A Case Study on Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh Khaled Ibne Amir* and Tanvir Ahmed Faculty of Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Amir and Ahmed, J Earth Sci Clim Change 2013, 4:5 Earth Science & Climatic Change http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2157-7617.1000155 CaseResearch Report Article OpenOpen Access Access Climate Change and Its Impact on Food Security in Bangladesh: A Case Study on Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh Khaled Ibne Amir* and Tanvir Ahmed Faculty of Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh Abstract The paper analyses the impacts of climate change and its impact on food security in the Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali district in Bangladesh. The paper shows current climate change scenarios for Kalapara, analyses the relationship between climate change scenarios and agricultural production and then prescribe adaptive measures to climate change. Historical yearly temperature and rainfall data from Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) and crop yield data from the census of agriculture zilla series, Patuakhali, year book of agricultural statistics and agricultural ministry of Bangladesh were used. A questionnaire survey was also conducted to gather farmer perceptions on climate change in addition focus group discussions were held with selected farmers in the Upazila. The results showed evidence of climate change through analysis of climate data, crop yields and farmers perceptions. Evidence was manifested through the temperature increase, increasing frequency of natural disaster and irregular rainfalls, which are directly influenced the condition of food security of Kalapara Upazila. It was the concluded that climate change occurring in Kalapara Upazila has resulted in significant decline in agricultural production. The paper is also showed the comparison of sources of food and production amount between past and present. The people's perceptions show that the temperatures are rising, timely rainfall is not available and crop production seasons are shifting. The lessons show that people are aware of climate change and its impacts on food security. But lack of proper knowledge is the main causes to adapt to these changes. Keywords: Agricultural production; Climate change; Food security; From Figure 1 it stated that, to evaluate the potential impacts of Adaptation; Kalapara; Upazila climate change on food security, “it is not enough to assess impacts on domestic production in food-insecure countries. One also needs Introduction to (i) assess climate change impacts on foreign exchange earnings; (ii) determine the ability of food-surplus countries to increase their Climate change has a great impact on the various sectors. The commercial exports or food aid; and (iii) analyses how the incomes agricultural sector is one of these. The relationship between climate of the poor will be affected by climate change [6]. The total food change and agriculture is a vital issue for food security. Impacts of production conditions, food availability condition, food access the climate change on the agricultural sector can be explained in both condition of Bangladesh are three main terms for discussing the food positive and negative ways. Both land use pattern and the productivity security. The national gap of the food production and the export of the of crops are likely to change under global warming. “Climate change food items and amount are also included here [7]. Unless the world refers to the phenomenon that is causing the earth to become warmer, comes to its aid, the vulnerability of Bangladesh’s agriculture sector meaning that our climate and our weather systems are changing to climate change could spell severe consequences for its millions of towards a warmer state” [1]. Climate change is changes in atmospheric people, who stand to lose their main source of livelihood [8]. concentrations of the various greenhouse gases which enhance the average temperature of the earth [2]. From very ancient times to Increased temperature not only directly reduce the crop production present times the climate is changing. But there are two types of climate but also it has an indirect impact by stimulating the breeding of change one is natural climate change and another is anthropogenic harmful insects, pests etc. Which are detrimental for the agricultural climate change. The United Nations Framework Convention on production? Figure 2 show the global average temperature change of Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as: “a change of the world. Increases in precipitation extremes are very likely in the climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity major agricultural zones of south Asia. Four factors characterizing the that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in atmosphere strongly influence plant growth. They are carbon dioxide, addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time rainfall, light intensity and temperature [9]. periods”. In other words, the FCCC uses the term climate change to Increase in annual rain fall with global warming would increase mean only those changes that are brought about by human activities [3]. South Asia is the most vulnerable region of the world to climate change impacts [4]. The international community also recognizes that *Corresponding author: Khaled Ibne Amir, Faculty of Science, University of Bangladesh ranks high in the list of most vulnerable countries on earth Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh, E-mail: [email protected] [5] in present times the food security is susceptible to climate change. Received July 29, 2013; Accepted August 26, 2013; Published September 01, Since all elements of food security directly or indirectly are affected by 2013 anthropogenic climate change. For defining the food security some Citation: Amir KI, Ahmed T (2013) Climate Change and Its Impact on Food of basic terms have to be mentioned. These are food availability, food Security in Bangladesh: A Case Study on Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. J Earth Sci Clim Change 4: 155. doi:10.4172/2157-7617.1000155 accessibility, nutritious dietary and the satiety. “Food security depends on more socio-economic conditions than on agro climatic zones and Copyright: © 2013 Amir KI, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted on access to food rather than the production or physical availability use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and of food”. source are credited. J Earth Sci Clim Change ISSN:2157-7617 JESCC, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 5 • 1000155 Citation: Amir KI, Ahmed T (2013) Climate Change and Its Impact on Food Security in Bangladesh: A Case Study on Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. J Earth Sci Clim Change 4: 155. doi:10.4172/2157-7617.1000155 Page 2 of 11 (Source: Care, 2011) Figure 1: Climate change impacts and consequences for food systems. (Source: IPCC, 2007) Figure 2: Global Average Temperature Change Relative to 1980-1999 (Degree Celsius). moisture supply in the soil. It could be beneficial for the dry season safe drinking water and water-borne diseases in Bangladesh and about crops and also in the pre monsoon and post monsoon periods [9] from one third of the population would be vulnerable to climate change and Figure 3 it is observed that the indirect consequences of climate change sea level rise [3]. on the different dimensions of food security. In Bangladesh, the overall impact of climate change on agricultural Climate change affects agriculture and food production in complex production will be negative [11]. With over 35% of Bangladesh is ways. In the Figure 4 the relationship between earth systems and human suffering from malnourishment [12], the threat of increased hunger systems is very complex. It affects food production directly through from reduction in agricultural production would suggest the inclusion changes in agro-ecological conditions and indirectly by affecting of agriculture as one of the major vulnerabilities facing the country. growth and distribution of incomes, and thus demand for agricultural produce. Impacts have been quantified in numerous studies and “Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual under various sets of assumptions. As election of these results are or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or presented in quantifying the impacts on food security. Here it is useful exploits beneficial opportunities” [13]. It involves learning to manage to summarize the main alterations in the agro-ecological environment new risks and strengthening resilience in the face of change [14]. In that are associated with climate change [10]. a nutshell adaptation is being better prepared or adapting to climate change, not fighting it, but learning to live with it [15]. As Bangladesh is a developing country and also dependent on other countries for the food so the impact of climate change will be much In countries where the majority of poor people depend on greater. It is anticipated that the consequences of climate change will agricultural income, proposed climate change adaptation strategies increase livelihood insecurity, malnutrition, unemployment, lack of centrearound increasing agricultural productivity and making J Earth Sci Clim Change ISSN:2157-7617 JESCC, an open access journal Volume 4 • Issue 5 • 1000155 Citation: Amir KI, Ahmed T (2013) Climate Change and Its Impact on Food Security in Bangladesh: A Case Study on Kalapara, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. J Earth Sci Clim Change 4: 155. doi:10.4172/2157-7617.1000155 Page 3 of 11 (Source: Care, 2011) Figure 3: Indirect