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Drought Shocks of Farm Households: Evidence from Rajshahi District

M. S. Akter
Lecturer
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

S. Parveen
Professor
Dept. of Agricultural Extension Education; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

M. A. Islam
Professor
Dept. of Agricultural Statistics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The main purpose of the study was to examine the extent of shocks faced by the farm households in drought period and to identify factors that affect drought shocks of farm households in three selected area of Tanore upazila of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. Data were collected using interview schedule from a sample of 150 drought affected farm households selected by using simple random sampling technique from a population of 499 drought-affected farm households during August to September 2011. Drought shocks were measured by a four-point rating scale. Drought shocks index was computed by adding all scores obtained from 10 types of drought shocks. Correlation test was used to ascertain the relationships between each of the concerned variables and extent of drought shocks faced by the farm households. A vast majority of the farm households (83%) were exposed with a high extent of drought shocks. The analysis of variance indicated that drought shocks of farm households varied significantly with formal education and household income. Six characteristics of the farm household namely formal education, earning members, family farm size, household income, household assets and cash savings had a significant but negative relationship with extent of drought shocks. On the other hand age of the farm household heads and indebtedness of the farm household had significant positive relationships with the extent of drought shocks. The step-wise multiple regression analysis showed that formal education and cash savings had positive influences while indebtedness had negative influences on drought shocks of farm households.

Keywords: Drought, Shocks, Farm households, Rajshahi.

Location: Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-08-2011

End Date: 00-09-2011

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Drought

Objectives:

Therefore, a detailed assessment is essential of how farm households are affected by drought shocks. In view of the foregoing discussion, the study aimed (i) to determine the extent drought shocks faced by the farm households (ii) to determine the level of drought shocks faced by the farm households and factors influencing it.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in three villages namely Narayanpur, Talukpara and Noitipara of Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi district. Tanore Upazila was selected purposively because of the severity of drought. These villages were selected purposively as drought occurs severely every year in these villages. Drought affected farm households were the target population of this study. The total target population were 499, out of which 30 percent population were selected randomly from three villages as the sample of the study. Hence, the sample size is 150. A subsample of 24 drought-affected farmers (8 from each village) was selected for FGDs and matrix ranking. Four key informants were also interviewed for gathering their expert views about drought shocks and factors influencing it. The dependent variable of the study was the extent of drought shocks index (EDSI) of farm households. Various characteristics of the farm households were selected as independent variables of the study such as age of the farmers, formal education of the farmers, earning members of the farm households, family farm size, cash savings, indebtedness, household assets and household income of the farm household. Different drought shocks of farm households were identified through FGDs.

Ten types of shocks under five major dimensions were selected through matrix ranking on the basis of their severity. These include: 1) Ecological shocks: lack of rainfall, depletion of ground and surface water sources; 2) Economic shocks: loss of crop yield and unemployment; 3) Health shocks: incidences of diseases; 4) Social shocks: food shortage, conflict between water users, increased poverty and scarcity of safe drinking water, 5) Psychological shock: mental dissatisfaction. The extent of drought shocks (EDS) faced by the farm households were measured on the basis of their responses to the statements in the interview schedule. Extent of exposure to shocks was measured by a four-point rating scale (0 - 3). Score 0, 1, 2 and 3 was assigned for not at all, to a slight extent, to a moderate extent and to a great extent respectively. The extent of drought shocks index (EDSI) was computed by adding all scores obtained from 10 types of drought shocks. The scores could range from 0 to 30, where 0 indicating no exposure to drought shocks, while 30 indicating the highest exposure to drought shocks.

The SPSS computer programme was used for analysing the data. Various descriptive statistical measures such as range, frequency, number, percentage, mean, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV) and rank order were used for categorization and describing the variables. Three statistical tools, such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (r) and stepwise multiple regression analysis were utilised both for data evaluation and hypotheses testing.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education Volume 23, No. 1&2, 2011:37-44 ISSN 1011-3916

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Funding Source:

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Achievement/Findings:

The results of this study indicate that formal education and income status i.e. cash savings had inverse relationship with exposure to drought shocks. Thus, policy interventions by major intervening agencies, such as governmental organisations (GOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the community-based organisations should focus on strengthening public and household-level risk management using both mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce the negative impacts of exposure to drought shocks. Household-level mitigation strategies should include practices that encourage crop diversification, the use of drought-tolerant crop varieties, tree plantation and improvement of soil management practices. Policies that support household-level adaptation strategies should take proper steps to increase the level of literacy of farm people. Educated farmers have opportunity to generate income from both farm and non-farm activities. At the same time, diversified income generating opportunities like establishment of agroprocessed industry and small cottage industry could help farmers to raise their household income. As a result, farmers can save more money, enlarge farm size and reduce indebtedness and ultimately, reduce drought shocks. Public risk mitigation might include strategies such as rain water harvesting, conservation of water in ponds or canals, establishment of storage facilities for retaining rain water, construction of dams for irrigation and undertaking new irrigation projects.

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