Vulnerability, Food Security and Adaptation to Climate Change of Coastal Rice Farmers in Bangladesh

Abstract

In Bangladesh, coastal farmers are highly vulnerable to various climatic hazards. This paper explores coastal rice farmers’ vulnerability, food security and adaptation strategies in response to climate change issues. Survey data were collected from 120 rice farmers from two coastal districts of Bangladesh and analyzed using descriptive statistics to meet the objectives. The results reveal that coastal farmers are facing the problem of salinity intrusion, sea level rise, frequent cyclones and storms surges, and riverbank erosion that lead to their livelihood vulnerability and food insecurity. Many of the farmers have a very low or almost no access to electricity, credit and extension services along with other public services. Most of the farmers have experienced food insecurity during the month of October to December. In response to climate change effects and reducing vulnerability, rice farmers are adopting many adaptation strategies including cultivation of saline and flood tolerant rice varieties, non-rice crops and varieties requiring less water, horticulture crops, and homestead gardening. Government should place more emphasis on Aus and Aman rice (as they are mainly rain-fed crops) by allowing supplementary irrigation and using good quality high yielding varieties to increase overall rice production in the area.