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Climate Change Perception and Adaptation Options for Agriculture in Southern Khulna of Bangladesh

M.H. Rashid*
International Rice Research Institute Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

S. Afroz
SERDI, Dhaka, Bangladesh

D. Gaydon
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Brisbane, Australia

A. Muttaleb
RFS Division, Bangladeshl Rice Research Institute Bangladesh, Gazipur, Bangladesh

P. Poulton
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Brisbane, Australia

C. Roth
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Brisbane, Australia

Z. Abedin
International Rice Research Institute Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Understanding perception and adaptation strategies at a community level is important for achieving sustainable adaptation options in a climate-vulnerable area. A study was conducted in two villages of Khulna district, Bangladesh, through Focus Group Discussions to capture the perceptions of the community on climate change and variability, and also to understand the current strategies to cope/adapt with the changing situation in the context of agriculture. Some future adaptation options were also presented to the community for their opinion in the light of their experiences. Findings revealed that the weather is unpredictable and variability has increased over time with no positive outlook or aspect associated with this change. Local people perceived changes in rainfall patterns, resulting in delayed rice planting, decreased yield and damaged sesame and mungbean crops due to water-logging. The extended summer periods with increasing average temperatures have resulted in decreased growth duration of crops, increased pest infestations, and decreased yields. The increased period during which river water is saline limits the scope of irrigation with river water. Communities are adapting to this changing situation by adopting high yielding salt tolerant rice varieties, introducing new crops like sesame and mungbean, and adopting rice-fish culture with tilapia, carp and prawn instead of brackish water shrimp.

Keywords: Community perception, Climate change, Adaptation options, Agriculture

Location: Katianangla and Laxmikhola under Bataiaghata and Dacope Upazila in Khulna district of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2011

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Non-commodity: Climate change

Objectives:

A study was conducted to understand and document the perception of the community on climate change and variability in respect to gender, and on their strategies to cope with or adapt to the changing situation in the context of agriculture. The study also sought to understand and document the farmers’ responses on some adaptation options offered by researchers.

Methodology:

2.1. Study Area The study was conducted in two villages, namely, Katianangla and Laxmikhola under Bataiaghata and Dacope Upazila in Khulna district of Bangladesh in 2011. The villages were selected purposively based on vulnerability to climate change. Between the selected villages, Laxmikhola was badly and Katianangla was partially affected by super cyclone Sidr and Aila. Katianangla is situated 14 km south of the Khulna metropliton city and characterized by moderately saline area. It is protected with embankment and sluice gate of polder number 30. The village is connected with the city through roads and rivers and lesser vulnerable to strong wind and cyclone. On the other hand, Laxmikhola is 35 km from the city to the same direction which is under polder number 31 and highly saline area and more vulnerable to tropical cyclones and tidal surges. This village is dominated by single rice per year whereas the former village is largely characterized by two crops a year. Khulna district has a food deficit and is located in the south-west of the country, with a total land area of 3751.8 square kilometers. The maximum annual mean temperature of the district is 35.5°C and the minimum is 12.5°C. Mean annual rainfall is 1710 mm. This area is mainly characterized by tidal flooding of key agricultural areas in the wet season. The total population of the district is 2,559,910 of which 52% is male and 48% are female. The distribution of the farm families showed that on average more than 49% farmers are in the landless and marginal category. This number increases to about 79% including small farmers. Only 4% farmers are classified as ‘large farmers’. The study area was selected to specifically represent communities affected by climate uncertainty, tropical cyclones and storm surges to different degrees. The communities were selected for the following reasons: firstly, they fall within the coastal saline area of Bangladesh where there are frequent shortages of food due to uncertainty of rainfall and lack of fresh irrigation water. Secondly, the area provides an opportunity to study impacts associated with climate change and vulnerability on crop and livestock; and thirdly they are already associated with existing climate change research projects and are familiar with the aims and philosophy of research.

2.2. Data Collection and Processing Participatory tools and methods were used to capture the perceptions of the community on climate change, climate variability, and associated strategies to cope and adapt in the context of agriculture. Primary information was captured using focus group discussions (FGDs) with farmers, who were members of a local water users group. Each meeting was attended by about 30 participants, including one third females. All shared their views and experiences in an informal environment. General information was captured ensuring the participation of both male and female participants. The male and female participants were then divided into separate groups and data were captured using a checklist by the lead male researchers in the male group and female researchers for the female group.

During FGD, participatory tools were used for documenting local knowledge, technology and practices related to coping and adaptation strategies. Gender, age, social position and income of respondents were considered during the process. Captured data were validated through key informant interviews. Some probable simple adaptation options were presented by the researchers to the community for their opinion in the light of their knowledge and experiences. The proposed adaptations were selected based on the experiences of some farmers of south eastern part of Bangladesh, observing some innovative examples established by few innovative farmers which may be further improved. Some of the proposed options were common for both the villages and some were location-specific. Among the proposed optins, relay cropping of cowpea and grass pea with transplanted Aman rice, some winter season crops like watermelon and mask melon and okra have been adopted in the saline area of central south of Bangladesh. From the observation, it was found that some farmers tried to grow winter season crop with the stored rain or fresh river water in the inner side of existing canal of rice-fish culture under gher were failed due to lacking of fer irrigation at reproductive stage of crops. Therefore those option or with some modification were raised for their opinion for adoption. The participants analyzed the adaptation options in the light of their experiences and detailed discussions with the researcher's group. The captured data were organized and presented according to the desegregation of gender.

Source of Information: Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2014, Vol. 2, No. 1, 25-31

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI:10.12691/aees-2-1-4

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Communities at a local level have been facing the adverse impacts of climate changes over the time and adapting with strategies as per their own traditional knowledge, skills and information. Considering the results discussed above, a few points are noted below for consideration. 1. Men and women are mostly similar in how they perceive climate change and take part in local level adaptation process. Both groups should be considered for local level adaptation planning. 2. The medium vulnerable area depends on the learning and adaptation processes of extreme vulnerable area (further south). Therefore, adaptation options need to be demonstrated in more climate vulnerable areas for wider dissemination. 3. New crops, fish and agronomic practices suited for the changing climatic situation require investigation by researchers, followed by demonstration of the best options with community involvement to ensure the best possible community adoption.

Knowledge Management: Journal