In the past 58 years, the record has been broken as the temperature in Dhaka and across the country had reached nearly 43 degrees Celsius in recent months. Intense heat is affecting humans, animals and birds. The extreme heat is causing the soil in many areas of the country to become parched. Along with that, ponds, canals, lakes and reservoirs are rapidly drying up.
In this situation in various districts and upozilas of the country, water is not available from tube-wells for irrigation, during the Boro season. Similarly, ponds and reservoirs are also drying up quickly. In rural areas, water is not being drawn from tube-wells. The scarcity of drinking water is becoming a crisis. Moreover many times ponds, reservoirs, rivers and canals are being filled up for personal interests; which further exacerbates the heat. And besides, the heat has been intense for the past few months.
During this time, there have been some occasional showers, but after the rain stops, the heat increases again.
The scorching heat and extreme temperatures in the summer season can lead to heat strokes in humans; similarly, the ongoing drought conditions, during the monsoon season are also harming the rice crops. This has raised concerns among agricultural experts and meteorologists, about the potential negative impact on the production of Boro rice during the Boro season. In different districts and upozilas (sub-districts) of the country, the intense heat has caused the green leaves of rice plants to turn red and the rice flowers to wither and have a burnt appearance. Such damage primarily occurs during the flowering stage of rice plants. Currently, the country’s main crop is Boro rice and the months of April and May are crucial for agriculture.
Moreover due to climate change, the frequency of cyclones is increasing rapidly. There has been a rise in heavy and erratic rainfall. The melting of Himalayan glaciers is accelerating and sea levels are rising. All these factors contribute to the growing vulnerability of Bangladesh’s agricultural sector. Although the overall GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the country is increasing, the agricultural sector is facing severe impacts.
The unpredictable and adverse weather conditions pose a significant threat to food security and the economy of Bangladesh. Crop failures and reduced yields, can result in food shortages, increased market prices, and economic instability. Efforts are being made to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture, through the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices, improved water management, and the development of drought, and flood-tolerant crop varieties. Nonetheless, addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach, involving policymakers, scientists, farmers, and other stakeholders.
The contribution of agriculture to the economy is 14.22 percent. However, nearly 60 percent of the population in the country still relies on agriculture. Due to climate Change, the temperature is increasing and the pattern of rainfall is changing, leading to frequent floods cyclones, and salinity intrusion in coastal areas. Severe drought is also observed in some regions. These extreme weather events are having a detrimental impact on agricultural production in the country.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) by 2050, rice production in Bangladesh will decrease by 32 percent, and wheat production will decrease by 8 percent.
The Boro season which is the main rice-growing season begins in November (Kartik-Agrahayan) and ends in April-May (Boishakh-Jyeshtha), during the peak hot season. If the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius or higher for a prolonged period, the situation becomes unbearable for the crops. When the temperature rises for two hours during the flowering stage it causes abnormal ripening. In 2021 Bangladesh experienced such heatwaves. That year nearly half a million hectares of paddy fields were destroyed.
Excessive increase or decrease in temperature, can cause heat stress or heat injury. Heat stress is defined, as a temperature above 35 degrees Celsius. From the second week of April, temperatures have been gradually increasing in various regions of the country. There is a risk. Rice flowering stage is particularly susceptible to damage. We consider this time to be the most vulnerable. Due to the hot wind, water evaporates from the rice panicles. The flowers dry up. As a result the rice becomes sterile. Climate change in agriculture is a new challenge. This incident has occurred before. However, there has not been much damage in such extensive areas.
“Heat stress” is not new in the country as mentioned by a scientist from the Plant Physiology Division, of the Gazipur, Rice Research Institute. Data on heat stress, has been collected since 2012. So far heat stress has occurred in Jashore, Sirajganj, Tardaha, Kaliakoir in Gazipur and Shambhuganj in Mymensingh. However, it has never occurred in two fields in a single village or in one area. The major heat stress occurred in 2021. That year on April 4, heat stress occurred simultaneously in Netrokona and Kishoreganj areas, Gopalganj, Kushtia, Rajshahi, and Mymensingh districts, and some other regions. There is concern about the lack of rainfall even in the month of Boishakh (April-May) this year. The absence of rain during Boishakh can cause harm. Typically, rainfall occurs after the month of Boishakh. Therefore, the temperature decreases, but that is not happening this year.
At present, the Department of Agriculture has provided some precautionary advice for the protection of agriculture and field crops. Particularly, there is a higher risk of heat stress where paddy is in the flowering stage. Therefore, it is advised to maintain sufficient water in the field to protect the rice from thermal damage. Water should be kept at least two to three inches deep until the grains of rice harden. Additionally, it is important to note that, more than 55% of the total rice produced in the country, comes from the Boro season; surpassing the annual demand. Hence, the government gives special importance to food security during this season. The target for Boro cultivation has been set at a total of 5.5 million hectares of land. The target for rice production has been set at 2 crore 10 lakh metric tons. For this objective, hybrid aromatic and local varieties of rice are being cultivated. In the fiscal year 2021-22 the target for Boro cultivation was set at 4.872 million hectares. However, it was cultivated on 4.951 million hectares of land. Last year the target for rice production was set at 2 crore 90 lakh metric tons, and the actual production was 2 crore 10 lakh metric tons.
In recent years, the cultivation of Boro rice has increased by about four percent during the ongoing season. This year Boro rice has been cultivated on approximately 5.077 million hectares of land, which is slightly more than 5.77 million hectares last year. Experts say that, successfully cultivating rice during the Boro season is quite challenging. Every year, farmers face the constant threat of unexpected floods and excessive rainfall, which make it difficult to harvest the rice properly. And now there is a new threat for Boro called “heat shock.” It is another unpredictable factor influenced by climate change.
Bangladesh heavily relies on agriculture, which is a labor-intensive sector, to combat hunger and poverty. Nearly 40.6 percent of the population is engaged in agricultural activities in Bangladesh. Approximately, 17 crore people’s food security depends on the cultivation from only 87 lakh hectares of arable land. Unfortunately, the amount of cultivable land in Bangladesh is decreasing by at least one percent every year. Additionally, due to climate change, it is becoming increasingly challenging to cultivate crops on many arable lands. Therefore, it is crucial to develop climate-resilient seeds and varieties for sustainable food and nutrition security. Any fallow land can not be left neglected. Ensuring this will increase the food production of the country multiple times.
Nutrition is not just a single framework. It is a multidimensional subject. In reality, nutrition is not possible without food. Conversely, if food production is disrupted, food supply, and availability will also be affected. Climate change directly affects food production. Climate change is an undeniable reality for Bangladesh. Moreover, climate change also increases the risks in agriculture, which is an uncertainty. It is commonly said that, the economy and livelihoods of Bangladesh stand on four pillars; one of which is agriculture – which is severely affected by the adverse impact of climate change, such as: the intense heatwave (43 degrees Celsius) during the Boro season. In such a situation, similar extreme heatwaves may occur in the future. Considering this, it is necessary to focus on research in rice plants, a new variety is needed, that can withstand heat in crop production and produce seeds. It is important to start from now. Otherwise, in the future, if we do not take these considerations into account, we will see a crisis in food security, and rice will not be available even if, we have money.
Citation:
Motahar hossen, Somoyer alo.