Adaptive Crop Agriculture Including Innovative Farming Practices in ...

Foreword
The impacts of global warming and climate change are worldwide. For Bangladesh they are
most critical because of its geographical location, high population density, high levels of
poverty, and the reliance of many livelihoods on climate-sensitive sectors, such as agriculture,
fisheries.
To address current impacts and manage future risks of climate change and variability towards
development of a climate resilient Bangladesh, the government has established the Climate
Change Cell (CCC) in the Department of Environment (DoE) under the Comprehensive
Disaster Management Programme (CDMP). Climate change research, covering modeling and
adaptation is one of the major activities of the Cell.
CCC in association with its Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and other stakeholders
identified a set of research activities related to climate change in Bangladesh through a
number of consultations. The activities have been prioritized and a number of projects have
been commissioned in last few years.
Cell is facilitating adaptation research in order to, fill knowledge gaps in the arena of
adaptation to climate change and its impacts on the life and livelihoods; explore options to
adapt with the climate change; and contribute in better understanding of adaptation options.
In this regard, a number of projects have been commissioned in the field of Crop agriculture,
Crop insurance, Health, Gender and disadvantaged groups.
Flashflood is the major threat to thousands of rice farmers in the haor region over the years.
Due to climate variability and change, increased precipitation early in the season make
flashfloods more unpredictable and damaging, affecting livelihoods and food security of
thousands of haor residents.
The study tested and demonstrated various rice crop and non-rice crops at the farmers’ fields
with encouraging results. Two varieties of winter rice (BR 29 with improved management of
seedlings and BRRI dhan 45) with higher yields attained maturity by end of first week of
April have high potential to avoid flashflood risks. Over a dozen of vegetables and spice
crops performed satisfactorily and proved highly profitable which could be harvested at least
a month before the current timing of flashfloods.
It is expected that the research will create a strong link between agriculture researchers and
other stakeholders to share research results and needs. Dissemination of the study findings
and replication and expansion of such initiatives at different locations of the haor basin will
explore options to combat climate change impacts. Findings of such studies will facilitate
policy makers and planners to formulate viable adaptation policies, strategies and action plan.
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Zafar Ahmed Khan, PhD
Director General
Department of Environment