Pulse farmers’ adaptation to climate-induced variability in coastal Bangladesh: Perceptions, strategies, and drivers

Kundu, Nanda Dulal; Uddin, Md. Taj; Sarker, Mou Rani; Sujan, Md. Hayder Khan; Al Noman, Md Abdullah; Islam, Md. Monirul; Sarkar, Md Abdur Rouf

Pulse farmers’ adaptation to climate-induced variability in coastal Bangladesh: Perceptions, strategies, and drivers

Autores

Kundu, Nanda Dulal

Uddin, Md. Taj

Sarker, Mou Rani

Sujan, Md. Hayder Khan

Al Noman, Md Abdullah

Islam, Md. Monirul

Sarkar, Md Abdur Rouf

Editor

Elsevier

Descripción

Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural systems, particularly in coastal regions where climatic variability and resource constraints heighten vulnerability. While considerable research has explored climate impacts on coastal agriculture, limited attention has been paid to pulse farming and farmers’ adaptive responses in marginal environments. Our study addresses this gap by examining climate change adaptation in pulse farming in the southern coastal region of Bangladesh, with a focus on farmers’ risk perceptions, adaptation strategies, and the factors, challenges, and opportunities shaping adaptation decisions. Primary data were collected through household surveys and focus group discussions. Findings reveal that farmers perceive increasing climatic variability, such as rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, droughts, and floods, as major threats, leading to yield decline, pest and disease outbreaks, and water scarcity. In response, thirteen key adaptation strategies were implemented, including improved varieties, adjusted planting times, crop diversification and rotation, homestead gardening, highland cultivation, pesticide use, altered fertilizer timing, off-farm income diversification, supplementary irrigation, poultry/livestock rearing, leased land cultivation, and soil conservation. Multivariate probit model shows that adaptation choices were significantly influenced by socioeconomic and institutional factors, including age, education, farm size, household size, occupation, income, credit access, extension support, training, and market access. Despite various constraints—climatic uncertainty, input shortages, limited knowledge, and inadequate infrastructure—farmers recognize adaptation as a pathway to improved income, food security, and resilience. The study calls for inclusive policies to promote climate-smart technologies and strengthen institutional support in multi-stress-prone coastal zones to advance locally-led adaptation goals.

Palabras clave

climate change adaptation, climate change, crop rotation, soil conservation, agricultural extension, food security, Bangladesh, coastal zones, farmers