Dhaka, Bangladesh, 10 September 2024. To combat the impacts of climate change on agri-based food systems of the Deltaic regions of Bangladesh and India, a webinar titled “Asian Mega Deltas Initiatives for Resilient and Adaptive Agri-Food Systems” was organized by South Asia Regional Resilience Hub. It is a part of the Gobeshona Program at the International Center for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD). The project is part of the CGIAR’s initiative on the Asian Mega Delta and is being led by IRRI in Bangladesh. The discussions focused on how advanced technology, nature-based solutions, and community-led innovations are transforming agriculture by improving climate resilience and livelihoods in the Asian Mega Deltas, focusing on Bangladesh and India as a part of the Ganges Delta.
The session featured presentations on technological innovations and community-driven strategies to strengthen agricultural resilience in the Ganges Delta regions of Bangladesh and India.
The Ganges Delta, part of the more extensive Asian Mega Deltas system, is home to millions of people who are facing increasing threats from climate change, including salinity intrusion, water scarcity, and erratic weather patterns. These environmental challenges directly impact agricultural productivity and the nation’s food security. The webinar highlighted practical solutions and innovations aimed at transforming agri-based food systems to better cope with these challenges, which are becoming increasingly frequent in Bangladesh.
Key innovations to combat climate risks
According to Dr. Manoranjan Mondol, a Research Scientist from IRRI, waterlogging is a major challenge in the coastal zones of Bangladesh for cropping system intensification and diversification. These issues can be addressed through nature-based solutions. By timing sluice gate operations with high and low tides of rivers, waterlogging in the polders can be better managed. This will help farmers grow high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of rice during the wet season and allow them to plant and harvest dry-season crops earlier and more safely. He stressed utilizing residual soil water and semi-mechanized practices to sustain dry season productivity. These agronomic innovations could boost grain production, significantly contributing to Bangladesh's future food security challenges.
Dr. Dhiman Burman, Head and Principal Scientist from ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, India, presented land-shaping techniques to solve salinization and freshwater scarcity in the Ganges Delta. According to his research, reconfiguring land to harvest rainwater and plant high-value crops has led to a 240% increase in crop intensity and an 80% improvement in irrigation coverage. This innovation transforms farming in saline-prone areas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting yields and income for smallholder farmers.
Integrating aquaculture and agriculture to improve nutrition and resilience
Dr. Hazrat Ali, a Research Fellow from World Fish, highlighted Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture (IAA) as an approach to address malnutrition and promote sustainability. The method integrates fish farming with crop cultivation on the same land, providing farmers with diverse food sources and improving water efficiency. Dr. Ali noted that this practice reduces vulnerability to extreme weather and enhances both nutritional and economic outcomes for farming communities, offering a sustainable way forward in the face of worsening climate conditions.
Harnessing technology to support farmers
Transformative technologies were central to the solutions presented during the webinar. Dr. TS Amjath Babu, an Agricultural Economist from CIMMYT, shared how mobile apps and decision-support systems can help farmers in Bangladesh make informed decisions based on weather forecasts. These tools are designed to prevent climate-related disruptions in our food value chains, such as rice, chili, and watermelon farming. He emphasized the financial potential of novel digital climate services, stressing the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to scale these innovations.
Addressing governance and gender disparities
Dr. Deepa Joshi from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) highlighted the socio-ecological challenges plaguing Bangladesh’s coastal regions, including freshwater shortages and gender inequality in resource access. Despite the rapid growth in agricultural output, particularly in rice and fish, women and smallholder farmers remain marginalized. Dr. Joshi urged policymakers to adopt more inclusive governance models, emphasizing the importance of gender-responsive budgeting to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and the poor.
Climate-smart mapping to drive adaptation planning
Dr. Ahmad Salahuddin, Senior Associate Scientist from IRRI, introduced the Climate-Smart Mapping and Adaptation Planning (CS-MAP) methodology, a success in Vietnam and a part of the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas. This is a participatory approach that leverages both scientific data and local knowledge to create region-specific adaptation plans. Dr. Salahuddin emphasized that scaling CS-MAP across Bangladesh’s coastal districts could help farmers preemptively mitigate climate risks, safeguarding food production and livelihoods. This could be achieved by adapting the methodology for use by the government and implementing it on a national scale.
Way Forward
The session was concluded by Dr. Humnath Bhandari, Country Representative for IRRI in Bangladesh, leading the discussions with the participants and a call to action as the future of millions depends on how quickly these innovations can be scaled to secure food security and climate resilience. It was a knowledge-sharing session and a part of the dialogue to facilitate conversation at COP 29.
This webinar was a part of the Asian Mega Delta Initiative, part of CGIAR, which is working to improve climate resilience and adaptation in agri-food systems. The webinar brought together scientists and stakeholders from other sectors to discuss their experiences with the research, technology, and innovations to transform the agriculture sector by enhancing climate and livelihood resilience and adaptation in the Asian-Mega Deltas.
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