CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON LIVELIHOOD RESILIENCE OF HAOR PEOPLE IN MONHANGANJ UPAZILLA

Abstract

Bangladesh is widely recognized as one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world. The study analyzed the effects of climate change and explores prevailing adaptation strategies taken by haor famers at locale level. This study aims to document the impact of climate on the livelihood and food security of Haor farmers and identify relevant forces and factors contributing to it and identify appropriate adaptation policies and programs that support the most vulnerable and food insecure communities affecting the lives and livelihoods of Haor area Primary data were collected through field visit, questionnaire survey, FGD and KII. A purposive random sampling method was applied for selecting 60 from different households in 8 villages located in and around Diggaputa Haor at Mohonganj Upazilla. Data has been presented mostly in the tabular form, some statistical measures like average, percentage, ratios, and regression analysis calculated to arrive at expected findings. Home stead area is the highest (12.5%) in Etniyakhalipur compared to others areas. Cultivated land and pond area is highest around 66.7% and 28.9% in Pabui. Also, the average farm size and annual income of Pabui respondent is greater than other respondents which is 143.3 decimal & 93% from agricultural crop production. Other respondents are affected by climatic hazards like flood plains, cyclones, drought etc. That’s why, most of the respondents are dependent on various sources like livestock and poultry, fisheries, business, labour and others. It has been observed from interview data that flood (100%) is the major factor affecting agricultural productivities in the haor area whereas drought, cyclone and others is 80%, 80% and60% respectively. Also, perception of food consumption and food insecurity in terms of seasonal deficit especially dry lean periods is 100%. After natural disaster, the access of food is 100% and pure drinking water from tube-well (100%), Pond water (40%), Rain water (80%) which causes various kinds of water borne disease. According to case study, it has been observed that natural disasters have negative effects on their family income where around 60% said during the last five years natural disasters occurred 3 -5 times around the years. Compare to degree of suffering natural disasters, it has found that the degree of suffering before natural disaster in extreme and moderate level was 80% and 20% respectively and now the degree of suffering after natural disaster is extreme level (100%) which proves that climate change affects Haor people’s livelihoods. In the perception level of flood as a phenomenon of climate change of the selected communities is 100% which cause 20% respondents to change in crop calendar and 40% population to switching their job. Due to flood, the selected community are affected by property loss, diseases and changing crop production pattern. The second perception level is cyclone and potable water crisis which is around 80%. Cyclone has devastating effect on the communities which make their lives more vulnerable along with floods. Due to cyclone, 60% respondent has repaired/reconstructed their house. Due to heavy rainfall sometimes, the poor people have to repair/reconstruct their house (40%) and most of the respondent follow the weather forecast around 60% as a adaptation strategies. It has been recorded that due to drought as a vulnerability context, the migration level is around 20%.