FARMERS ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO DROUGHT AND THEIR DETERMINANTS IN NORTHWESTERN PARTS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify the farmers’ current adaptation strategies to drought and their determinants in northwestern parts of Bangladesh. The locale of the study was Tanore and Nachole Upazila under Rajshahi and Chapainawabgonj districts in Bangladesh. A total of 150 farmers were selected through simple random sampling. Face-to-face interviews were performed to gather data. The descriptive statistics and econometric model (Poisson Regression Model) were applied to achieve the objectives of the study. The number of strategies adoption constituted the dependent variable, and the selected ten farmer characteristics were regarded as the independent variables. Statistical analysis shows that gender, education, agricultural training received and agriculture related credit received had positive and significant relationship with the adoption of adaptation strategies in drought. Credit was found as the most significant positive factor on adopting a set of adaptation strategies, holding the co-efficient of 0.28. Some barriers to adoption were mentioned by farmers such as; lack of irrigation water, lack of knowledge concerning appropriate adaptation, low credit facilities, and lack of adequate extension services. Therefore, provision of necessary measures (re-excavation of canal, installation of more deep tube-wells, motivating farmers to adopt drought tolerant varieties, affordable access to credit, community-based education and training programs) by the concerned authorities are preferable for improvement of the northwestern farmers’ adaptation status.