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The IUP Journal of Knowledge Management

Food Production and Consumption in the Face of Climate-Induced Displacement: An Exploration of the Indigenous Knowledge Management Practices of Southeastern Bangladeshis

Article Details

Pub. Date	: Oct, 2021
Product Name	: The IUP Journal of Knowledge Management
Product Type	: Article
Product Code	: IJKM31021
Author Name	: Prabal Barua* and Saeid Eslamian
Availability	: YES
Subject/Domain	: Management
Download Format	: PDF Format
No. of Pages	: 33

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Abstract

Climate change is expected to worsen the existing problems in southeastern Bangladesh, intensifying the flood frequency, salinity and coastal river erosion. At the micro-level, this means loss of land and crops for the communities relying on natural resources for their subsistence. With the country being an agriculture-based economy, it is fundamental to understand how the rural displaced communities experience the change in livelihood brought about by displacement. Thus, acknowledging the exposure of the food system to climate vulnerability, the aim of this study is twofold: it evaluates the degree of control of small-scale farmers and fishermen on the food production and consumption activities (food sovereignty) and their adaptation strategies to cope with the increased climate risks. The focus being on people's practices and perceptions, the study is necessarily qualitative, and the main research methods used are field observations, in-depth interviews and secondary data from academic journals and official publications of NGOs. The findings show that displacement is not the key factor in shaping farmers' strategies. Instead, social, human and financial capital are the key assets influencing the adaptive capacity of the people. Most importantly, changes in the socioeconomic environment are the critical trend that dictate the mechanisms of livelihood strategies and adaptation.

Description

The bio-physical environment of Bangladesh makes the country one of the most vulnerable regions to the effects of climate change. A changing climate alters the frequency and duration of climate hazards, affecting differently the northern and southern regions of the country. In a 2 oC increase scenario, the country experiences increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones, longer monsoon season, increase of precipitation and severe flooding frequency, increase in fishing (but regional differences in yields), high risk for coastal mangroves, an increase in rice production and a decrease in wheat production (IPCC, 2014). Given the high fertility of land, local livelihoods have always relied on agricultural activities, especially rice cultivation. "More than 70% of Bangladesh's population and 77% of its workforce live in