Crop selection as climate change adaptation: A study on Koyra Upazila of Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper explores how farmers adapt to salinity and waterlogging conditions by selecting crops. In this context, this study identifies salinity and waterlogging tolerant crops essential for the sustained livelihood of crop farmers. We developed a multinomial logit model and a cost-benefit analysis for assessing the effectiveness of farmers' selection of crops. Estimating the regression model across 1380 farmers in Koyra Upazila, we find that households' socio-economic-demographic characteristics are important contributors to crop selection. Access to market information, the optimal fertilizer dose, an early warning system, social mobilization, training, credit facilities, farming experience, wage labor, pest control, weed control, and land tenure status are all important factors in crop selection. This study suggests that farmers in this Upazila can cultivate hybrid sunflower, mustard seed, cotton, maize, and wheat in salinity affected farms in dryer locations. Likewise, they can also cultivate Aman paddy in water salinity and waterlogging affected farms. Prediction of the impact of salinity and waterlogging on net revenue must highlight not only changes in yields per crop but also crop selection and switching.