Sustainability of Changing Agricultural Systems in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh By BYOMKESH TALUKDER A thesis submitted to the School of Environmental Studies in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Studies Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada (September, 2012) Copyright ©Byomkesh Talukder, 2012 Abstract Transformations of the various agricultural systems have been taking place in the coastal zone of Bangladesh. While some farmers continue to follow traditional practices, in recent years, others have become involved in massive shrimp cultivation, shrimp-rice cultivation, a rice-based improved agricultural system or a shrimp-rice-vegetable integrated system. All these types of agriculture are being practiced under highly vulnerable environmental conditions. The long-term livelihood, food security and adaptation of the coastal people largely depend on the sustainability of these agricultural practices. In this context, assessing the level of sustainability is extremely important and will be essential for developing future policy options in Bangladesh. This study attempts to examine the sustainability of agricultural practices in the coastal region of Bangladesh. A field study was carried out in 2011 in five villages of five upazilas in the mature and active delta areas of the country. The data were collected through in-depth questionnaire surveys, focus groups discussions, field observation, key informants and secondary materials. A comprehensive suite of indicators was developed considering productivity, efficiency, stability, durability, compatibility and equity of the coastal agriculture. The categories and the indicators were weighted using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to measure the sustainability level of five study sites. The integrated agricultural system (shrimp-rice-vegetable) of Dumuria appeared to be the most sustainable system among agricultural practices, and other integrated systems (rice-based improved agricultural system) of Kalaroa were also found to show a good level of sustainability. The massive shrimp cultivation system of Shyamnagar and Kaliganj appears to be least sustainable. A traditional agriculture system with some improved methods followed in Bhola Sadar Sustainability of Changing Agricultural Systems in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh ii also performed in a satisfactory manner, but there were limitations in terms of its location in the active delta. The level of the sustainability measured in this study allows for a comparison among agricultural practices of the five study sites. The information generated from the study may be used in formulating policies for this part of the country. Measuring agricultural sustainability in this way produces a useful summary of sustainability issues and also provides some vital learning experiences. A holistic and interdisciplinary approach is attempted in this study for assessing and comparing the sustainability level of coastal agricultural systems. It has the potential to become useful as one of the frameworks for sustainability assessment. Sustainability of Changing Agricultural Systems in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh iii Acknowledgement First and foremost, I would like to express my debt of gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Gary vanLoon, MES, Queen’s University, Canada for generous guidance and providing me with the opportunity for this rewarding research experience. His valued advice always kept my thoughts towards an appropriate focus. I am also grateful to Professor Graham Whitelaw, Queen’s University, Canada for his co-supervision of my thesis. I would also like to thank Professor Dara Shamsuddin (Retired, Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh) for share his vast experiences and guidance during field study. I am also grateful to Md. Saifuzzaman (Lecturer, Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh) for data collection activities and arranging logistic support during field visit, I would like to thank Krishna, Sumon, Arif, Zaman and Sabbir (Students, Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh) for their support in data collection and field activity management. I would also like to thank all of my informants and respondents in the study areas, for sparing valuable time and sincere effort to get required data. I also thank all the officers (agriculture, fish, health, education) of upazilas and local leaders to extend all possible supports. I would like to give special thanks to Harkiran Kaur for helping me in editing my thesis. I am grateful to the School of Environmental Studies, Queen’s University for funding which they have provided, making the field research a success. I thank the MES class, particularly Jonathon Chretien, Clay McMullen, Alan Clark, Tina Louise Basso and Anna Graham for their support and friendship. Sustainability of Changing Agricultural Systems in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh iv I owe a debt of gratitude to my wonderful parents for their unconditioned love, affection and invaluable guidance throughout my life. I also owe a debt to my brothers and sisters for their guidance. I would like to thank my great family for their unconditioned support and encouragement throughout my studies. Most importantly, this research work is for very special person, my wife Soma Karmaker and daughter Purnata Talukder Tuli who always inspired me with their ever- encouraging emotional support, cooperation and empathy. Thank you. Byomkesh Talukder September, 2012 Sustainability of Changing Agricultural Systems in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh v Table of Contents Page Abstract ii Acknowledgement iv Table of Contents vi List of Tables viii List of Figures Ix List of Pictures x List of Appendices xi Chapter – 1 : Introduction 1 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Agricultural Sustainability 3 1.2 Conceptual Framework of the Thesis 8 1.3 Research Objectives 11 1.4 Scope of the Study 12 1.5 Brief Profile of Bangladesh 13 1.6 Brief Profile of the Coastal Areas 16 1.7 Organization of the Thesis 19 Chapter – 2 : Methodology 21 2.0 Introduction 21 2.1 Literature Review 22 2.2 Establishing Linkage with a Local University 24 2.3 Questionnaire Development 24 2.4 Selection of Study Areas 24 2.5 Events in Field Study 26 2.6 Verification of the Study Areas 26 2.7 Field Observation 27 2.8 Selection of Sample Size 28 2.9 Household Questionnaire Survey 28 2.10 FGD (Focus Group Discussion) 30 2.11 Key Informant Interviews 32 2.12 Summarizing and Tabulating Collected Data 33 2.13 Quantitative Data Analysis 33 2.14 Qualitative Data Analysis 33 2.15 Selection of Indicators 33 2.16 Multi Criteria Decision Analysis 37 Sustainability of Changing Agricultural Systems in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh vi Chapter – 3 : Study Area 50 3.0 Introduction 50 3.1 Description of Munshiganj Village of Shyamnagar Upazila 51 3.2 Description of Nalta Village of Kaliganj Upazila 53 3.3 Description of Tarulia Village of Kalaroa Upazila 53 3.4 Description of Banda Village of Dumuria Upazila 55 Upazila 3.5 Description of Kunja Patti Village of Bhola Sadar 56 Chapter – 4 : Data Analysis and Discussion 59 4.0 Introduction 59 4.1 Profile of the Respondent Households 59 4.2 Agricultural Profile of the Study Areas 60 4.3 Sustainability Assessment 70 4.3.1 Productivity 71 4.3.2 Stability 75 4.3.3 Efficiency 81 4.3.4 Durability 85 4.3.5 Compatibility 91 4.3.6 Equity 96 4.3.7 Discussion 108 4.3.8 Level of Agricultural Sustainability in the Study Areas 115 Chapter – 5 : Conclusion and Recommendations 119 References 123 Sustainability of Changing Agricultural Systems in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh vii List of Tables Page Table 1.1 : Classification of scholars’ emphasis and their tendency toward three components of agricultural sustainability according to a review of 6 literatures Table 2.1 : List of sources of the secondary information and data 23 Table 2.2 : Matrixes for selection of the study areas 25 Table 2.3 : Major events of field study over a period of four months 26 Table 2.4 : Number of surveyed household 28 Table 2.5 : Target groups and data collection methods 29 Table 2.6 : Selected indicators and justification of selection 34 Table 2.7 : Weighting judgment of selected attributes to measure value of 41 sustainability of agricultural systems by MCDA Table 2.8 : List of methods/software for measuring different indicators 46 Table 4.1 : Profile of the respondent households 59 Table 4.2 : Characteristics of traditional and integrated shrimp farming in the study 61 areas Table 4.3 : General seasonal calendar of the study areas 62 Table 4.4 : Agricultural activities of Shyamnagar based on general crop calendar 63 Table 4.5 : Agricultural activities of Kaliganj based on general crop calendar 64 Table 4.6 : Agricultural activities of Kalaroa based on general crop calendar 66 Table 4.7 : Agricultural activities of Dumuria based on general crop calendar 68 Table 4.8 : Agricultural activities of Bhola Sadar based on general crop calendar 70 Table P1 : Productivity indicators of the agricultural systems 73 Table 4.3.1 : Productivity values after combining weightings and normalized results of 75 indicators Table S1 : Assigned values of stability indicators 77 Table 4.3.2 : Stability values after combining weightings and normalized results of 81 indicators Table E1 : Efficiency indicators of the agricultural systems 84 Table 4.3.3 : Efficiency values after combining weightings and normalized results of 85 indicators Table