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Flood in a Changing Climate: the Impact on Livelihood and How the Rural Poor Cope in Bangladesh

Gulsan Ara Parvin*
International Environmental and Disaster Management, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;

Annya Chanda Shimi*
International Environmental and Disaster Management, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;

Rajib Shaw
International Environmental and Disaster Management, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;

Chaitee Biswas
International Environmental and Disaster Management, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

It is already documented that climate change will lead to an intensification of the global water cycle with a consequent increase in flood hazards. Bangladesh is also facing an increasing trend of flood disasters. Among the various risks and disasters in Bangladesh, flood is the most common and frequent. Floods make people vulnerable, as they take away their livelihoods at the first instance and leave them with little resources to overcome the situation. Because of floods, rural poor communities face job loss, and two-thirds of their income is reduced, which limits their capabilities of preparedness, response, and recovery to subsequent floods. People cope with the situation by bearing substantial debts and a loss of productive assets. With an empirical field study in one of the most flood-prone Upazilas (sub-districts) of Bangladesh, namely Goalanda Upazilla of the Rajbari district, this study intends to draw a “flood impact tree” of the study area. It also examines the impacts of floods on the livelihood of the rural poor and explores their coping strategies. This paper aims to facilitate an understanding of the impact of floods on their livelihood, especially on the income and occupations of the rural poor. At the same time, it aims to learn from their coping mechanisms.

Keywords: flood impact tree; livelihood; rural poor; climate change

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Climate change, Flood, Livelihood

Objectives:

These sorts of changes in the nature and extent of floods would cause substantial damage to agriculture, housing and settlements, and infrastructure. Therefore, lives and livelihood would be more vulnerable in such a changing climate. Floods in 1987, 1988, 1998, 2004, 2007, and 2010 all denote changes in the nature and extent of floods and eventually induced severe impacts on lives and livelihood, especially those who live in rural areas. So, this study will attempt to know the extent of flood impact.

Methodology:

In order to examine the impacts of flood on the livelihood of the rural poor and to learn about their coping mechanisms, Goalanda Upazilla of the Rajbari district has been selected as the study area, one of the most flood-vulnerable upazilas (sub-districts) of Bangladesh. Key informant discussion was facilitated to identify the most flood-vulnerable Upazila (sub-district), union, and villages for this study. The percentage of households, population, and areas affected by previous floods and the total loss and damage were the main indicators when selecting the study area. Key-informant experts and officials from the following organizations were interviewed and consulted at different times throughout the study period: the Disaster Management Bureau, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO), Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Oxfam-GB, and Rural People Development Songstha (RPDS). Through empirical study, this research not only examines the impacts of floods on the livelihood of the rural poor but also scrutinizes their coping strategies amid floods. This research relied on intensive field investigation, where sampling was taken from different villages that were the most badly affected by previous floods. For the household questionnaire survey, 120 households from different villages were randomly selected. Since the outcome of this study is part of undergraduate final grade research, there were both time and financial limitations. Therefore, a statistically sound sampling method that requires a high number of household surveys, was not conducted here. However, the triangulation approach applied in light of key-informant discussion and focused group discussions (FGDs) denotes that these 120 households represent the whole community. The head of the households were the respondents, and 80% of them were male persons within the age of 21 to 58 years. Recalling every year’s experiences and especially the experiences of severe floods (in 1998, 2004, and 2007), respondents provided information with respect to impacts and adaptations. As mentioned, in addition to a structured questionnaire survey, four FGDs were organized in different villages in which people of different professions and strata attended and shared their flood-related experiences and hardships. During the reconnaissance survey, five main professional groups were identified. During the FGD, a proportionate representation of each professional group was attempted. For instance, there were 25 persons in one FGD. Among them, there were nine farmers or agricultural workers, six-day laborers, five businessmen, three poultry farmers, and two servicemen. FGDs were facilitated to develop the flood impact tree for the Upazila. Along with the questionnaire survey, these discussions provided a range of views and opinions of people at a grassroots level and enriched the data bank of this research.

Source of Information: Climate 2016, 4, 60

Article Link (Online Journal): doi:10.3390/cli4040060

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Flood is a part of the lives of the people of Goalondo. Floods of different magnitudes have a major impact on this region. The damaging impacts of floods disrupt the agriculture, infrastructure, employment, and food distribution systems, as well as other aspects of livelihood. People living here have to live their whole lives struggling against flood, and the most interesting thing is that they depend both directly and indirectly on rivers and floods for their livelihood. Hence, the majority of the people are willing to live in this place despite floods. It is also the reality that this poor community cannot leave this flood-prone area. Therefore, this rural poor community live with flood, face it with hunger and food crises, suffer a loss of income and occupation, and cope with the situation by bearing substantial debt with high interest rates and a loss of productive assets. All of these interrelated factors and impacts act as a driving force towards their long-lasting poverty and vulnerabilities, which limit their ability to prepare, respond, and recover from subsequent floods, as well as any other disasters. In order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to face climate change, flood and its impacts on the livelihood of the poor should be a top-priority issue of concern in developing countries where floods are a common phenomenon. Along with the community, government and local institutions need to find effective alternative solution to minimize the adverse impacts of floods on the livelihood of the rural poor and to find suitable coping mechanisms that will not lead to more vulnerability.

Knowledge Management: Journal