Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies can minimize the loss and damage occurring in the agriculture sector due to climate change in Bangladesh. Farming households in coastal areas and riverine areas are mostly affected by climate change.
Problems faced in agriculture by climate change-affected households
Farmers of riverine and coastal areas are facing different kinds of problems due to climate change. Although, all difficulties faced by farmers are not similar between riverine and coastal areas.
Problems faced in Riverine areas are such as:
- Flood
- Heavy rainfall
- Water logging
- River bank erosion
- Pest infestation
- Death/ illness of livestock & fishes
- Cold Waves
- Yield reduction
Problems faced in coastal areas are such as:
- Salinity
- Cyclone
- Drought
- Pest infestation
- Death/ illness of livestock & fishes
- Cold Waves
- Yield reduction
Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices applied by affected households
Affected households use different kinds of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies to mitigate and adapt to the consequences occurred in the field. The techniques were taught by different local and international NGOs alongside government interventions. Therefore, the list of CSA technologies used in different areas of Bangladesh is below:
- Raised bed planting
- Crop Diversification/Rotation
- Floating Seedbed
- ICT-based agro-met services
- Stress-tolerant crops and varieties
- Irrigation schedules
- Fruits saplings can survive in saline and water-logged condition
- Residue management
- Sack Gardening
- Zero tillage
- Ridge & Farrow Method
- Vegetable towers
- Climbing vine-type vegetables in trellises
- Hanging Garden
- Mulching
- Improved hen house
- Improved Goat House
- Seed preservation techniques
Source of extension service on CSA
Farmers received different kinds of information and support from different organizations. For instance, they received different extension services through Face to Face, Mobile SMS, Live Calls, Voice messages, etc. The list of extension service sources is included below:
- Government extension services
- Research stations/agricultural academic institutes
- Private sector extension services
- NGOs
- Other farmers
- Input suppliers
- Traders & Buyers
- Civil Society Organizations
- Facebook/Media
- Call center/Help desk
- Voice Message/SMS
Content of the extension services
Farmers received information on crops, trees, livestock, and fisheries. Although, the information sought by farmers was not answered and delivered regularly as to developing a swift system is very difficult in Bangladesh. Hence, The information includes
- Selecting and buying inputs
- Preparing land for planting
- Method of planting
- Fertilizer use in crop fields, feeds & ponds
- Control of pests and diseases in plants, livestock, and fishes.
- Harvesting
- Post-harvest activities
- Crop diversification (trying new crops)
- Water management (irrigation)
- Using new technologies
- Marketing
- Early warning about rain, flood and Cyclone
Finally, Farmers would benefit from exposure to climate Smart Agriculture technologies such as Raised Beds, Sack gardening, Tower Method, Ring Method, Trellis, Hanging Garden, etc, and practices that are being used by other farmers with similar climate conditions.
