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Indigenous Practices for Coping with Flood: an Assessment of the Riparian People Living in the Teesta Floodplain

Mst. Rebeka Sultana*
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.

Md. Zahidul Hassan
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.

Shitangsu Kumar Paul
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study examines the indigenous knowledge for coping with flood and identifies the role of local people to manage their lives and livelihoods from the severity of extreme flood incidents. Based on household questionnaire survey of 381 samples size, the study explores the traditional knowledge of how to cope with the socio-economic condition in a flooded environment. Hence, the existing study reveals the indigenous practices such as house platform raise, living in machan, dependency on dry food, fuel wood collection, indigenous cooking techniques and starvation has been adopted by the inhabitants of Teesta basin for coping with flood. The study investigated that the community of Teesta floodplain adopted indigenous flood defense techniques to reduce their vulnerability and survive in flood. The study advocates initiating bottom up approach in policy formulation to enhance flood resilience of Teesta riparian community. The study also recommends rather than implement more structural flood defense techniques on the river bank, it is very much crucial to encourage the community people, practice the indigenous knowledge more than before to survive in the flooding condition.

Keywords: Indigenous practice, Coping techniques, Riparian people, Teesta floodplain

Location: In the Teesta Floodplain

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Non-commodity: Flood

Objectives:

The present study tries to investigate the perceived knowledge and experiences of the Teesta floodplain community to survive in the hardship of flooding situations. The study area lies beneath the bank of Teesta river. Overbank spilling in the floodplain causes damage to life, property and destroys the livelihood of community people. Therefore, it is highly significant to investigate the peoples coping capacity on behalf of flood fighting and identify their indigenous practices for resilience. The main objective of the study is to explore the traditional practices to cope with recurrent floods in the study area. The study also demonstrates the community resilience to flood with reference to community-based flood management initiatives.

Methodology:

Different tools and techniques have been adopted to examine the indigenous knowledge about floods in the Teesta floodplain.

2.1. Selection of Study Area and Sample Size The study has been conducted in the five districts (Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigramand Gaibandha) of Teesta floodplain in the northern Bangladesh. Seven upazilas from the five districts (Dimla and Jaldhaka from Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat sadar and Hatibandha from Lalmonoirhat, Gangachara from Rangpur, Rajarhat from Kurigram and Sundarganj from Gaibandha have been selected randomly. Then the study unions from each upazila: Dimla (Purba chatnai union), Jaldhaka (Saulmari union), Hatibandha (Sindurna union), Lalmonirhat sadar (Khuniagachh union), Gangachara (Kolkonda union), Rajarhat (Bidyananda union) and Sundarganj (Belka union) have been selected randomly as study area to conduct household survey and gather preliminary information. Simple random sampling technique has been used to select household to collect information from respondents. Data of household population size of the unions were collected from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), 2011. The study followed multi-stage sampling technique to conduct the research.

2.2. Data Collection, Analysis and Interpretation Both qualitative and quantitative data have been collected through field survey. A well-structured questionnaire has been used to collect data from the study area. Moreover observation, case studies and FGD’s were conducted to perceive information about believes, thoughts, practices and knowledge of the riparian people. Primary and secondary data have been used in the present study. Books, journal articles, reports and thesis papers were investigated to collect data and information. The collected data have been processed, and analyzed through SPSS software. Data representation has been carried out through bar diagram and pie chart with SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The map of the study area has been prepared with Arc GIS software.

Source of Information: Rajshahi University Journal of Environmental Science, 7, 18-29, 2018

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The people of Teesta basin has both physical and mental strength to survive in the flooding condition but economic strength of the people fall down due to livelihood and property loss by flood. Respondents coping with flood depend upon the intensity, duration and height of water of flood. During flood, the Teesta river basin community tries to adapt with food, shelter, health and education but after flood the main challenge is to manage employment opportunities for livelihood. Moreover livelihood intensification and diversification also helps them to adapt with flood. The study findings indicate that precautionary technique adoption through indigenous practice gives strength to the agrarian society of Teesta basin to manage livelihood. The present analysis also specifies the indigenous practice and community initiatives for flood defense enhances riparian people’s resilience towards flood. Based on the study findings, the following policy has been formulated to cope with flood through indigenous practices: ? Local government, NGOs and civil society should take steps for awareness building program regarding the implementation of indigenous practice for flood fighting. ? Government should take Policy regarding motivation of the community people to use more indigenous practices for flood management and also encourage the riparian community through print and electronic media. ? Give community people training of indigenous knowledge along with scientific knowledge for adaptation with flood. ? Motivate riparian people to work together and take collective measures for flood prevention. ? Initiate bottom up approach in policy formulation to mitigate flood problem.

Knowledge Management: Journal