Published Online:April 2026
Product Name:The IUP Journal of Knowledge Management
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJKM020426
DOI:10.71329/IUPJKM/2026.24.2.28-77
Author Name:Prabal Barua
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Strategic
Download Format:PDF
Pages:28-77
Agricultural systems in drought-prone regions of Bangladesh face increasing vulnerability due to erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, and rising temperature stress. While climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been promoted as a strategic response to climate variability, limited attention is being paid to the foundational role of indigenous knowledge (IK) in shaping adaptive agricultural practices. This study investigates how indigenous farming knowledge systems contribute to climate-smart adaptation in drought-affected northwest Bangladesh. Using a mixed-methods approach comprising household surveys (n = 300+), focus group discussions, participatory rural appraisal, and key informant interviews, the study identifies locally-embedded practices, viz., soil moisture conservation techniques, traditional seed preservation, mixed cropping, seasonal forecasting based on ecological indicators, and community based water management. The findings reveal that indigenous practices significantly enhance adaptive capacity, stabilize yields under water stress, and reduce dependency on external inputs. The indigenous knowledge management (IKM) matrix developed in this study reveals strong alignment between traditional practices and the three pillars of CSA—productivity, adaptation, and environmental sustainability. Rather than functioning as isolated coping strategies, these practices represent structured resilience building systems embedded within local socioecological networks. The study argues that integrating IK with formal climate adaptation policies, extension services, and agricultural innovation platforms is essential for sustainable climate resilience in Bangladesh’s drought hotspots. Recognizing and institutionalizing local knowledge systems can strengthen long-term adaptive capacity while preserving sociocultural legitimacy in agricultural transformation processes.
Climate change has emerged as one of the most profound challenges to agricultural production systems, food security, and rural livelihoods worldwide (Akter, 2022; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2021; Khatri-Chhetri et al., 2017).