Abstract
This study examines the demographic characteristics, perceptions, and adaptive strategies of rice farmers in Bangladesh’s coastal regions, focusing on the challenges posed by salinity affecting food production. Salinity was a shared concern among farmers, with 58.5% reporting increased salinity over the past two decades and attributing it largely to shrimp farming rather than natural disasters. This perceived salinity rise has heightened challenges in rice cultivation, with 93% of farmers identifying combined salinity and water scarcity as the primary issue. To mitigate salinity, farmers predominantly employed salt-tolerant rice varieties and freshwater irrigation. Transplanting date analysis revealed that early transplanting reduced salinity stress at critical reproductive stages, significantly boosting yield compared to late transplanting, which correlated with lower yields and higher salinity levels. This research highlights the need for tailored agronomic practices to enhance resilience in coastal rice cultivation amidst increasing salinization pressures. Farmers’ practices align closely with scientific trials, indicating that their perceptions of salinization and management strategies should be integral to research prioritization and government policy formulation. Such actions could play a vital role in securing staple food production, thereby contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDG-1: No Poverty, SDG-2: Zero Hunger, and SDG-3: Good Health and Well-being).
Presenters
Md Panna AliResearch, Crops, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bandarban zila, Bangladesh
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Assessing Impacts in Diverse Ecosystems
KEYWORDS
Salinity, Farmers, Perception, Adaptation, Strategies, Field, Trial, Policy, Guideline
