Beel area under Pabna district, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The largest wetland of Bangladesh, Chalan Beel is located between 24⁰.35′ to 24⁰.70′ N latitude and 89⁰.10′ to 89⁰.35′ E longitudes with covering 52-78 sq. km (dry season) to 375 sq. km (rainy season). Spatially, it belongs to Chatmohar Upazila (Pabna), Tarash, Roygonj and Ullapara Upazila (Sirajgonj), Singra, Grudashpur, and Boraigram Upazila (Natore), and Ahasanganj and Manda Upazila (Noagaon) (Galib et al., 2009). This Beel has a rich water network and biodiversity with supporting livelihood to 5 million (Hossain et al., 2009). This study selected the part of Chalan Beel under Chatmohar Upazila of Pabna district. Three adjacent villages of Chalan Beel i.e., Ramnagar under Beel Chalan union, Boyailmari under Chhaikhola union, and Dhulaury village under Haripur union at Chatmohar Upazila of Pabna district have been selected for conducting this study. The study has been conducted by applying a mixed approach with combining both qualitative by reviewing secondary documents i.e., journal articles (Chowdhury and Ward, 2004; Hossain et al., 2009; Mirza, 2003; Mondal et al., 2013), reports (BBS, 2016; BBS, 2019), quantitative approach and direct field surveys. An extensive field survey has been conducted to collect primary data where face to face interview method has been used with a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire. The respondents for the study were the people who were living in selected three villages (i.e. Ramnagar, Boyailmari, and Dhulaury) having agricultural land in Chalan Beel and actively engaged in cultivation for at least one year. The purposive sampling method has been applied to do the in-depth study because the respondents need to have their own land and they should cultivate their land as it is the inclusion criteria of this study. However, it was tough to fulfill these conditions as many of the people work in other agricultural lands as labor because they do not owe any land, on the other hand, many landowners, who do not cultivate their land lease their land to other persons. To select the respondents based on the inclusion criteria: (i) Persons who have their own agricultural land in Chalan Beel, ii) Persons who are directly involved in crop cultivation in their own land, and (iii) Persons age greater than or equal to18 years. Total 18,139 people lived in the Chalan Beel Union among 13 villages, where, 8,803 were male and 9,336 female. 90 samples were selected purposively and distributed equally among the villages i.e., 30 samples from each village. Data have been analyzed by SPSS version 20 software.

Source of Information: SAARC J. Agri., 18(2): 181-193 (2020)

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/sja.v18i2.51118

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Bangladesh is not only highly dependent on the agricultural sector for food consumption but also the main driving force of economic growth. This study has assessed that hydro-meteorological hazards have been adversely affecting the agricultural sector on regular basis and causing damage to crops and economic loss. It is also revealed that farmers don’t have any effective techniques and tools to mitigate their damage as well as they don’t have sufficient knowledge and experience to roll out the adaptation process. It is also revealed that adaptation measures by farmers were not sufficient; hence further initiatives are perceived to achieve climate-resilient agriculture. In this circumstance, the agricultural extension office may enhance the close coordination with the farmers for providing continuous suggestions and technical training based on Ministry of Agriculture directives. Considering ‘information is a key, there are some other initiatives that can be introduced like visualization, prediction, awareness, and prediction system for climate services during the entire agricultural practices. To ensure these climate services, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Upzaila disaster management team along with local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) may work together for communicating this initiative.

Knowledge Management: Journal