Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University

Submitted To:
Md. Abdul Mannan Khan
Assistant Professor,
Department of Accounting & Information Systems
Faculty of Business Studies
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology
University

Submitted By:
th
Shibjit Halder Date of Submission : 18 December, 2018
Student ID: 16AIS041
Fourth year, Second Semester
Session: 2016-17
Department of Accounting & Information Systems
Faculty of Business Studies
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology
University

Date of Submission: 5th May, 2021

0
Date: November 1, 2020
To

Md. Abdul Mannan Khan

Assistant Professor
Department of Accounting & Information Systems
BSMRSTU, Gopalganj
Subject: Prayer for accepting the term paper report.
Sir,
With due respect and humble submission, I like to state that I have completed my Term paper report on
“Climate Change and Food Security in Bangladesh”. Though it is a new experience, I have tried my
level best to gather information about this topic. Without sincere cooperation and proper guidance of
you it was not possible for me to prepare this report. For this act of kindness, I am grateful to you.

I would like to express my gratitude for your kind guidance in completion of the report assigned to me.
I sincerely hope that this report will meet your expectation and will serve its purposes.
Yours sincerely
_______________
Shibajit Halder
B.B.A (4th year)
ID: 16AIS041
Session: 2016-2017
Department of Accounting & Information Systems.

1
This is to certify that Shibajit Halder, ID No: 16AIS041, B.B.A. 4th year, Department of Accounting
& Information Systems, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Gopalganj was being satisfied in his term paper
period duly with me.

Md. Abdul Mannan Khan

Assistant Professor
Department of Accounting & Information Systems
BSMRSTU, Gopalganj

2
To my parents thank you for your love, encouragement, and support, and for demonstrating the value
of education, hard work, and persistence.

3
Preparation of term paper report is one of the important assignments of 4th year BBA (Hons.). Mainly
our study is limited in theories. This term paper program has been designed for the students of 4th year
to acquire some practical and special knowledge.
Because it is an important thing that students have some piratical knowledge about the current business
world. In developed countries business schools give more preference to practical knowledge. Keeping
this view in mind our curriculum includes “preparation of term paper” in which I had to make this
report. My report actually concerns about environmentally friendly Climate Change and Food Security
in Bangladesh.
During my preparation of report I tried to acquire the information related to concept and current
practices of Climate Change and Food Security in Bangladesh. The paper also includes experts’ view,
evolution, policy guidelines, roles, different products, and services as well as related problems of
during my preparation of report I tried to acquire information related to the concept and current
practices of Climate Change and Food Security in Bangladesh.

4
It was very kind desire of the Almighty that I have completed the assigned task within the specified
time period. For the fear of soundings like a vote of thanks speech, I could not possibly thank
all of those marvelous people who have contributed something of themselves directly in preparing
this report. First of all, my hearty thanks go to Md. Abdul Mannan Khan, Assistant Professor,
Department of Accounting & Information Systems, University of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman Science & Technology University, for his perseverance and direct supervision. Without his
guidelines and valuable advices and suggestions from time to time, I would be failed to complete the
whole thing in a right manner.

I like to express my tributes and gratitude to all of my friends who directly or indirectly give their in
this regard. I am also thankful to our classmates, employees of department and seminar librarian who
helped me in various ways, without their cooperation my report can’t be prepared in time.

5
The paper analyses the climate change and its impact on the food security of Bangladesh. The
paper shows the current climate change scenarios of Bangladesh, analyses the relationship
between climate change and agricultural production.
Agriculture is one of the main economic activities in the world. This paper seeks to explore how
climate change would impact the agricultural sector and consequently food security. Agricultural
activities in Bangladesh entirely depend on rainfall patterns and climate change.

The paper showed evidence of climate change through analysis of climate data, crop yields, and
Farmers' perceptions. Evidence was manifested through the temperature increase,
increasing frequency of natural disasters and irregular rainfalls, which are directly, influenced
the condition of food security. It was then concluded that climate change occurring in
Bangladesh has resulted in a significant declined in agricultural production.
Agricultural is one of the most climate-sensitive sectors, additionally, it has the potential to
undermine advances in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Thus fundamental
changes in agricultural systems are needed because climate change poses new and serious
challenges for farmers hence food insecurity. The most important agricultural adaptation and
mitigation pathways need to be developed to avoid a further threat to food security.

The paper is also showed the comparison of sources of food and production amount between past
and present. The People’s perceptions show that the temperatures are rising, timely rainfall is not
available and crop production season is shifting. The paper show that people are aware of climate
change and its impact on food security. But lack of Proper knowledge is the main cause to adapt
to these changes.

Keywords:
Agricultural, Climate Change, Food Security, Natural calamities

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SL. NO. PARTICULARS PAGE NO.

Abstracts 6

Abbreviations 9-10

Chapter 1

1.1 Introduction 12

1.2 Objectives of the Study 13

1.3 Materials and Methods 13

1.4 Scope of the Limitations 13

Chapter 2

2.0 Importance of Agriculture to Bangladesh 15

2.1 Problematic Weather Patterns and Natural Calamities 15

2.2 Agriculture and Climate Change 16

Chapter 3

3.0 Climate Change Impact on Food Security in Bangladesh 18

3.1 Impact on temperature on Crop Production 18

3.2 Impact of Rainfall on crop production 18

3.3 Impact of Sea level Rise on Crop Production 18

3.4 Impact of Flood on Crop Production 19

3.5 Impact of Cyclone on Crop Production 20

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3.6 Production 21-22

Chapter 4

4.0 Resources Facing the Changing Climate 24

4.1 Land Scarcity 24

4.2 Irrigation Water Scarcity 25

4.3 Lack of Technological Knowledge 25

4.4 Inadequate Institutions and professionals 26

Chapter 5

5.0 Achieving Climate Change and Food Security in Bangladesh 28

Recommendations 29

Conclusion 30

Referrences 31

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Abbreviations:
MoA : Ministry of Agriculture
BIGM : Bangladesh Institute of Governance Management
BRRI : Bangladesh Rice Research Institute
BARI : Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute
BARC : Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council
BINA : Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture
BBS : Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
BMD : Bangladesh Meteorological Department
BADC : Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation
BWDB : Bangladesh Water Development Board
CC : Climate Change
CCFS : Climate Change & Food Security
CDM : Clean Development Mechanism
CER : Certified Emission Reduction
CRU : Climate Research Unit
CBD : Convention on Biological Diversity
DAEB : Department of Agriculture Extension of Bangladesh
ESSP : Earth System Science Partnership
EPA : Environment Protection Agency
FAO : Food & Agriculture Organization
FIVIMS : Food Insecurity and vulnerability Information and Mapping System
FSIEWS : Food Security Information and Early Warning System
HIES : Household Income Expenditure Survey
GDP : Gross Domestic Product
GCM : Global Circulation Model
GEF : Global Environment Facility
GHG : Greenhouse Gas
IEA : International Energy Agency
IFAD : International Food & Agriculture Development

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IFPRI : International Food Policy Institute
ILO : International Labour Organization
IWMI : International Water Management Institute
LDC : Least Developed Country
MDG : Millennium Development Goal
MFD : Ministry of Food and Disaster Management
MoA : Ministry of Agriculture
NRA : National Rural Average
NAPA : National Adaption Programme of Action
NGO : Non-Government Organization
NPFS : National Programme for Food Security
NRCE : Environment Assessment & Management Unit
RPFS : Regional Programme for Food Security
SARD : Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
SCCF : Special Climate Change Fund
UN : United Nations
UNCED : United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
UNFCCC : United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNDP : United Nations Development Programme
UNDPI : United Nations Department of Public Information
UNFF : United Nations Forum on Forest
WCRP : World Climate research Programme
WFS : World Food Summit
WHO : World Health Organization
WMO : World Meteorological Organization

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Chapter 1

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1.1 Introduction:

Climate change has a great impact on various sectors. The agricultural sector is one of these. The
relationship between climate change and agriculture is a vital issue for food security. The
impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector can be explained in both positive and
negative ways. Both land-use pattern and the productivity of crops are likely to change under
global warming “Climate Change refers to the phenomenon that is causing the earth to become
warmer, meaning that our climate and our weather system are changing towards a warmer state”
Climate changes in atmospheric concentrations of the various greenhouse gases which enhance
the average temperature of the earth. From very ancient times to present times the climate is
changing. But there are two types of climate change one is natural climate change and another is
anthropogenic climate change. The United Nations Frameworks Convention (UNFC) on climate
change as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that
alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate
variability observed over comparable periods.

South Asia is the most vulnerable region of the world to climate change impacts. The
international community also recognizes that Bangladesh ranks high in the list of most
vulnerable countries on earth in present times the food security is susceptible to climate change.
Since all elements of food security directly or indirectly are affected by anthropogenic climate
change. For defining the food security some of the basic terms have to be mentioned. These are
food availability, food accessibility, nutritious diet, and satiety. Food security depends on more
socio-economic conditions than on agro climate zones and access to food rather than the
production or physical availability of food. As Bangladesh is a developing country and also
dependent on other countries for the food so the impact of climate change will be much greater.
It is anticipated that the consequences of climate change will increase livelihood insecurity,
malnutrition, unemployment, lack of safe drinking water, and water-borne diseases in
Bangladesh and about one-third of the population would be vulnerable to climate change and
sea-level rise.
In Bangladesh, the overall impact of climate change on agricultural production will be negative.
With over 35% of Bangladesh is suffering from malnourishment, the threat of increased hunger
from a reduction in agricultural production would suggest the inclusion of agriculture as one of
the major vulnerabilities facing the country. Adjustment in the natural or human system in

12
response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects, which, moderates harm or exploit
beneficial opportunities. It involves learning to manage new risks and strengthening resilience in
the face of change. In a nutshell, adaption is being better prepared or adapting to climate change,
not fighting it, but learning to live it with it.
1.2 Objectives of the Study:
The main objectives of this study are to determine the prevailing climate change scenarios and its
effects on agriculture and food security in Bangladesh. Few other objectives of this study are to
know how the natural calamities hamper agriculture, find out the problem of greenhouse gas
emissions, temperature rise and decreased precipitation pattern, understand the significant
challenges of climate change to any societal aspiration to preserve food security issues in
Bangladesh and make aware the risk of food security due to climate change.

1.3 Materials and Methods:

The paper builds on recent reports of climate change effects on agricultural and food security.
The Majority of the information relating directly and indirectly to agriculture, climate change,
and food security were sourced from published articles using the following keywords;
agricultural, climate change, and food security. Also, the majority of the findings from the
published articles expressed deep concerns about climate change, impacts on agriculture, posing
a serious threat to food security in Bangladesh. Crops yield data obtained from the Bangladesh
Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Yearbook of agricultural statistics, and Ministry of Agricultural,
Bangladesh and the rainfall temperature data were the Bangladesh Meteorological Department
(BMD) and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), through their website. The rainfall and
temperature data were used to determine the climatic variability and climatic scenario of
Bangladesh. The paper strongly underscored mitigation pathways and adaptation strategies and
as solutions that would play a major and critical role in reducing climate change impacts on
agriculture including food security in Bangladesh.
1.4 Scope of Limitations:
Through there were so much information available about this topic in the internet as well as
Google scholars, however, it was quite difficult to extract significant and important information.
Most of the information is facts, there I had to understand and modify it to complete my report.
Moreover, there is some confidential too. Therefore, I had to write my report based on the
information those are available.

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Chapter 2

14
2.0 Importance of Agriculture & Climate Change of Bangladesh:
The economy of Bangladesh is primarily dependent on agriculture. About 67 percent of the total
population lives in rural areas and are directly or indirectly involved in different agriculture
activities. The agriculture contributes 12.64% of total GDP. Nonetheless this sector generates
47.30% percent of total national employment. Agriculture exports constitute for 5.67% of total
exports of the country. The agriculture sector of is one of the major contributors to income and
employment generation and a vital factor to achieve self-sufficiency in food production and
foster sustainable development by reducing rural poverty and unemployment.

2.1 Problematic Weather Patterns and Natural Calamities:

A Misconception of global warming is that it will cause a complete decrease in rainfall and an
increase in temperature. In reality, weather has grown increasingly erratic and extreme with
significant fluctuations in sunshine and rainfall affecting more than a third of the planet. In some
areas of Bangladesh, rainfall is actually heavier, rainfall during a period of global warming may
sound like a blessing, but in reality, these heavier rainfalls have caused more floods.
Additionally, as the frequency of rainfalls and floods are unstable and inconsistent, mitigation
services dependent weather forecasting may be unreliable. As a result, farmers would be unable
to take precautions to cut potential losses. Several reports predict that erratic rainfall will play a
significant role in loss of several thousand tons of agriculture production in the near future.
Weather patterns will continue change as the northern region may possibly be plagued with
abnormally high temperatures and droughts while the central regions may experience unusual
rainfall and floods. On the other hand, agriculture production has also been hampered by cold
waves. Record shown, several seedbeds were damaged because of severe cold spells as well as
foggy weather. High production costs of planting crops during unpredictable extreme weather
conditions directly affect to the poor farmers. Thus the chaotic weather changing conditions will
continue to create a detrimental and difficult to the farming environmental as well as food
security of Bangladesh.

15
 2.2 Climate Change & Effect on Agriculture:
Climate Change and agriculture are comprehensively linked together as agriculture still depends
on weather patterns. Climate Change has already caused a negative impact on agriculture in our
country because of increasingly severe weather pattern.

A climate change scenarios reproduced which were largely used for a number of subsequent
national assessments. It was reported that the average increase in temperature would be 1.3ºC
and 2.6º C for two projection years, 2030 and 2075, respectively. It was found that there would
be a seasonal variation in changed temperature: 1.4º C change in winter and 0.7º C in monsoon
months in 2030. For 2070 the variation would be 2.1º C and 1.7º C for winter and monsoon
respectively. It was reported that the winter rainfall would decrease at a negligible rate in 2030,
while in 2075 there would not be any appreciable rainfall in winter. On the other hand, monsoon
precipitation would increase at a rate of 12% and 27% for the two projection years, respectively.

The following table reviews the climate change scenarios:

Table 2.1: Past and future temperature and precipitation patterns and possible changes in different
seasons in Bangladesh :
Years Average Temperature Temperature increase Average Precipitation Precipitation increase
W M Avc W M Avc W M Avc W M Avc
ºC ºC Mm/Month Mm/Month
1990 19.9 28.7 25.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 12 418 179 0 0 0
2030 21.4 29.4 27.0 1.3 0.7 1.3 18 465 189 +6 47 10
2075 22.0 30.4 28.3 2.1 1.7 2.6 00 530 207 -12 112 28
Note: W stand winter (i.e. December, January, February: DJF), and M stands for monsoon
Source: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Education & Research, developed by Ahmed &Alam (1998).

The main impact of climate change is predicted to be the change in temperature and
precipitation. Temperature records over the last couple of decades indicate a warming surface
temperature and a considerable amount of change in rainfall patterns have also been found which is not
a good looking for us. Higher Temperature is also likely to lead global warming and ultimately
sea level rise which may have a great threat for agriculture development in Bangladesh. The
following Table represents the predicted temperature and rainfall anomalies in Bangladesh.
Table 2.2: Changes in temperature and precipitation for Bangladesh.
Year Temperature Change (ºC) Rainfall Change (%) Sea Level
Annual DJF JJA Annual DJF JJA Rise (cm)
2030 1.0 1.1 0.8 5 -2 6 14
2050 1.4 1.6 1.1 6 -5 8 32
2100 2.4 2.7 1.9 10 -10 12 88
Note: DJF presents the months of December, January, February, usually the winter months. JJA represents the months of June,
July & August, the monsoon months., Source: Bangladesh NAPA Document (GOB 2005).

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Chapter 3

17
 3.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON FOOD SECURITY IN BANGLADESH
3.1 Impact of Temperature on Crop Production:
Every crop has a temperature range for their vegetative and reproductive growth. When
temperature falls below the range or exceeded the upper limit, crop production faces constraints.
With the climatic conditions of Bangladesh these are very much conducive. With the change in
temperature (by 20C and 40C), the prospect of growing wheat and potato would be severely
impaired. Production loss may exceed 60 percent of the achievable yields. Higher temperature
has negative effect on soil organic matter also. As a result, food insecurity will occur.
3.2 Impact of rainfall on crop production:
Rainfall is one of the major climatic factors for crop production. All crops have critical stages
when it needs water for their growth and development. Moreover, excessive rainfall may occur
flooding and water logging condition that also lead to crop loss. Scarcity of water limits crop
production while irrigation coverage is only 56 percent as delivered by the Bangladesh
Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC). As a result, it has a great negative impact on the
food system of the country.

3.3 Impact of Sea Level Rise on Crop Production:

Sea level rise affects agriculture in three ways, i.e., by salinity intrusion, by flooding and by
increasing cyclone frequency and its depth of damage. Combined effects of these three factors
decrease agriculture production in the coastal zone. Salinity intrusion due to sea level rise will
decrease agricultural production by unavailability of fresh water and soil degradation. In addition
to this, sea level rise cause inundation of more area which is already reported by some scientist
Therefore, damage of agricultural crops will be more acute in future. About one third of
Bangladesh or 49,000 sq. km. area is influenced by tides in the Bay of Bengal. Through the study
it is clear that the inundation coastal inundation area will be increased in future with an adverse
effect on crop production. In a study, found that if sea level rise up to 1 meter, normal flood
waves can be expected to increase from presently 7.4 meters to 9.1 meters.

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3.4 Impact of Flood on Crop Production:

Flood has most deleterious effect on crop production of Bangladesh. The 1988 flood caused
reduction of agricultural production by 45 percent. Higher discharge and low drainage capacity,
in combination with increased backwater effects, would increase the frequency of such
devastating floods under climate change scenarios. Prolonged floods would tend to delay Aman
plantation, resulting in significant loss of potential Aman production, as observed during the
floods of 1998. Loss of Boro’2 rice crop from flash floods has become a regular phenomenon in
the Haor areas over the recent years.

A recent evidence ( a renowned NGO, named Unnayan Onneshan, 2012) shows that the food
consumption pattern in flood prone areas of Bangladesh is very poor than the national rural level
(Table 2).
Considering all the direct and induced adverse effects of climate change on agriculture, one may
conclude that crop agriculture would be even more vulnerable in Bangladesh in the warmer
world (World Bank, 2000).
Table 3.1: Food consumption pattern (per capita in gram per day) in flood affected area of Bangladesh.

Average Carbohydrates Protein Fat Vitamins

(per Capita in gram per day) (Fish, Pulse, Meat etc.) (Edible Oil) (fruits and Vegetables)

G S G S G S G S
Yearly 412 419 33 28 9 10 200 133
Average
Average 408 411 31 20 8 8 192 122
National 426.55 62.66 14.20 241.39
Rural
Average
Source: Unnayan Onneshan (NGO)

Note: National data are adopted from Household Income Expenditure Survey, 2010 G: Gaibandha, S: Sirajgonj
Table 3.2: Comparison of losses resulting from recent large floods.
Item 1988 1998 2004 2007
In undated area of Bangladesh (%) 60 68 38 42
People Affected (million) 45 31 36 14
Livestock killed (Nos.) 1,72,000 26,564 8,318 40,700

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Crops Fully damaged (million Ha.) 2.12 1.7 1.3 2.1
Rice Production lossess (millions tons) 1.65 2.06 1.00 1.2
Total Lossess (in USD billion) 1.4 2.0 2.3 1.1
Source: World Bank, 2007
3.5 Impact of Cyclone on Crop Production:
Cyclone causes huge damage to production of crop. FAO (2007) reported that at the time of the
passage of cyclone, SIDR, the main 2007 “Aman” rice crop, accounting for about 70 percent of
the annual production in the most affected area, was nearly to harvest. According to the estimate
by Department of Agricultural Extension of Bangladesh, the loss in rice equivalent is found at
1.23 million tons, with 535,707 tons in the four severely affected districts, 555,997 tons in badly
affected 9 districts and 203,600 tons in moderately affected 17 districts in Bangladesh.
Table 3.3: Comparison of losses resulting from recent cyclone.
Tropical Cyclone 12 Damaged entities Damages occurred
November, 1970
26 may 1985 Crop Lost Tk. 4.41 billions
Loss of cattle 280000
Loss of poultry 500000
Damage to crop 90381 ha
Livestock lost 135033
Trees destroyed 1200
29 April 1991 Damage to crops in acreage 133272 (fully), 791621
(partly)
No. of domestic animal killed 1061028
Total loss in terms of money Tk. 145 billions

15 November 2007 (Sidr) Livestock killed 1778507

Crops damaged (fully) 505660 ha
Crops damaged (partly) 1177086 ha
29 May, 2009 (Aila) Crops damaged 77,486 acres1177086 ha
(fully), 245968 acres (partly)
Livestock deaths 150131
Source: Bangladesh Meteorological Department (2007), Bangladesh Water Development Board,

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Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, (2009)
Cyclone has a devastating effect on the rice production of the coastal area of Bangladesh also.
For example, in 2007, due to cyclone of SIDR the cultivated area of rice and consequent rice
production declined at a great scale.
3.6 Impact of Drought on Crop Production:
Drought mostly affects Bangladesh in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. For the last
50 years, Bangladesh has suffered about 20 drought conditions. During the drought of 1981 and
1982, the production of the monsoon crops was affected only. The drought condition in North-
Western Bangladesh in the recent decades had led to a shortfall of rice production of 3.5million
tons in the 1990s. If other losses, such as other crops (all rabi crops, Sugarcane, Tobacco, Wheat
etc.) as well as to perennial agricultural resources, such as, bamboo, betel nut, fruits like litchi,
mango, jackfruit, banana etc are considered, the loss will be substantially much higher.

Bangladesh is affected by major country-wide droughts in every five years. However, local
Droughts occur frequently and affect the crop life cycles. The agricultural drought, related to
soil moisture deficiency, occurs at various stages of the crop growth. Monsoon failure often
brings yield reduction and famine to the affected regions. A better understanding of the
monsoon cycle is clearly found from major scientific and social value. Apart from loss to
agriculture, droughts have significant effect on land degradation, livestock population,
employment and health. Between 1960 and 1991, droughts occurred in Bangladesh 19 times.
Very severe droughts hit the country in 1951, 1961, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1994,
1995 and 2000. Past droughts have typically affected about 47 percent of the country and 53
percent of the population (FAO, 2007).

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Table 3.4: Chronology of major drought events and its impact in Bangladesh.
Year Details
1791 Drought affected Jessore district, prices doubled or tripled.
1865 Drought preceded Dhaka famine
1866 Severe drought in Bogra, rice production of the district was hit hard and prices
tripled.
1872 Drought in Sundarbans, crops suffered greatly from deficient rainfall.
1874 Extremely low rainfall affected Bogra, great crop failure.
1951 Severe drought in Northwest Bangladesh substantially reduced rice production.
1973 Drought responsible for the 1974 famine in northern Bangladesh, one of the most
severe of the century.
1975 Drought affected 47 percent of the country and more than half of the total
population.
1978-79 One of the most severe droughts in recent times with widespread damage to crops
reducing rice production by about 2 million tons, directly affecting about 42 percent
of the cultivated land and 44 percent of the population.
1981 Severe drought adversely affected crop production. 1982 Drought caused a loss of
rice production of about 53 000 tons while, in the same year, flood damaged about
36 000 tons.
1989 Drought dried up most of the rivers in Northwest Bangladesh with dust storms in
several districts, including Naogaon, Nawabganj, Nilpahamari and Thakurgaon.
1994-95, The most persistent drought in recent times, it caused immense crop damage,
1995-96 especially to and rice and jute, the main crops of Northwest Bangladesh and to
bamboo clumps, a main cash Crop in the region.
Source : Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO),
The associated decline in crop production, losses of assets and lower employment opportunities
contributed to the increased household food insecurity. Food consumption fell along with
household ability to meet food needs on a sustainable basis. Vegetables and many other pulses
are in short supply during drought.

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Chapter 4

23
4.0 RESOURCES CONSTRAINTS IN THE FACE OF CHANGING CLIMATE:
In Bangladesh, ensuring food security has been one of the major national priorities in last few
decades but the target has always been interrupted by its resource constraints. Moreover, adverse
climate change impact accelerated this constraints affecting on natural resources and human
livelihood. Although food security challenges in Bangladesh are huge and have been discussing
with emphasize, but most of them are associated with resource constrains. Present section of this
chapter will highlights the major national resources constraints which are facing to climate
change way forwarding to the food security. However, major constraints in terms of food
security in Bangladesh attributed to cultivable land scarcity, irrigation water scarcity in summer,
lack of technological knowledge, lack of climate adaptive crop variety, lack of institutions and
professionals as well as social and cultural constraints are prominent.
4.1 Land Scarcity:
Land resource is the fundamental natural resource that provides habitat and sustenance for living
organisms, as well as being a major focus of economic activities. Total cultivable land in
Bangladesh is very less compared to the population. Per capita cultivable land in the country is
about 0.2 acres, which is one of the lowest in the world. This landlessness has acute impact on
national food production and ultimately threatens to go forward to food security. Climate change
impacts result such as cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion, sea level rising enhance the threat in an
alarming rate. Population of Bangladesh is already too big by any standard compared to its total
land. Increasing sea level rise and river bank erosion are two most important reasons to lead the
land shortage of the country. According to Ministry of Agriculture, area of total cultivable land is
8.44 million hectare (Table 4.1).
Table 4.1: Bangladesh agriculture at a glance
Category Amount
Total area 14.845million hectare
Forest 2.599 million hectare
Cultivable land 8.44 million hectare
Current fellow 0.469 million hectare
Single cropped area 2.851 million hectare
Double cropped area 3.984 million hectare

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 Triple cropped area 0.974 million hectare
Net cropped area 7.809 million hectare
Total cropped area 13.742 million hectare
Total food crop demand 23.029 million metric ton
Total food crop production 27.787 million metric ton
Net production 24.569 million metric ton
Source: Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), 2012
4.2 Irrigation Water Scarcity:
Water experts have sounded an alarm that within the next 25 years, half of the population of the
world could have trouble in finding enough fresh water for drinking and irrigation. Currently, as
reports reveal, at least 80 countries, representing 40 percent of the population of the world are
subject to severe water shortages. Conditions may get worse as population growth and global
warming disrupts rainfall patterns.
Bangladesh is highly dependent on irrigation for agriculture especially for summer and winter.
Climate change impact resulting drought and decreasing ground water level has become a main
concern to present agricultural activities. Saline water intrusion is the main concern for
agricultural production as well food security. Saline water intrusion in fresh agricultural land
made the crisis more acute by decreasing soil fertility. Increase of temperature and sea level rise
has both adverse impacts on environment as well the agricultural production.

4.3 Lack of Technological Knowledge:

Technological adaptations can serve as a potent means of adapting to climate variability and
change. Innovative technologies can be developed to adapt to climate change impact, and the
transfer of appropriate technologies to the developing countries forms an important component
of the UNFCCC (2006). Bangladesh like other developing countries needs modern technology
combating with adverse climate change impact. Thus, technology transfer from the developed
country to developing country have become more vulnerable, indispensable and the most
discussing issue in any climatic conference. Bangladesh as a developing country has limitations
to modern technology as an adaptation response to climate change.
Farmers in the rural area mostly practice traditional agricultural system although the scenario has
been changing rapidly for the last two decades. However, present changing face of climate
demands new agricultural pattern as well as advanced technologies to support agriculture,

25
develop innovative varieties of high yielding crop which can adapt the changing impact of
climate.

4.4 Inadequate Institutions and Professionals:

Institutions and professionals are important for food security in the all regimes. Institutions
comprises both rules and organizations which play significant role for delivering rural services,
supporting implementing project and program as well as strengthening marginal people rights
and access to the asset. In Bangladesh, institutional set up perspective on account of the
developing country is not satisfactory here. On the other hand, Bangladesh has huge professional
lacking as well as skilled professionals to lead the policies and project regarding fulfilling the
national demand of agricultural production and food status.

In Bangladesh, although a lot of government and non-government project regarding food

security have been implementing by the means of rules and organizations, many cases have
failed to achieve the goal. Another significant challenge is lack of interest among the young
professionals in agricultural sector. Although present government has taken a lot of step to
accelerate agricultural sector focusing production increase and ensure food security but different
barriers are there to interrupt the activities

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Chapter 5

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5.0 ACHIEVING FOOD SECURITY IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE:
In order to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on food sector, we need to analyze the
possible options that could assist in increasing food security. Therefore, adaptation in the
agriculture sector must be well integrated with both the broad national development goals and
livelihood priorities at the local level. Climate change is a reality now, more and different
adaptation intervention is required to ensure food security within a given time. Formal and
informal sources of support can play critical role in minimizing climate risks on food security.
The supports may be investments in agriculture and water resources, or may be on infrastructures
or irrigation. Groundwater irrigation plays an important role in crop agriculture in the drought
prone areas. Irrigation provides a mean to adapt soil moisture condition with diversifying
crop agriculture, promoting high yielding variety crops, increased cropping intensity. Flood
prone areas of the Southern Bangladesh coastal embankment provide protection to crop
agriculture and livelihood assets playing a great role in food security.
Agriculture research and technologies plays a vital role in adapting agricultural sector.
Bangladesh made significant progress in agricultural research through improving and innovating
newer varieties of crops. Some of government agencies made remarkable progress in innovating
high yielding varieties including the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI),
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture
(BINA) and the Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU). Department of Agricultural
Extension (DAE) plays an important role in disseminating the newer varieties which are fit with
changing climate through trial and critical evaluation in the demonstration plots.

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6. Recommendations:
1. Food security and sustainable agriculture must be integrated with national and
international policies considering the changing climate.
2. Agricultural production based budget and investment should be enhanced and properly
distributed among the climate induced impacts affected communities.
3. Sustainably intensify agricultural production by changing the conventional systems for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts of
agriculture.
4. Developing of specific program and policies to assist populations and sectors that are
most vulnerable to climate changes and food insecurity should be ensured by the
concerned authorities as practical as possible.
5. Community seed bank and food bank should be ensured by the local communities with
the help of agricultural officers and concerned authorities.
6. Habituating the adjustment of agricultural practices with the changing climate and
consequently the recurrent floods, droughts and cyclones.
7. Reducing loss and waste in food systems, targeting infrastructure, farming practices,
processing, distribution and household habits.
8.Creating the comprehensive, shared, integrate information systems that encompass
human and ecological security regarding to the food system which should be ensured
by the government.

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7. Conclusion:
Bangladesh economy is highly reliant on agriculture. And agriculture is very much vulnerable
due to sudden climate change. Agriculture and food security are always being threatened due to
the climate change issues. Food security refers to the availability of minimum diet at a
reasonable price. In order to ensure food security for all, agricultural growth and expansion is
one of the major challenges that Bangladesh faces today. Cultivable land is being decreased in
Bangladesh day-by-day to meet demand of the huge population as the land use pattern is
transformed from farming to non-farming sectors (industrial or residential purposes). Besides,
Sea level rise, drought, salinity intrusion, cyclones, increase in temperature, flood and other
natural calamities hamper the agricultural production. Government and different development
agencies should concentrate their focus on the integrated way and to develop innovation variety
so that on growing national food demand can meet through increasing production and
adaptability against the adverse impact of climate change.

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