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Climatic Variations:Farming Systems and Livelihoods in the High Barind Tract and Coastal areas of Bangladesh

M. B. Islam, M. Y. Ali, M. Amin and Sk. M. ZamanBangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Objective• To investigate the effect of climatic

variations on the farming systems and livelihoods of the people

Methodology

Study areas:• High Barind Tract, Rajshahi and • Coastal belt of six locations: Bagerhat,

Dacope of Khulna, Noakhali sadar, Subarnochar of Noakhali, Dumki and Kalapara of Patuakhali

• Primary information was collected through pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire and collected data were verified through FGD

• Secondary information was also collected from SRDI and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) reports

• Experimental data were incorporated in this study from different reports of BARI

• Meteorological information/data were collected from Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Dhaka

Sour

ce: B

AR

C/U

ND

P/FA

O

Drought prone areas

(Kharif season)

Sour

ce: S

RD

I

Drought intensity

(Rabi season)

Average temperature increases +0.30 °C

Mean yearly total rainfall 1075±325 mm(decreases –4.41%)

Fig. 1. Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperature in Rajshahi during 1980-2006

Fig. 2. Yearly total rainfall in Rajshahi during 1980-2007

Fig. 3. Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperature in Noakhali during1980-2006

Fig. 4. Yearly total rainfall in Noakhali during 1980-2007


Rainfall variation was 2000-4800 mm

Fig. 6. Yearly total rainfall in Khulna during 1980-2007

Fig. 5. Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperature in Khulna during 1980-2006


Rainfall ranges from 1100-2600 mm

Fig. 7. Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperature in Patuakhali during 1980-2006

Fig. 8. Yearly total rainfall in Patuakhali during 1980-2007


Year to year rainfall variation (1800-4300 mm) was large

Extent of Drought

Pictorial views of drought in High Barind Tract

In 1985, cropping intensity of HBT was 117% (BMDA, 2006)

At present, cropping intensity of this area is 216% (BMDA, 2006)

Crops and cropping patterns with varieties in High Barind Tractin 1985 and 2007

-

Wheat (HYV)-Wheat-T.Aman

T.Aman(L/HYV)T.Aman (L/HYV)F-F-T.Aman

BoroT. Aman (HYV)

T.Aman (L/HYV)Boro-T.Aman

Chickpea (HYV)T.Aman (HYV)

Chickpea (L)Linseed (L)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Rainfed:Chickpea-T.Aman

Rainfed: Chickpea + Linseed-T.Aman

TomatoT.Aus

T.Aus-T.Aman/Tomato-T.Aus

Irrigated:

• With the development of irrigation systems the cropping patterns have been changed.

• Improved management practices with modern crop varieties increased the yields of different crops.

Rainfed:

Rainfed: F-F-T.Aman

2007198520071985Remarks

Crops/varietyCropping pattern

• Experimental results revealed that in many years drought prevailed during flowering stage of T.Aman rice. As a result 11-34% yield loss occurred for local and 43-50% for modern T.Aman rice varieties.

• Supplementary irrigation by harvesting run off water in a mini pond (10m x 10m x 3m) can save the yield loss of one hectare of land (Annual Progress Report, OFRD, BARI, 1991).

Technologies to mitigate drought situation of HBT

Seed priming of chickpea increased the seed yield of 20-25% over non-priming under moisture stress situation of HBT

• Chickpea, barley, sesame, linseed, gimakalmi, stem amaranth, coriander and mungbean were found promising for drought situation

• Besides these, improved crop management practices viz., mulching and minimum tillage were also found to mitigate the challenges of drought

Livelihood of the farmers has improved through intervention of modern agricultural technologies, utilization of homestead areas, plantation of fruit trees along with development of better communication

Non-saline lands are becoming saline under four circumstances;a) when they flooded by saline water during storm-surge or by breaking of a coastal embankmentb) when drought occurs in pre-monsoon season, c) when drought occurs in post-monsoon seasond) if a tube-well (or other irrigation source) starts to deliver saline water during a crop growing period (Brammer, 1999)

Comparison of salt affected areas between 1973 and 2000

Crops and cropping patterns with varieties in Noakhali in 1980 and 2007

Chilli (L)B.Aus/D.Aus (L/HYV)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Chilli (L)B.Aus/D.Aus (L)T.Aman (L)

Chilli-B. Aus/ D.Aus-T.Aman

Chilli-B.Aus/ D.Aus-T.Aman

Sweet potato (L/HYV)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Sweet potato (L)T.Aman (L)

Sweet potato-T.Aman

Sweet potato-T.Aman

Mugbean (L/HYV) T. Aman (L/HYV)

-Mugbean-T.Aman

Soybean (HYV)T. Aman (L/HYV)

-Soybean-T.Aman

Groundnut (HYV)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Groundnut (L)T.Aman (L)

Groundnut-T.AmanGroundnut -T.Aman

Khesari (L)T.Aus (L/HYV)T.Aman (L/HYV)

-Relay khesari-T.Aus -T.Aman

T. Aus (L/HYV)T. Aman (L/HYV)

-T. Aus- T.AmanCrop yields and cropping intensity increased due to inclusion of additional crops with their modern varieties and improved management practices

T.Aman (L/HYV)T.Aman (L)F-F-T.AmanF-F-T.Aman

2007198020071980Remarks


Crops and cropping patterns with varieties in Dacope, Khulna in 1980 and 2007

The cropping patterns have been changed due to use of modern rice varieties and in some extent introduction of salt tolerant rice varietiesCrop diversification has markedly increased through the intervention of modern technology

Boro (HYV)-Boro-F-F

T.Aman (L/HYV)T.Aman (L)F-F-T.AmanF-F-T.Aman

Sesame (HYV)B. Aus (HYV)T.Aman(L/HYV)

Sesame (L)T.Aman (L)

Sesame-B.Aus-T.Aman

Sesame-T.Aman

Boro (HYV)Lentil (L)T.Aman (L)

Boro-T.AmanLentil-T.Aman

B. Aus (HYV-F-B.Aus-T.Aman

T.Aman (L/HYV)T.Aman (L) F-F-T.AmanF-F-T.Aman

2007198020071980Remarks


Crops and cropping patterns with varieties in Patuakhali in 1980 and 2007

Utilization of fallow land, use of modern crop varieties, intervention of appropriate production technologies has helped in changing the cropping systems and simultaneously increased the crop yields in the areas.

Mungbean (HYV) Sesame (HYV)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Mungbean (L)Sesame (L)T.Aman (L)

Mungbean/ Sesame-T.Aus-T.Aman

Mungbean-T.Aman

Khesari (L)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Khesari (L)T.Aman (L)

Relay Khesari -T.Aman

Relay Khesari-T.Aman

T.Aus (L/HYV)T.Aman (L/HYV)

T.Aus (L)T.Aman (L)

T. Aus-T. AmanT. Aus-T.Aman

Sweet potato (L/HYV)Groundnut (Dhaka-1)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Sweet potato (L)Groundnut (L)T.Aman (L)

Sweet potato/ Groundnut-T.Aman

Sweet potato-T.Aman

Chilli (L)T.Aman (L/HYV)

Chilli (L)T.Aman (L)

Chilli-T.AmanChilli-T.Aman

T.Aman (L/HYV)T.Aman (L)F-F-T.AmanF-F-T.Aman2007198020071980

RemarksCrops/varietyCropping pattern

Cropping intensity as well as yields of crops have increased due to use of HYVs and modern production technologies which helped for improving the livelihood of farmers of coastal belt

Increased salinity has a profound negative effect on the livestock health due to decrease of fodder production because of salinity, shrimp gher, long inundation, modern rice cultivation and polluted water.

The fisheries sector in the southern coastal region are very likely to face significantly yield reduction in future due to climate change

Enhanced salinity and climatic hazards like SIDR have ill effect on the health of human along with increased disease incidence and sudden death

In Khulna region (secondary salinity), crop lands are converted to shrimp “Gher” by the rich man thus rendering the non-saline crop land to saline as a result lands are becoming unsuitable for rice or other crop cultivation

With the intrusion of strong saline water, production of different crops, fruit trees, are seriously affected as a result livelihood and economy of farmers of those area are seriously hampered

Moreover, Global Circulation Model results revealed that due to rise of temperature, drought and salinity/ cyclone/storm surge in Bangladesh could increase in an alarming rate in the near future

• Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute has already carried out some study on screening of crops/variety for saline areas

• Tolerance of rabi field crops to salinity is approximately as follows:Sweet potato > cowpea > groundnut > millets > soybean > triticale > mungbean > sesame > barley > wheat > mustard

• For vegetables, spices and fruits the ranking would look like this:Batishak > chilli > kangkong > garlic > indian spinach > okra > water melon > red amaranth

• Besides these, improved crop management practices viz. raised bed with mulch, mulching, zero tillage, sorjanmethod etc. were also found to mitigate the challenges of salinity and rise of temperature

Following points may be considered for impact assessment on the basis of climate change

scenarios Climate influence

Crop productionPopulation distributionVegetationSoil, water and animal resourcesTemperature, rainfall and natural hazards like cyclone, flooding, drought, salinity changes and erosionHuman healthIndustry, energy, infrastructure and communicationUrbanizationFood demand and supply

Impact on agricultureAgricultural crops are highly vulnerable to climate eventsOccurrence of unprecedented floodsOccurrence of flash floods Occurrence of droughts (kharif I and later part of kharifII and rabi)Emissions of nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides from agril. residuesExcessive emission of methane gas has been contributing to the global warmingThe residual effects of climate changes have been destroying the content of organic matter in the soil and also the protein sources

Improved irrigation efficiencyCrop diversification (introduction of salt and drought tolerant variety for coastal and Barind area)Conjunctive use of surface and ground water irrigationChange in fertilization techniques (deep placement of fertilizer, hole system etc.)Coastal green belt forestry through GO-NGOs collaborationAgro-forestry developmentHomestead vegetable and agroforestry development Community forest development through GO-NGOs partnership

Following adaptation measures may be taken:

Institutional adaptationImproved of agricultural extension services and proper linkage with farmers for adoption of new technologies for those areaEnhance training program and dissemination activitiesResearch and development of salinity and drought tolerant crops and high yielding varieties Re-excavation of ponds/cannel in Barind areaChange practices (cultural and other management practices such as tillage, sorjan, relay, ICM/IPM/IPNS concept)Expanded access to creditGuidelines to incorporate climate change in future planningDevelopment of reserved /protected areas in different agro-ecological zones (coastal areas)Co-operative social forestry support services with the involvement of vulnerable women and men

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