Agricultural interventions and investment options for climate change in drought and saline-flood prone regions of Bangladesh

Abstract

Rice is the staple food in Bangladesh and crucial for the food security in the country. The alluvial soil deposits, through an extensive river network across Bangladesh, have contributed to a fertile land with high rice productivity potential. However, the frequent occurrence of floods, salinity and drought has repeatedly threatened the food security especially in the rural areas. Climate change is anticipated to aggravate the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Bangladesh by significantly impacting rice production. Noteworthy studies have proposed potential responsive measures by concentrating either on the technical or economic efficiency of the suggested interventions. To this end, the current report presents an outranking multicriteria approach enriched with a Geometrical Analysis for Interactive Assistance for a better reflection of the appropriate interventions to improve rice production on a farm basis. Further, the investment options needed to implement these interventions are explored. The drought prone areas of Rajshahi and saline prone areas of Barisal regions were chosen for the study. The results indicated that water storage systems were prioritized in Rajshahi whereas the introduction of improved varieties in Barisal was of the highest importance. Also, the training seminars for farmers were deemed as a rather significant intervention for both regions.