Flood Prone Areas Of Bangladesh Research Articles

Catastrophic risk perceptions and attitudes in aquaculture: Evidence from flood prone areas of Bangladesh

Aquaculture is still an emerging industry that is highly dependent on the environment and more unstable than other conventional agricultural operations. Diverse environmental and production hazards must be managed by aquaculture farmers for sustainability. Farmers' decisions on farm operations and risk management are significantly influenced by their risk attitudes and perceptions of risk. However, few empirical studies on risk management have been done, but literature on aquaculture is scarce. In light of this knowledge vacuum, the current study investigated how farmers perceive catastrophic risk and their attitudes toward various sources. The information was gathered using a stratified random sample method, with 300 aquaculture farmers interviewed from two major flood-prone regions in Bangladesh. A cubic utility function and the Equally Likely Certainty Equivalent (ELCE) approach were used to quantify farmers' risk aversion. The risk matrix technique was used to assess farmers' perceptions of risk. The effects of socioeconomic factors on farmers' risk attitudes were examined using a Logit model. Floods, strong rains, and pest and diseases all posed potential productivity hazards and most farmers were risk averse in nature. Age, educational position, income, and land proprietorship were the most important predictors of risk attitude, while social and agricultural characteristics had little influence on farmers' risk perceptions. The study's findings will eventually allow policymakers to forecast the suitable risk management measures for the aquaculture farmers in Bangladesh.

Influence of sanitation facilities on diarrhea prevalence among children aged below 5 years in flood-prone areas of Bangladesh: a multilevel analysis.

Although the improvement of sanitation facilities has been a major contributor to improving public health, it is not guaranteed to prevent negative health outcomes. This is especially true in areas affected by severe natural disasters, such as flooding or extreme rainfall. Previous studies have examined the association between catastrophic natural disasters and negative health outcomes. However, studies on disaster-prone areas are limited. This study focused on the impact of flood risks and examined whether the improvement of sanitation facilities would be sufficient to suppress the prevalence of diarrhea in flood-prone areas. Two secondary datasets including geodata on flood-prone areas were used for the analysis: one each was obtained from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. Two models with categorizations of sanitation facilities based on containment type and excreta flow were applied for analysis. Results showed that the severe flood-prone areas and "diffused" type of sanitation, where the feces are diffused without any containment, had significant positive associations with diarrhea prevalence; however, the interaction between them was negative. Moderate flood-prone areas had a significant positive association with diarrhea prevalence; however, the interaction with unimproved sanitation, which includes containment without clear partition from feces, was significantly negative. These findings indicate that improved sanitation or containment type of sanitation may not positively contribute to the prevention of diarrhea in these severe- and moderate-flood prone areas. The urgent need for alternative sanitation technologies should be addressed in flood-prone regions.

Income and yield effects of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption in flood prone areas of Bangladesh: Farm level evidence

Understanding the effects of climate change adaptation measures by smallholder farm households in flood-prone areas remains underdeveloped. Particularly, little is known whether adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) augments crop yield and income. Therefore, we investigate the impact of CSA adoption on yield and income in Bangladesh, one of the countries of the world most vulnerable to climate change and disaster prone. To achieve this, based on primary data from a sample of 600 smallholder farms, the endogenous switching regression (ESR) is applied while controlling for endogeneity issues and selection bias of CSA adoption. For robustness check, propensity score matching (PSM) is applied. Consistent results from both models are found indicating that CSA adoption has yield and income effects on smallholder farms. Interestingly, if non-adopting households are soil salinity conscious and adopt CSA, their yield would increase by 7.55%. In addition, non-adopting households would significantly have tremendous income gains on account of CSA adoption. Results demonstrate that policy support measures for CSA adoption in flood-prone areas can have important implications for food security and poverty eradication through crop yield boosts and income augmentation in line with the purview of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Assessing Community Disaster Resilience in Flood-Prone Areas of Bangladesh: From a Gender Lens

The main purpose of this study was to assess the level of community flood resilience with a special focus on gender. A gender perspective ensures the representation of diversified voices in the study. From concept development to data representation, all the steps were completed ensuring gender-based inclusion. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to conduct the study. A total of 402 responses were analyzed as the sample. A linear structured questionnaire was developed by using a five-point Likert scale to collect quantitative data. As part of the qualitative tool, in-depth observation was used in the study. The study found that female members of the community lag in terms of disaster resilience comparing to their male counterparts. The scores in different components of resilience assessment framework indicate that there are gaps in terms of level of resilience from the gender perspective. The same disaster can create a disproportionate level of impact on women and men due to an unequal level of resilience. The study indicates that assessing community disaster resilience and introducing resilience enhancement interventions should focus on a gender-based approach.

Disability inclusiveness of early warning system: a study on flood-prone areas of Bangladesh

PurposePersons with disabilities face the impacts of disasters differently. Early warning systems can be one of the powerful tools to reduce the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities and mitigate the impacts of disasters. The main objective of this study was to assess the disability inclusiveness of the current early warning system (EWS) in flood-prone areas of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative method was focused on getting in-depth information. Persons with disabilities participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) and shared the inclusiveness and gaps of the current EWS. Through extensive literature review, a checklist was developed to conduct the FGDs. QDA Miner 6.0.6 software was used for coding and analyzing the data.FindingsResults indicated that, though persons with disabilities have proper risk knowledge, the current monitoring and warning service, dissemination and communication, and response capability are not fully inclusive. A significant gap in the EWS was found in response capability. Even if somehow persons with disabilities manage to receive a warning about a flood, they lack the capacity to respond to the warning.Research limitations/implicationsThe study proposed that to make an EWS inclusive and effective, the concerned authorities should focus on all four parts of the EWS.Originality/valueStudies related to disability and disaster management are not very common. Conducting a qualitative study provided the persons with disabilities the opportunity to share their perspectives. Future studies can focus on vulnerability and capacity assessment of persons with disabilities to identify areas requiring interventions to enhance resilience.

Intersectionality, vulnerability and resilience: why it is important to review the diversifications within groups at risk to achieve a resilient community

PurposeThe objective of this study was to assess the relationship among intersectionality, vulnerability and resilience with evidence. The conceptual framework developed by the study believed that intersectionality and vulnerabilities intersect and reduce the level of disaster resilience.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was followed with relevant support from both primary and secondary data to conduct the study. The study focused on flood as a specific natural hazard to assess the relationship among the indicators of the objective. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were performed in two different flood-prone areas of Bangladesh. FGDs included young men, young women, men and women with disabilities and older people. Also, secondary literature helped to support ground-level data.FindingsIn the face of a flood, results showed that people with intersectional characteristics become more vulnerable within the at-risk groups. There are differences in people's level of vulnerabilities among the people of vulnerable groups. The results support the discussion that intersectionality exaggerates vulnerabilities, thus reducing the level of disaster resilience. The study summarizes that intersectionality needs to be addressed while supporting groups at risk to achieve a resilient community.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is only based on qualitative and secondary data. For more generalized findings and implications, further research is needed. Also, this study will work as a guideline for future studies.Originality/valueThe study is one of the few works related to intersectionality. This study will open a new window to understand the importance of focusing on intersectional conditions while developing plans for disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Characterization of Vibrio spp. in environmental water samples collected from flood prone areas of Bangladesh and their antibiotic resistance profile.

Last cholera epidemic has been recorded in Bangladesh between 1992–1993, while few sporadic localized outbreaks have been reported as recent as 2005. Serotype O1 of Vibrio cholera is considered as the principal causative agent which transmits through contaminated drinking water resulting that epidemic. Therefore, the objective of this research was to isolate V. cholera in 3 different water sources; River, pond and tube-well, in 5 different locations of Gazipur, Bangladesh, and to analyze their antibiogram study. A total of 45 water samples were randomly collected for the isolation and identification of Vibrio spp. Samples are then serially diluted in alkaline peptone water and streak on Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salt Sucrose-TCBS agar for quantification of V. spp. For V. cholera isolation water samples were first enriched in nutrient broth at 37 °C for 16 hours followed by cultivation in selective media; TCBS agar at 37 °C for 24 hours. Yellow colonies on TCBS agar were screed as V. cholera and was confirmed by analyzing their biochemical characteristics like Catalase, Oxidase, MR, VP, Indole, Sugar fermentation. Following isolation antibiotic sensitivity test was performed on each V. cholera isolates to determine their antibiotic sensitivity profile. The results showed, out of 45 samples 12 contained V. cholera. Tube-well water has significantly lower concentration (log CFU/mL) of V. spp. than river and pond water (P < 0.05). Bacterial concentration doesn't deviate (P > 0.05) significantly in 5 different location the sample was collected from. All the 12 isolates were sensitive to Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin (100%), while Chloramphenicol (91.67%), Sulfamethoxazole (91.67%), Azithromycin (66.67%) showed high sensitivity. Isolates showed marginal sensitivity towards Tetracycline (33.33%), and Cephalexin (16.67%) and 100% resistance against antibiotics like Vancomycin, Penicillin, Erythromycin, and Nalidixic Acid. Based on these data we recommend using tube-well water instead of river and pond water for drinking purposes. Furthermore, we suggest selective use of sensitive antimicrobials listed here for therapeutics of cholera outbreak.

'Quality of Life' of Persons with Disability: An Assessment in Selected Flood Prone Areas of Bangladesh

'Quality of Life' of Persons with Disability: An Assessment in Selected Flood Prone Areas of Bangladesh

A Rapid Overview: The Resiliency of Rural Households after Flood 2020 Amidst Pandemic COVID-19 in Bangladesh

The mini study was conducted after the flood 2020 to observe the household level resiliency of extreme poor at most flood prone rural areas in Bangladesh. Primary data was collected from extreme poor households who are participants government’s social safety net programme “Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP)”. Those households are located at flood prone areas of Bangladesh, The National Resilience Programme (NRP) is also working there in limited scale. Bangladesh is a low-lying nation highly exposed to the threat of repeated floods, due to the country being susceptible to receiving monsoon rains between June and October each year. During the monsoon flood 2020, 1.5 million people was affected by flooding, and a third of the country’s districts have been affected by flooding. Data was collected between November and December of 2020 for the mini-survey.The mini survey finds that the respondent households are bounce back to normal life after flood 2020 from analysis of primary data and interpretation. But this recovery it is not bounce back better or worse. It can be said that household level resilience has increased for short term. In this study resilience level has assessed based on how rural households cope with and overcome recurrent disaster like flood in 2020. The study looked at livelihood, income, place of residence, types of houses, household assets, land ownership, access to information on flood warning messages, internal displacement, loss & damages, recovery mechanism of losses, access to cash savings & loan and their perception about recent flood 2020 and resiliency over flood.Findings of the study shows that, engagement in agriculture is low because those sampled households are extreme poor and have no cultivable land and very few percentages of household heads are engaged in off-firm based professions. Evidence shows that almost of half of respondents, 46.67% households have increased their income immediate after received training and input support on Income Generating Activates (IGA). Those households who have incremental earnings, can earn additional money BDT 250 to BDT 2000 beside their main income.It is noticeable findings that 93.33% of respondents have been informed early warning before flood 2020 from Union Parishad and NGOs. The respondents also experienced price hike in commodity market during flood 2020.79.63% said that the flood 2020 amidst COVID-19 have affected their income, their income had reduced. Few numbers of respondents (11.67%) said that they sold asset because of disasters. Respondents who have sold assets, all of them said that they sold livestock for their recovery. Flood 2020 affected respondents’ households informed that had managed cost of house repair and maintenance from their own daily income.Good percentage of respondents said that they have access to finance, which is helpful for recovery after disasters. The survey finds that only 26.67% of respondents have cash savings. Survey findings showed that 43.33% respondents have taken loan at normal time or after disaster. Only 03.33% respondents are living on government sites, those are landless people or internally displaced because of river erosion.In conclusion, from the primary data analysis, we can say that Flood 2020 affected households have recovered for short term by their own and some of institutional resources. The recovery, resilient capacity can be increased through skill and knowledge transfer for alternative livelihood options considering disaster risks.

Loss of Domestic Poultry Due to Flood and the State of Veterinary Care Services in Flood-Prone Areas of Bangladesh

Loss of Domestic Poultry Due to Flood and the State of Veterinary Care Services in Flood-Prone Areas of Bangladesh

‘Quality of Life’ of Persons with Disability: An Assessment in Selected Flood Prone Areas of Bangladesh

&#x0D; The present study is on “Quality of Life” of person with disabilities living in flood prone areas of Bangladesh. In this aspect the specific objectives have been designed to determine the effects of disaster on physical and psychological health and social relationship between disabilities and community. The study has also assessed the adaptive capacity of persons with disabilities during and post-disaster period and find out the challenges faced by the persons with disabilities during disaster and post disaster that undermining their quality of life. In the determination of quality of life of PWDs in the selected flood prone area in Bangladesh a mixed method incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research approaches was used to conduct this study by using the tools of observation, case study, and face to face semi structured interview, with PWDs in Northern district of Gaibandha. The study shows that out of 110 respondent, nearly 63 per cent required assistance, while over 38 per cent respondent are required partial assistance, and 20 percent are required supervision. The study reveals that more than 9 per cent of the respondents maintains very poor quality of life while 20 per cent are maintaining poor quality of life, nearly 34 per cent respondents are identified their life neither poor or nor good in selected area.&#x0D;

Coping strategies of women in flood prone areas of Bangladesh

The present research have been undertaken to have an understanding of poor women’s flood coping strategies in selected flood prone areas of Narsingdi district of Bangladesh. The objectives of the study were: (i) identifying and assessing a respondent’s extent of practice of the strategies; (ii) determining the flood coping ability of poor women; and (iii) determining some important characteristics of poor women. The study was conducted in two villages namely, Karimpur of Karimpur union and Alokbali of Alokbali union in Sadar upazila under Narsingdi district. Data were collected from a total of 100 poor women from a population of 402. A structured interview schedule (questionnaire) was used to collect data from the selected sample, while a number of qualitative data collection methods were used which included focus group discussion (FGD), case study and key informant interviews (KII). The data were collected from June to August, 2014. The selected thirty coping strategies against floods were arranged in a 4-point scale in order to reveal a respondent’s extent of practice of the strategies. Finally, the flood coping strategies indexes (FCSI) were made these are: (i) increasing the level of homestead and using sand bags in backyard to protect edge erosion; (ii) build a makeshift high platform at home; and (iii) keeping major dry food for future use, etc. Flood coping ability of poor women was measured by considering six dimensions of women’s livelihoods. Majority of the poor women (66%) had low flood coping ability, while 22% had medium and the remaining 12% had very low coping availability in the study areas. It is notable that none of the respondents was found to have high flood coping ability. Educational status was very low and 66% had no formal education. Most of the respondents were less interested in continuing their child’s education because of their poverty and less opportunity of educational institutes. The migration behavior is very common and 56% respondents are absolutely landless. Majority (68%) of the respondents had low extension media contact and 74% of the respondents were expecting training for protecting flood. The respondents identified five major sectors needing expansion to improve their existing livelihood status these are credit, working opportunity, health service, shelter, and education.Progressive Agriculture 26 (2): 155-167, 2015

Scale-up potentialities of some social safety net programmes to climate change shocks in Bangladesh

Although Bangladesh is quite advanced in terms of setting up systems of social safety net (SSN) but the services in dealing climate change has gained little attention. On the other hand some specific public SSN programmes (SSNPs) like Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), Food-For-Work (FFW), Rural Employment and Road Maintenance Programme (RERMP) and Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP) through which most distressed and right less poor especially vulnerable rural women are benefitted, not yet tested whether the programmes promoted as climate proofed. Therefore the study was conducted for adapting those four SSNPs in dealing with climate change shocks like cyclone, flood, drought, water logging and salinity for escaping climate vulnerable poor from chronic poverty. Quantitative analysis has been made using the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010 data set. Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) session and Case Studies were performed for addressing current SSNPs with their weaknesses or effectiveness and scale up potentialities to explore better livelihood and food security options for climate poor. Relevant stakeholders in government and NGO programmes have been consulted to assess the feasibility of options for further strengthening of aforesaid SSNPs. It is found that the SSN intervention with VGD, FFW and RERMP have minimum scope in dealing with climate change although the said tools are important especially to disadvantaged rural women for creating their employment opportunity as well as poverty alleviation. The VGD beneficiaries can properly be engaged to sustainable income generation and microfinance activities for future saving to promote adaptive capacity which would enhance their resiliencies to cope with climate change. The dead or silted-up rivers, canals or ponds and irrigation channels can be excavated or re-excavated by operating the major workfare SSNPs like FFW and the excavated soil can be utilized for creating, maintaining or elevating rural roads, embankment and other infrastructures which are quite crucial for mitigating the flood, storm surge, water logging or salinity issues. The canals or ponds can additionally be utilized for enough harvesting of monsoon rain or flood water thus salinity and drought problems would be minimized for a better agricultural intervention in the affected areas. The RERMP beneficiaries can be engaged to maintain embankments and tree plantation at pond periphery or at barren land with their proper nursing, compost preparation etc. The CLP is found as a concrete example for achieving climate change adaptation to uplift the socio-economic status of chronic poor char dwellers to recurrent floods in Jamuna and Brahmaputra basins. This programme can be extended from an 18-month to a two-year period and should have to spread-up to the chars of other vulnerable flood prone areas of Bangladesh. A good agricultural marketing system is also essential for proper and timely marketing of CLP-products in the locality.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijssm.v2i2.11618 Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manage. Vol-2, issue-2: 78-92

Local People’s Responses to Flood Disasters in Flood Prone Areas of Northeast Bangladesh

In the flood prone areas of Bangladesh, local people have adapted to flooding. Essentially, properties are protected against flooding by constructing villages in the highlands on natural levees, while using lowlands as agricultural fields during the dry season. It remains to spread flood inundation condition and exempts the necessity of strengthening measures against flooding. This study aims to clarify the status of self, community, and public assistance for flood disasters in flood prone areas of Northeast Bangladesh based on a questionnaire survey. We extracted similarities and differences between local people’s flood responses by comparing our findings to those of a similar study on a 2006 flood in the Sendai River Basin, Japan. The effects of preventive flood mitigation measures such as selection of house location are quantitatively confirmed. Maximum inundation depth and duration for houses is approximately 10% less than that for agricultural fields. The study reveals that both areas have evacuation activities, although factors motivating evacuation differ.

Development of New Submergence Tolerant Rice Variety for Bangladesh Using Marker-Assisted Backcrossing

Submergence tolerant high yielding rice variety was developed using BR11 as a recipient parent applying foreground, phenotypic and background selection approaches. Recombinant selection was found essential to minimize linkage drag by BC2F2 generation. Without recombinant selection, the introgression size in the backcross recombinant lines (BRLs) was approximately 15 Mb on the carrier chromosome. The BRLs were found submergence tolerance compared to the check varieties under complete submergence for two weeks at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, and produced higher yield compared to the isogenic Sub1-line under controlled submerged condition. The BRL IR85260-66-654-Gaz2 was released as BRRI dhan52 in 2010, which was the first high yielding submergence tolerant variety in Bangladesh. BRRI dhan52 produced grain yield ranging from 4.2 to 5.2 t/hm2 under different flash flood prone areas of Bangladesh in three consecutive seasons. The study demonstrated the efficiency of recombinant selection and better adaptability of the newly released submergence tolerant high yielding variety in flash flood prone different areas of the country with respect to submergence tolerance and yield potential.

Study on Grain Storage Facilities as Food Security Measure in Flood Prone Areas of Bangladesh

The present study aimed at obtaining the existing grain storage facilities - their problems and prospects at farmers, commercial, common and co-operative levels on some selected flood prone areas of Bangladesh. The study was conducted at Belkuchi upazila under Sirajgonj district. A total of randomly selected forty farmers and ten traders were surveyed from four villages under four different unions through structured questionnaire. Farmers and traders were classified as small, medium and large on the basis of their total land ownership and annual income status. The farmers used traditional storage structures such as Dole, berh, Motka, Jala, steel drum, gunny and plastic bags and Gola. On the other hand, the traders used gunny and plastic bags and privately owned godowns for storing food grains for short time basis. Average production, consumption, sale, farm use, labour wage, storage volume, cost, durability and losses of different storage structures for major grain crops like paddy, wheat and mustard were identified by farmers and traders category. Considering the capital cost, expected life and storage loss steel drum, gunny and plastic bags and Motka/Jala were found more economical for the farmers. The advantages and disadvantages of farmers, commercial, common and co-operative level storage structures were also identified. As the study area was a flood prone one, average 60% farmers were affected and average 8% stored grains were damaged by the flood of 2007. A total of 73% farmers and traders expressed their interest on co-operative storage system at the time of flood to store food grains with paying cost as they have no alternative storage facilities other than the proposed safely constructed co-operative storage structures. On the basis of the opinion of farmers and traders, the suitable location and type of storage structure were also proposed. A layout design and the cost of an operational storage structure for storing 60 metric tonnes of paddy and the possible management of the co-operative storage system were also proposed.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v18i2.18244 Progress. Agric. 18(2): 223 - 233, 2007

Small-scale silage-making technology for the extreme poor on floodplains

Despite owning only a couple of cattle, the landless, extreme poor can neither spare land for animal forage production nor can they afford to buy concentrate feed for their animals. In the flood-prone areas of Bangladesh, the most severe feed shortage occurs during July−October, when the low-lying pasturelands are flooded. Production, processing and preservation (silage-making) of high-yielding fodder, like Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), can overcome such feed shortage. Existing silage-making techniques (e.g. pit silo) are not suitable for flood-prone areas. An innovative, low-cost silage-making technology has been developed and tested in 10 flood-prone villages of Sirajganj in 2012. This portable bamboo silo (PBS) has been developed from an earlier low-cost, fixed model of Bangladesh Agricultural University. The PBS responds to the vulnerability of the extreme poor living in flood-prone areas, and their housing condition, livestock-farming capacity and ability to invest. The PBS can preserve 0.5 tonne of Napier silage, which can replace 50% need of roughage feed-rice straw of one or two local-bred cattle during 3−4 rainy months. With such feed replacement, average monthly milk production in the local cow variety increased by 12.36% (p < 0.01). Average net monthly income of the extreme poor families from selling milk also increased by 56.31% (p < 0.001) due to increased milk production and reduced feed cost. The paper also discusses general issues related to innovation for the extreme poor.