Boro rice cultivation practices and adaptive strategies of farmers to flash floods in Sylhet haor basin
Paper Details
Boro rice cultivation practices and adaptive strategies of farmers to flash floods in Sylhet haor basin
Abstract
Flash floods significantly threaten agricultural livelihoods in the Sylhet Haor Basin of Bangladesh, particularly impacting Boro rice cultivation. This study examines the cultivation practices and adaptive strategies that Haor farmers employ in response to these flood risks. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 298 farmers from both highly and moderately flash flood–vulnerable zones between November 2021 and April 2022. The findings reveal that farmers largely rely on traditional practices and cultivate a mix of modern, local, and hybrid rice varieties, showing limited adoption of improved agronomic methods. Key constraints to boro rice production include early-season flash floods, cold stress, the unavailability of short-duration high-yielding varieties, and inadequate irrigation infrastructure. To cope with these challenges, farmers have implemented several adaptive strategies, such as cultivating short-duration rice varieties, transplanting early and aged seedlings, diversifying rice varieties, harvesting at around 80% maturity, and preparing raised seedbeds. However, the effectiveness and application of these strategies vary depending on the level of flood vulnerability. Farmers emphasized the importance of rice varieties that are short-duration, cold-tolerant, and resistant to submergence, along with improved agronomic practices. The study recommends targeted breeding programs, robust seed systems, enhanced extension services, and infrastructure development. Additionally, integrating local knowledge into national agricultural planning is crucial to strengthen the long-term climate resilience of boro rice farming in the flood-prone Haor region. These insights are valuable for researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners aiming to enhance sustainable rice production in vulnerable Haor ecosystems.
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