2024 Theses Master's
Climate Change Perspectives of Bangladeshi Smallholder Farmers: Are There Knowledge Gaps to be Filled to Optimize Economic Development?
Bangladesh, situated in the deltaic plains of South Asia, stands at the forefront of the impacts of climate change. The country faces a multifaceted challenge as rising sea levels, intensified cyclones, and erratic weather patterns increasingly threaten its low-lying coastal regions. With a densely populated and agrarian society, Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects on agriculture, food security, and water resources. The frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as droughts, heat waves, cyclones and flooding, have risen, displacing communities and amplifying economic hardships.
Agriculture is a major sector of the economy in Bangladesh, employing around 50% of the labor force and contributing to about 15% of the country's GDP. Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the agriculture sector, producing crops such as rice, jute, tea, and vegetables. Despite the importance of agriculture to the country's economy and food security, smallholder farmers in Bangladesh face the brunt of climate catastrophes, finding it difficult to cope and adapt. Many smallholder farmers lack access to credit, inputs, and technical expertise, which can limit their ability to adopt new technologies and practices to cope with climate change and other challenges. They also experience significant difficulties in accessing resources and decision-making forums.
As one of the groups contributing least to climate change, their right to life, right to self-determination, right to development, right to food, right to water and sanitation, right to health, right to housing, right to meaningful and informed participation, the right of future generations, are all being infringed upon by the actions of the wealthiest, and by the inaction of governments and world leaders. However, how much do smallholder farmers in Bangladesh actually realize their rights? Is there a knowledge gap among Bangladeshi farmers that hinders them from seeking their rights and improving their vulnerable conditions? How much do they truly understand climate change and its relation to justice?
If we can identify where the knowledge gaps exist among smallholder farming communities in Bangladesh, then we can better address the impacts of climate change in those communities and what sort of economic development policy is required to alleviate their struggle. This study seeks to analyze the perspective of Bangladeshi smallholder farmers on climate change and what they believe they need most to better adapt and improve their well-being. It does so by surveying 27 smallholder farmers in Pekua and Chakaria in the District of Cox’s Bazaar. Interviews were conducted during the month of October 2023. Aside from being a smallholder farmer, there were no strict criteria to participate in this study, such as gender, age, education, religion, etc. Smallholder farmers were approached at their fields and small tea shops during their breaks. All participation was voluntary and the farmers were afforded anonymity.
The smallholder farmers were asked questions pertaining to their perspectives on climate change to explore whether empowering farmers’ knowledge could yield better results for climate resilience and economic development. The surveys help to identify where there are knowledge gaps among the farming community. Ultimately their perspective gleams light on the need for more climate education, training on adaptation and mitigation, as well as a need for a rights-based development approach to improve the well-being of smallholder farmers and address the current misaligned economic development policy.
Geographic Areas
Subjects
Files
-
Tanzilla, Mariam, Spring, 2024.pdf application/pdf 451 KB Download File
More About This Work
- Academic Units
- Institute for the Study of Human Rights
- Thesis Advisors
- Dugard, Jacqueline C.A.
- Degree
- M.A., Columbia University
- Published Here
- July 24, 2024