Analyzing the effect of Climate Change on Agriculture and Food Security: Evidence from Southern Coastal Region in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world for various types of natural disasters because of geographic location and its coastal areas are most vulnerable. The climate in Bangladesh is changing and it is becoming more unpredictable year by year. This research attempts to quantify the climate change impact on socio-economic parameters, agricultural production and food security in the coastal belt of Koyra Upuzila, Bangladesh. This research also assesses the impact of climate change on their livelihoods and recommends policy guidelines to ensure sustainable livelihood in the study area. The study area was conducted in the southern coastal belt of Bangladesh. In order to get a view of the nature of the study area, a reconnaissance survey was conducted. In five extreme disaster affected unions of koyra upuzila namely Dakshin Bedakashi Union, Uttar Bedakashi Union, Moharajpur Union, Maheshwaripur Union and Bagali Union and 30 respondents have been taken randomly as sample size at each union. After the union selection, respondents were then selected at the rate of following simple random method. The study followed three data collection tools for triangulation purposes. There were focus group discussion, in-depth interviews with key informants and observations. According to the view respondents from these three factors account for 26% responsibility, here most of the responsible for lowering down of food production are improper rain and delayed rain whose percentage is 42.7, which is the greatest percentage for this cause. In the field of genetically modified organism here 60.7 percentage people could not get and 39.3 percentage people got this strategy to ensure food security. Here maximum people in this area also did not get salt tolerant rice varieties where percentage is 84 to ensure this food security. The housing condition of the lower income declines people is vulnerable and they cannot save their assets during cyclone period and moreover there is not adequate cyclone center in the study area to save the lives and asset of the people.