Climatic Hazards and Impacts on Agricultural Practices in Southern Part of Bangladesh

摘要

Global climate change is growing threat to lives and livelihoods on earth where the developing countries are highly exposed to climatic variations. Due to a unique geographical location Bangladesh is one of the worst affected countries by climate induced hazards. Coastal region of the country experiences numerous adverse pressures resulting from these natural phenomenon. Long term changes in climatic parameters such as temperature, rainfall, humidity creates extra pressure of climate change impact. Agriculture of coastal area is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climatic hazards. The current study was conducted to assess the major climatic hazards and impacts on cropping pattern at Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali District of Bangladesh. The study was designed mainly to identify the latest sustainable change gradually adopted by local farmers in their cropping pattern as the coping strategy. Methodology followed was the consideration of farmers’ perception and field based data collection including Questionnaire Survey, Focus Group Discussion and personal observation. Major climatic hazards including sea level rise, salinity intrusion, cyclone with storm surge, tidal surge, coastal inundation, erratic rainfall and riverbank erosion were found predominant in the study area. However farmers identified salinity intrusion, cyclone, storm surge, tidal surge and erratic rainfall as most common and severe constrains to crop production practices. Previously practiced cropping pattern and season has been changed responding towards climatic variations. Cultivation of some crops has been increased while some other has been decreased. Some varieties of crops including jute, sesame, and sugarcane are going to be extinct because of salinization. Farmers need technical and logistic support to minimize the impact of climatic hazards impact to protect the loss of crop production. Dissemination of salinity tolerant varieties, some structural and non-structural mitigation and adaptation measures can be the part of most suitable risk reduction action plan to reduce the climate change vulnerability in crop agriculture.