Abstract
The study was conducted to determine the nature of adaptation by the farmers in the coastal area in response to climate variability and change. The locale of the study was Atulia Union of Shyamnagar Upazila and Pratabnagar Union of Assasuni Upazila under Satkhira district, southwestern coastal area of Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the study were to ascertain the adaptation made by the farmers in response to climate variability and change; identify the changes observed by the farmers in climate variability and change; explore the alternative farming systems practiced by the farmers in response to climate variability and change; examine some of the reasons for adaptation made by the farmers; and describe some of the selected characteristic of the farmers of the study area. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used in the study. Questionnaire and checklists were used in conducting survey, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informants Interviews. Out of 3,471, the data were collected from a sample of 150 randomly selected farmers in the study area. A slight variation and changes were observed by the farmers in climatic factors, climatic extreme events and crop cultivation factors. It was revealed that local and existing crop varieties and traditional adaptation were affected by climate change; consequently crop production was declined. Some HYV varieties such as BR10, BR11, BR23 and local varieties (Patnai dhan, Taksail dhan, Jamaibabu dhan, Chinakanai dhan, Jutabalam dhan) were replaced by saline tolerant varieties like BRRI dhan30 in kharif II season. A saline tolerant newly developed rice variety, BRRI dhan47 was introduced and found to have slightly increasing trend during rabi season. Use of gypsum in crop land was newly introduced to neutralize the salinity in the crop fields and line transplanting (rabi season) has been increasing as a new practice for getting better yield both during kharif II and rabi seasons. Use of cow dung in farming was found seriously declined because of scarcity of cattle in the area causing reduction of soil fertility. Majority of the farmers were middle to old aged having primary to secondary level of education. More than four-fifths of the farmers possessed small to medium farm along with medium to high family income. Ninety four percent of the farmers maintained poor communication with various information sources. Credit facility of the farmers was found discouraging having poor to moderate cosmopoliteness along with poor training exposure. The farmers choose alternative farming practices as suitable secondary occupation compatible to the changing climate. The prominent alternative farming practices were fresh water fish farming, marine water fish farming, livestock and poultry rearing. Majority of the farmers had no expertise on afforestration and crab farming which reflected its poor introduction in the area. The crop production hampered in the area due to intrusion of salinity into field caused by sea level rise, climatic extreme events, inadequate flow of fresh water from upstream and unplanned shrimp culture causing reduction of soil fertility. For sustainable crop production in the coastal area, activities like development of saline tolerant varieties, awareness building, motivational campaign, capacity building, introducing alternative crop varieties and appropriate adaptation should be undertaken by the concerned agencies. Attempt should also be made by the concerned agencies to reduce the unplanned shrimp culture in the crop field so as to increase area coverage of the field crops.