Adapting to Waters: Socio-economic Influences on Flood Coping Strategies Among Farmers in Bangladesh’s Char Areas

Abstract

Bangladesh experiences recurrent flooding, significantly affecting its agriculture-based economy. Farmers in Char areas (riverine islands) are particularly vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for effective flood coping strategies to sustain their livelihoods. The study assessed the adoption status of flood coping strategies among farmers, examined the relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics and the extent of their adoption of these strategies, and identified the challenges that farmers face when implementing climate-resilient farming practices. Data were collected from 112 household heads living in Islampur Upazila under Jamalpur, Bangladesh. A correlation analysis was conducted to explore the factors influencing the adoption decision. Results showed a significant increase in the cultivation of Rabi crops either before flooding or after water levels receded. The findings reveal that higher levels of education, greater farming experience, and more exposure to training are strongly associated with increased adoption of coping strategies. The socio-economic factors play a crucial role in determining farmers’ resilience practices. The study underscores the need to enhance educational and training opportunities to reduce the gap between adopters and non-adopters. Additionally, high input costs and limited accessibility were found to be major barriers to the widespread adoption of flood coping strategies. These insights provide important implications for policy interventions aimed at strengthening and resilience of farming communities in flood-prone regions.