CLIMATE CHANGE RISK PERCEPTION AND VULNERABILITY OF MUNGBEAN PRODUCTION IN SOUTHERN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Climate change and its variability cause different stresses that negatively affecting the pulse crop specially mungbean in the southern region of Bangladesh. The present study was conducted to examine the climate change risk perception of mungbean growers and vulnerability of mungbean in the coastal districts of Patuakhali and Barguna in Bangladesh. Using a structured questionnaire with face to face interviews, 120 samples were collected from Patuakhali and Barguna district during the period of 2022-23. The multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the sample. The collected data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics i.e. sum, averages and percentages) and mathematical analyses i.e. Standardized Climate Change Risk Perception Index (SCCRPI) and Vulnerability Index. The study found that farmers in these regions grow mungbean during late Robi and kharif-ii season. In Patuakhali district, the highest SCCRPI value was for drought (77) and lowest value was for salinity (33). In contrast, the highest SCCRPI values in the Barguna district was for drought (75) and lowest value was for salinity (33), respectively. Farmers in both districts identified drought as the greatest concern, followed by insect attack, rainfall, disease infestation, water logging and salinity. The vulnerability index for mungbean in Patuakhali and Barguna district, respectively, is 0.34 and 0.35, which indicates a medium level of vulnerability and indicates that one should use improved technologies, stress tolerant variety that can minimize risk from unfavorable climatic, social, and biological conditions. Farmers responded that three times harvest was the main reason that hinder the production process along with others climatic, biological and social factors. Development of synchronized variety, availability of good quality seed, digging canals, proper use of sluice gate can increase the yield of mungbean in the study areas.