Substantiation of research
- To identify exiting integrated crop-livestock farming scenario in the coastal belt of Bangladesh.
- To capture decision frame of farmers with respect to short term climate information.
- To create suitable farm typologies for coastal Bangladesh in order to boost food security and income generation of the farmers.
Research methods
To achieve our objectives, we collected data from 240 farm households across 24 villages (10 no per village) of 4 selected upazilas (60 no per upazila) of Patuakhali ( Kalapara & Galachipa) and Borguna (Patharghata & Amtali) districts (Fig 1.) through face to face interview of farmers with designed questionnaire.
Results so far
A decision tree was developed for providing adaptation strategies and weather services to livestock farmers. Our results suggested that if the forecast was provided 5 days before for the high temperature event (>25°C), 41.5% farmers willing to providing more frequent water for drinking while 39.1% spraying water on cattle. In case of high rainfall (>44 mm per day) 13.7% farmers suggested for no open grazing. During the Cyclone/Storm/Flood, 75% farmers move livestock to higher place and 45.0% farmers would take livestock to cyclone shelter, and household reduced meal quality (84.5%) and quantity (73.3%), reduced nonfood item (78.5%), and 74.2 % selling their livestock. We found that in case of weather forecast, miking (89.96 %) and television (59.68 %) are the best media. The basic information and adaptation strategies will be milestone for development of national policy makers as well as research for further decision.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Jahangir Hossen
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