Socio-hydrological Resilience to Climate-induced Drought: A case of Naogaon, Bangladesh

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc. Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh

3 MSc.Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Dhaka, Bangladesh

4 MSc.Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh

Abstract

Introduction: Drought poses significant environmental and economic threats in northwestern parts of Bangladesh. The area is characterized by long-dry weather pattern. Climate-change driven uncertainties such as low rainfall, precipitation and water scarcity puts more strain on agriculture and agro-based economy of the region. Farmers and agricultural laborers faces challenge in finding alternative income sources during prolonged drought. To survive, they interact with changing socio-hydrological systems and utilize different absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacities. The country has experienced frequent hydro-climatic disasters including flood, cyclone and drought due to the increased climate change impacts. Drought is a recurring and creeping phenomenon in the Northwest part of Bangladesh. Particularly, the districts such as Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Bogra, and Joypurhat face agricultural drought. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted warmer climate and a drastic change in rainfall patterns in the districts. Recent research has also identified the annual maximum temperature increase by 0.16°C in two decades, and the significant decrease of rainfall during 1994-2013 along with the forecast of increase of average minimum temperature by 1.3°C
Materials and Methods: Taking Sapahar Upazila of Naogaon District as a case, it is aimed to identify and explore the coupled socio-hydrological systems and how farmers of the Upazila deal with the stresses caused by drought. It is also explored the socio-hydrological and social sub-systems that supports livelihood of the villagers to cope with the challenges posed by water scarcity. The research identified increased susceptibility of households to water scarcity, crop failure, food insecurity, and unemployment resulting from recurring drought. Farmers have changed their land use pattern and traditional agricultural practices, cultivating drought-tolerant species, introducing rainwater harvesting systems, and re-excavating pond and canal to store water to cope with draught. They also manage small water systems based on their shared learning, and coordinate with different stakeholders to foster the adaptive system. They also change their conventional occupation and migrate to nearby cities. Long-term transformation in land use and land cover change is identified employing Geographical Information System (GIS) analytical tools.
Results: The change includes gradual decline in the area and coverage of paddy fields and an increase of mango cultivation and fish farming. The study recommends the increased institutional cooperation among relevant stakeholders. It also suggests taking measures like innovating drought tolerant and less water consuming crops and supporting farmers to strengthen the resilience against drought.
Conclusions: Change that occurs at individual level is not transmitted to encourage learning and broaden participation. Besides, strategies need to best utilize the available local knowledge and augment the practices through local government institutions such as Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. Measures form Ministry of Agriculture is also required to (a) subsidizing farmers to increase their access to water during drought; (b) and promoting drought tolerant species and short-lived crop; (c) capacity building activities for farmers to cope with water related stresses and promote the rainwater harvesting systems. Strong interrelationship between government and non-government organizations and scientists is also prerequisite to facilitate an effective adaptation policy. Integrated approach will help farmers not to leave their traditional agricultural practice. In this backdrop, the study will provide information about the dynamics of the socio-hydrological crisis and opportunities to the policymakers to assist the local people to enhance their resilience.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

BADC (2005). The Minor Irrigation Survey Report of 2005, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Bari MF, A.A. (2000). Effects on irrigated agriculture on groundwater quality in Northwestern Bangladesh. In: Proceedings of integrated water resources management for sustainable development. New Delhi, India: 19-21.
Barlow, M., Cullen, H., Lyon, B. & Wilhelmi, O. (2006). Drought disaster in Asia. Natural Disaster Hotspots Case Studies, 6: 1-20.
Butler, D., Memon, F., Makropoulos, C., Southall, A. & Clarke, L. (2010). WaND: Guidance on Water Cycle Management for New Developments. CIRIA Report C690. CIRIA, London, UK.
Eslamian, S., Reyhani, M.N. & Syme, G. (2019). Building Socio-Hydrological Resilience: from Theory to Practice. Journal of Hydrology, 575: 930-932.
Habiba, U.S. (2011). Socioeconomic Impact of Droughts in Bangladesh. In: R.A. Shaw (Ed.), Droughts in Asian Monsoon Region (Community, Environment and Disaster Risk Management) (Vol. 8, pp. 25-48). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-7262(2011)0000008008
Habiba, U., Shaw, R. & Takeuchi, Y. (2014). Farmers’ adaptive practices for drought risk reduction in the northwest region of Bangladesh. Natural Hazards: 337-359, DOI: 10.1155/2017/3514381
Hossain, M.N., Chowdhury, S. & Paul, S.K. (2016). Farmer-level adaptation to climate change and agricultural drought: empirical evidences from the Barind region of Bangladesh. Natural Hazards, 83(2): 1007-1026.
Hossain, M.S. (2018). Drought: A Threat to Ensure Food Security in Bangladesh. (pp. 1-30). Gazipur: Banggabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. Retrieved from:         
https://bsmrau.edu.bd/seminar/wp-content/uploads/sites/318/2018/05/Saddam-Hossain_13-05-2966.pdf
Islam, A.R., Shen, S., Hu, Z. & Rahman, M.A. (2017). Drought hazard evaluation in boro paddy cultivated areas of western Bangladesh at current and future climate change conditions. Advances in Meteorology,        
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3514381
Islam, A.R., Tasnuva, A., Sarker, S.C., Rahman, M.M., Mondal, M.S. & Islam, M.M. (2014). Drought in Northern Bangladesh: social, agroecological impact and local perception. International Journal of Ecosystem, 4(3): 150-158.
Jalilov, S.-M., Mainuddin, M., Maniruzzaman, M., Alam, M.M., Islam, M.T. & Kabir, M.J. (2019). Efficiency in the Rice Farming: Evidence from Northwest Bangladesh. Agriculture. DOI: 10.3390/agriculture9110245
Kamruzzaman, M.D., Al Marjuk, O. & Alam, M. (2017). Local Rice Varieties in Climate Vulnerable Areas of Bangladesh: Prospects and Barriers. Proceedings of 7th International Symposium. Retrieved from: yun.ir/txf054
Local Government Division. (2019, April). Sapahar Upazila. Retrieved from Local Government Division: yun.ir/oihft8
Mundial, B. (2013). Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extreme Regional Impact and Casefor Resilience. A Report for the World Bank by the Potsdam Institute for ClimateImpact Research and Climate Analytics. World Bank,Washington DC, USA.
Parry, M., Parry, M.L., Canziani, O., Palutikof, J., Van der Linden, P. & Hanson, C. (2007). Climate change 2007-impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Working group II Contribution to The Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC, Vol.4.
Paul, S.K., Hossain, M.N. & Ray, S.K. (2013). Monga in northern region of Bangladesh: a study on people s survival strategies and coping capacities. Rajshahi University Journal of Life & Earth and Agricultural Sciences, 41: 41-56.
Rahaman, K.M., Ahmed, F.R. & Islam, M.N. (2016). Modeling on climate induced drought of north-western region, Bangladesh. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 2(1): 45.
Rahman, M.R. & Lateh, H. (2016). Meteorological drought in Bangladesh: assessing, analysing and hazard mapping using SPI, GIS and monthly rainfall data. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75(12): 1026.
Shahid, S. (2011). Impact of climate change on irrigation water demand of dry season Boro rice in northwest Bangladesh. Climatic Change, 433-453.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9895-5
Shahid, S.B. (2008). Drought risk assessment in the western part of Bangladesh. Nat. Hazards, 56: 391-413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-007-9191-5
Shahid, S.C. (2005). Assessment aridity of Bangladesh using the geographic information center. 56: 768-789.
Shahid, S., Wang, X., Rahman, M., Hasan, R., Harun, S. & Shamsudin, S. (2015). Spatial Assessment of Groundwater Over-exploitation in Northwestern Districts of Bangladesh. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 85: 463-470.   
DOI: 10.1007/s12594-015-0238-z
Umma Habiba, R.S. (2011). Drought risk reduction through a Socio-economic, Institutional and Physical approach in the northwestern region of Bangladesh. Environmental Hazards, 10(2): 121-138.     
DOI:10.1080/17477891.2011.582311
Walker, B.H., Abel, N., Anderies, J.M. & Ryan, P. (2009). Resilience, Adaptability, and Transformability in the Goulburn-Broken Catchment, Australia. Ecology and Society, 14(1): 1-12.
Walker, B., Holling, C.S., Carpenter, S.R. & Kinzig, A. (2004). Resilience, Adaptability and Transformability in Social–ecological Systems. Ecology and Society, 9(2): 1-5.
Water Productivity Journal
Volume 2, Issue 4
October 2022
Pages 73-92

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics