Adaptive Behaviour of Rice Farmers against Climate Change Induced Flash Flood in Haor Areas: Emphasizing Their Socioeconomic Traits

Abstract

In the face of recent devastating flash floods in 2016 and 2017 in the north-east wetlands of Bangladesh, locally known as haor, where 70% of the crops were damaged as an effect of climate change; the study was undertaken to identify the farming practices well adapted to this varied conditions. The socioeconomic traits of the farmers that ultimately shape adaptive behaviour against this frequent flash flood damage were also assessed. Data were collected from 10 July to 20 August, 2017 by using a pre-tested structured interview schedule from 115 randomly selected farmers of four flash flood affected villages under two upazilas namely Tahirpur and Bishwambarpur of Sunamganj district. A mixed method research design was followed during data collection to calculate necessary logistic analysis and interpretations. Findings revealed that, use of short duration variety; practicing varietal diversification by growing short duration varieties in the low lands and allocation of Kanda land for long duration modern variety; and shifting harvesting maturity by farmers were proven significant adaptive practices of rice farming, while 80% of the respondents were low to moderate adaptor. Pearson’s correlation analysis explained that, adaptation of these farming practices varied significantly with the variation in farmers’ level of education, farm size, annual family income, communication exposure, agricultural training experience and perception on climate change while their age showed negatively significant relationship and family size showed a non-significant relationship. It was further revealed through Chi-square analysis that, farmers’ with higher level of education, farm size, annual family income, communication exposure and perception on climate change are likely to have a more favorable adaptive behaviour towards the farming practices to face flash flood damage.