Assessing Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change by Farming Communities in Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh

Abstract

Southwestern coastal Bangladesh is characterized by low-lying topography, high productive mangrove ecosystem and unique biodiversity. At the same time, the region is highly prone to cyclones, coasting flooding, and salinity, which causes huge losses to agriculture production and rural livelihoods. Marginal and small farmers are affected more. The objective of this paper is to examine the extent of climatic variations and to analyze farming communities' vulnerabilities and adaptations to climate change in the saline prone southwestern coastal Bangladesh. We used both primary and secondary data for this study. We collected primary data from Atulia and Padmapukur unions of Shyamnagar upazila under Satkhira district of Bangladesh in April 2013. We collected secondary data from published statistics. We did not find significant changes in temperature and rainfall over time but salinity level has increased over time. Major vulnerability faced by farming communities due to climate change were saline water intrusion, scarcity of safe drinking and irrigation water, and problems on crop production, livestock rearing, fresh water fish culture, and sanitary latrines. Major adaptations practiced by farmers were culturing saline water shrimp in farms, harvesting rain water, drinking pond's water, catching fish from the sea and river, and desalinization of river water by constructing embankments. Agricultural adaptation practices such as saline tolerant rice varieties cultivation, crabs fattening, sowing and planting date shifting, mulching, soil flashing, fertilizers management, seeds sowing using dibbling method, raise or slopping bed method crop cultivation in embankments, pit method crop cultivation, changing cropping patterns, zero tillage, and sorjan method crop cultivation can helps minimize the impacts of climate change, particularly to vulnerable smallholder farmers. Policies and programs are needed to develop and disseminate these adaptation practices complemented by farmers' training on these practices.

Occupational Strategies in Coastal Villages of the Lower Bengal Delta: Questions for Sustainability

“…The current occupational strategy pursued by Baro Kupat and Henchi HH reflects a compromise with the ambient processes governing the physical environment that support the livelihood system. The physical actuality of the Atulia union currently favours a saline ambient condition (Datta et al, 2018; Ullah & Rahman, 2015). Persisting occupations with such an ambient environment require an adequate capital base, and a sizeable number of Baro Kupat (39.5%) and Henchi (22.3%) HH are currently involved with such Capital Based Occupations (Tables 03ab & 04) who own a good size of arable land as well.…”

An assessment of climate change impacts and adaptation in South Asian agriculture

“…These would lead to the development of climate change and disaster resilience through technology development; preparedness and awareness strengthening; and livelihoods protection and development. In general, adaptation strategies include social networks for support in times of climate stresses, common resource management, diversified income sources and traditional innovations such as ploughing early morning before dew or fog has evaporated (Kelkar and Bhadwal, 2007; Ullah and Rahman, 2014). Specific adaptation activities relating to agriculture are summarized in Table V.…”