Determinants of Farmers’ Risk Perceptions of Hailstorms in Northern Bangladesh: Is Adaptive Capacity the Major Concern?

Abstract

Extreme weather events (EWEs) such as hailstorms are an increasing threat to agriculture worldwide. To develop successful and efficient hailstorm risk management policies, it is important to understand the composition of farmers' hailstorm risk perceptions. This study aims to identify the determinants of these risk perceptions. This is done by collecting pertinent information on the perceptions of risk, farm traits, adaptive capacity, and various other personal characteristics from farmers' households in hailstorm-oriented areas of northern Bangladesh. By analyzing the explanatory power of various risk factors using the binary logistic regression model, this study reveals that the hailstorm risk perceptions of farmers are embodied by subjective risk factors, such as their perceived control of hailstorm risk, and their personal circumstances. Their perceived resources for tackling hailstorm risk are the most significant predictor variable of hailstorm risk perceptions. Marginal and smallholder farmers are very vulnerable and perceive more risk than is the case with the medium-holder and large-holder farmers, owing to the lack of a compensation policy after the occurrence of hailstorms. The relevant authorities should pay urgent attention to managing hailstorm risks by developing adequate adaptive capacity among farmers in northern Bangladesh.

Assessing Progress in Reducing the Number of Disaster-affected People: Insights from Zimbabwe

“…For example, the 2010 floods in Pakistan, affected about 24 million people by damaging approximately 2 million hectares of crops [7]. In Bangladesh, hailstorms, floods and droughts are increasingly reducing the production of crops [8,9]. In East and Southern Africa, Cyclone Idai and Kenneth damaged homes and disrupted the livelihoods of more than 3 million people in 2019 [10].…”

Assessing Progress in Reducing the Number of Disaster-affected People: Insights from Zimbabwe

“…For example, the 2010 oods in Pakistan, affected about 24 million people by damaging approximately 2 million hectares of crops (Shah et al 2020). In Bangladesh, hailstorms, oods and droughts are increasingly reducing production of crops (Shah et al 2021; Raihan et al 2022). In East and Southern Africa, Cyclones Idai and Kenneth damaged homes and disrupted livelihoods of more than 3 million people in 2019 (Freebairn et al 2020).…”