Environmental degradation and loss of traditional agriculture as two causes of conflicts in shrimp farming in the southwestern coastal Bangladesh: Present status and probable solutions

Paul, Ajit

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.08.015

Cited by 32 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Salinity intrusion within Bangladesh is varied due to the country having several different physiographical regions. Contrary to another study in a similar geographical location (Paul and Røskaft, 2013), salinity in this particular region is decreasing due to siltation of local and regional rivers and canals limiting surface water access. Islam et al (1999) studied the amount of sediment load within the Ganges basin and concluded that of the 1037 million tonnes carried annually by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, only 517 million tonnes reached the coastline.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 92%

Salinity Changes in South West Bangladesh and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods

Bhowmick¹,

Uddin²,

Rahman³

2017

Bangl. J. Vet. Med.

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Salinity intrusion greatly affects the livelihood decisions which farmers have to make. Both environmental and anthropogenic factors affect salt water intrusion within south west Bangladesh. Although climate change and sea level rise are thought to increase salinity, siltation and sedimentation of canals reduces access to surface water and prevents salt water intrusion in to farming zones. This study highlights how decreasing salinity within Khulna and Bagerhat districts is allowing farmers to diversify their agricultural practices, reducing vulnerability and improving household income and food security. By using both quantitative and qualitative data collection, semi structured interviews were held with farmers and landless people to understand how they adapt to salinity changes. The results show that whilst salinity decreases were identical across both districts, farmers adapt to the changes in a number of ways based primarily on their access to water. Whilst shrimp production struggles to improve, increases in freshwater production of prawns, fin fish and dyke crops partially confirm that salinity was decreasing within the area. Furthermore, increases in income generation were also observed confirming that diversification improved rural livelihoods. In the wider context, understanding farmer mitigation strategies towards the environment allows for future comparisons to be made on climate change and sea level rise which are widely considered to drive salt water intrusion further in land.Key words: Aquaculture, Bangladesh, Salinity, Livelihoods. INTRODUCTIONThe South West region of Bangladesh is dominated by an extensive network of water systems forming the largest delta in the world. As the Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghna rivers converge they generate a huge potential for the local population to engage in agricultural activities. As such, approximately 49% of the population is engaged in farming crops, livestock or aquaculture. Both environmental and anthropogenic issues have had a significant impact on local livelihood decisions. Salinity intrusion in rivers and canals has limited the access people have to freshwater bodies, reducing agricultural productivity (Afroz and Alam, 2010). Furthermore, saline intrusion is widely considered to have a negative impact on agriculture, reducing plant growth and decreasing productivity (Rahman, 2010). There is often a premise that SLR drives salt water intrusion further inland, and many studies have highlighted the reduced capacity for farmers to engage in agriculture when salinity levels are high (Deb, 1998). However, salinity levels do fluctuate between seasons and between different geographical areas along the coast. Mondal et al. (2001) showed that dry season soil salinity was over three times higher than during the rainy season, but through increasing crop production during this time top soil salinity levels can be lowered. The study also indicated that groundwater, although slightly saline, was still adequate for use during the dry season for agriculture and ...

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 92%

Salinity Changes in South West Bangladesh and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods

Bhowmick¹,

Uddin²,

Rahman³

2017

Bangl. J. Vet. Med.

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“…The area of this study, southwestern Bangladesh, is a highly productive environment shaped by the interplay of freshwater from rivers and saline water entering from the Bay of Bengel (Shameem et al, 2014). Farmers in the region have long practiced traditional coastal aquaculture, known locally as Bheri; in this practice, cultivators allowed tidal water in paddy fields from January/February to June/July for aquaculture and would then cultivate transplanted aman rice during the monsoon season (Paul, 2012). In the colonial period, zamindar (landlords) oversaw the construction of temporary earthen embankments that were replenished through community labor (sometimes compulsory) until the zamindari system was disbanded in the 1950s (Dewan et al, 2015).…”

Section: Context and Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Water management and livelihood choices in southwestern Bangladesh

Bernier

Sultana

Bell

et al. 2016

Journal of Rural Studies

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“…These advantages of traditional agriculture have attracted research interests from scientists in some countries. Literature shows that conservation for traditional agriculture has been conducted by scientists across the world [16][17][18][19][20]. The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2002 is an important symbol, that the international society attached importance to the protection of traditional agriculture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Conservation Approach of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): Improving Traditional Agricultural Patterns and Promoting Scale-Production

Zhang

Min

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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Abstract:Heritage conservation is an important recurring research theme on agricultural heritage systems. Improving the income of farmers from agriculture is regarded as an effective conservation approach. This study examined how the improved rice-fish-duck coculture (IRFDC) promotes the protection of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraced System (HHRTS) by keeping farmers farming in their hometowns. A semi-structural interview and a questionnaire survey were used to collect data on agricultural input-outputs and household employment in HHRTS. As a result, a fairly large proportion of HHRTS rice terraces were used for the hybrid rice monoculture (HRM) with chemical inputs, and most of these rice terraces were wasted for half a year on account of being left unused; the IRFDC requires considerable time input for farming and breeding, but barely needs any chemical inputs. IRFDC entails a higher cost than HRM, but also has a higher return than HRM. Driving a family to do full-time farming requires extra more than 0.71 ha rice terraces for IRFDC. In conclusion, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHSs) can be used for protecting terraces from abandonment and destruction by improving agricultural economic benefits for farmers. At present, a shortage of laborers in HHRTS sites is false. Agricultural heritage sites do not actual need so many people if peasant households can do large-scale farming.

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Environmental degradation and loss of traditional agriculture as two causes of conflicts in shrimp farming in the southwestern coastal Bangladesh: Present status and probable solutions

Cited by 32 publications

References 11 publications

Salinity Changes in South West Bangladesh and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods

Salinity Changes in South West Bangladesh and Its Impact on Rural Livelihoods

Water management and livelihood choices in southwestern Bangladesh

A Conservation Approach of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): Improving Traditional Agricultural Patterns and Promoting Scale-Production

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