Saiyedatun Nesa
Department of Coopertives, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Banglasesh
Title: Assessing climate change adaptation in the coastal region of Bangladesh: Challenges and solutions
Biography
Biography: Saiyedatun Nesa
Abstract
Bangladesh declared to be the sixth hardest hit by climate calamities among 180 nations. Being one of the largest deltas in the world, the coastal region of Bangladesh is frequently affected by extreme weather, but yet to be addressed with proper intervention. The study focuses on a coastal livelihood of Bangladesh to understand local farmers’ vulnerability, adaptation,the key challenges they are facing in adverse climate condition, alternative coping mechanism and the role of cooperative society formation to reduce climate vulnerability.
By purposive sampling, 45 respondents (30 male n 15 female with age range of 20 -60) were selected from Diarakachua char, Baufal Upazilla, Patuakhali district in Bangladesh. Data were collected through FGDs and -depth interview method. Qualitative analysis technique were used to analyze the primary data.
The study shows most of the respondents(63.7%) take the alternative growth of agricultural products as a coping mechanism whereas the rest temporarily switches profession (24.2%) and migrate to urban areas (12.1%). The majority do not feel comfortable to try for bank loans due to the complicated process. The challenges they face adapting to changing climate situation mainly include lack of accessibility to bank loans, uncertainty and risks to invest in alternative measures, high interest of loan from moneylender and lack of technical and financial support from local government.
The study suggests that the current adaptation mechanisms lack sustainability and prosperity, hence sustainable adaptation strategies are necessary. As the challenges they face mostly are due to cash crunch; formation of the cooperative society can play an effective role to reduce vulnerability. Negociation/MoU with the local banks for easy access to the bank loan, mobile loan-banking etc can be a successful solution to the current crisis. Also appropriate technical and financial support from the local government can reduce the burden as well. more initiatives should be taken by the policy makers to reduce the vulnerability of the coastal livelihood in Bangladesh.