ARCAB Adaptive Agricultural Research Programme, Bangladesh

                                                International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) Bangladesh

                                            Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) 98, Park Road, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

 Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The major environmental vulnerabilities viz. droughts, floods, flash floods, cyclone, salinity, tidal surges, water-logging, extreme temperature, low light intensity, fogginess, incidences of pests and diseases etc are affecting the agricultural production systems. Adaptation is important to limit the negative impacts of climate change. Majority of the people in vulnerable areas are involved in crop cultivation, homestead gardening and fishing but they remain frequently unemployed due to climate risks and other natural disasters resulting food insecurity. Present study was undertaken during 2012-13 under ARCAB to analyze the climate impacts on crop production systems and to suggest appropriate coping strategies and adaptation options for increased agricultural productions and better livelihood of the vulnerable people of Naogaon Sadar. Survey, FGDs, HHs and Stakeholders’ Consultations were conducted under the project following a multi-disciplinary and participatory approach for assessing climatic risk factors, soil-related constraints and socio-economic problems affecting agriculture productions. The main reasons of changing crops/cropping patterns and lower productivity in drought prone areas were identified as: growing demands for food crops, erratic rains/moisture stress, problems in tillage operations due to cracking clays, poor soil fertility due to deficiencies of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, B and Mo with low SOM, low CEC etc. The study has evaluated the major risk factors viz. climate risks, soil-related constraints and socio-economic problems that affecting agriculture productions at different farm household levels and  identified possible production opportunities of agriculture innovations including other ways/means of farm income for increasing their overall agriculture productions and household income. This study highlights and integrates multi-dimensional, multi-level and dynamic understandings of poverty, of poor people’s livelihoods and of changing roles of agricultural systems with introduction of improved agriculture innovations in drier areas of Naogaon Sadar.

Keywords: Agriculture innovations, Adaptive Capacity, Climate risks, Production Risk Factors, Community based adaptation.