About 50 percent of livestock, fisheries, and crops are affected by climate change in the coastal and floodplain areas of Bangladesh, says a recent study.
Calling the Climate change impact “severe,” experts said the coastal and floodplain areas of Bangladesh experience irregular rainfall and high salinity, which eventually affects livestock, fisheries, and crops.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) funded the study, on climate resilient agriculture in coastal and floodplain regions, was conducted by Manusher Jonno Foundation.
The study, focused on Bhola, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Satkhira, Barguna, Gaibandha, and Kurigram districts, was unveiled in Dhaka on Monday.
Presenting it findings, Aparna Barman, consultant at Environmental Climate Change and Social Development Initiatives, said women have a significant involvement in livestock rearing and fisheries, whereas in the agriculture sector they are mostly involved in post-harvest work such as drying and boiling rice, and storing seeds of cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
However, women in Barguna do not have freedom to participate in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock related work, compared to women in other upazilas.
They recommended women associated with farming be provided proper training in agricultural technologies, fisheries, and livestock, to build capacity.
They also recommended effective coordination between the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock departments.
Climate change expert Ainun Nishat said a temperature rise between 1.5-2 degrees Celsius is safer for plants and animals.
Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said climate change has a negative impact on many things, but it does extensive damage to food security in particular.
Mir Murul Alam, director general of the Department of Agriculture Extension, said the agriculture pressure on land will go down significantly if people change their diet patterns.
“We need to motivate people to cut rice from their daily diet. With that, people can get certain health benefits and pressure on our agricultural land will also decrease,” he said.