Insight and explore farming adaptation measures to support sustainable development goal 2 in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Farming adaptation in low-lying coastal areas of Bangladesh is mandatory due to increasing impacts of climate change on agriculture. The study evaluated farmers’ perception on climate-related hazards, climate variables and factors. Further, the study identified different existence sustainable farming adaptation measures. The final outcomes are concluded throughout synergic data analysis, quantitative including climatic and environmental data, and qualitative from farmers’ perception. Eight focus group discussions, 200 household surveys and six key informant interviews were carried out to receive farmers’ perception on climate change and impacts of agriculture. Results revealed that farmers’ perception and climate data analytical outcomes for decreasing annual precipitation and increasing temperature are highly correlated, whereas 20-year (1995–2015) climate data from 11 meteorological stations showed that annual precipitation is decreased 548 mm, and atmospheric annual mean temperature is increased 1.06 °C. Crop model showed a change in cropping seasons, where the autumn and late autumn are no longer existing and monsoon season is moving toward the winter. Farmers’ are migrating their occupations which showed the seasonal livelihood calendar and choosing shrimp and crab cultivation nowadays. Pearson Chi-square independence test identified the significant relationship between 24 independent and 4 dependent variables. This statistical analysis identified five key factors, including climatic, social, environmental, economic and physical, for farming adaptation due to climate change. The study exposed that farmers are adapted 11 adaptations strategies introduced by the local farming community, governmental and non-governmental officials. However, according to farmers’ communities these measures are not well managed. Therefore, this study explored the farmers’ needs for better sustainable farming adaptation strategies based on climatic data scenarios. In conclusion, the outcomes will support to achieve SDG 2 for southwest coastal areas in Bangladesh.