IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON COASTAL COMMUNITIES OF SINDH, PAKISTAN - A DESCRIPTIVE CASE STUDY OF DISTRICTS THATTA AND BADIN

Abstract

The core purpose of study was to generate evidences to design strategy and objectives for a community development project. The project was funded by German Red Cross with the financial support of BMZ is implementing ‘Integrated rural food security in Sindh’. Project was designed for Thatta and Badin Districts of Sindh Pakistan. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Sindh branch is the implementing partner in the field. The core purpose of project was “ To contribute towards improved resilience of communities in Sindh to disasters and the effects of climate change” with specific objective “Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Sensitive Livelihoods are enhanced among Badin and Thatta communities and the respective PRCS District branches in Sindh ”. It was decided to obtain a descriptive and qualitative information from communities. For that purpose PRA techniques were used for data collection at village level. Criterion purpose sampling method was used in selection of villages because the study was operational in nature. Two major threats to the livelihood of people were found, left bank outfall drain and climate change. Left bank outfall drain for seepage and industrial wastewater is not constructed as per approved map and due to little flow of Indus River’s water in delta sea level is increasing. When sea level raise, while high tide in moon nights water flows back in drain that harm crops nearby because the walls of drain also do not have stone pitching. Due to climate change, seasonal calendar and cropping is also changed for a month, cotton is being cultivated in month of May and harvested in August. Previously the calendar was like, cultivation in June and Harvest in September. August is considered as the month of monsoon rain and rain is harmful for cotton crop. Ultimately, due to change in weather is causing continuous damage of only cash crop of area. At the end, the study has suggested some disaster resilient agricultural approaches to be used to overcome the climate change and sea incursion. Article visualizations: