**3. Materials and methods**

The Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) in its recent study conducted a research to understand the context-specific, ecosystem-friendly, and climate-adaptive agricultural and livelihood practices in three vulnerable zones of Bangladesh, which includes coastal, Char, and hilly regions. The study used a mixed-method approach by using both quantitative and qualitative methodological techniques to meet its objectives. For this purpose, national-level policy documents were consulted to understand the gap between existing knowledge and the scenario in the locality at present.

The BCAS research team conducted this study by incorporating focus group discussions (FGDs), key informants interview (KIIs) and household survey using semi-structured questionnaire from the communities. Data collected included demographical information, community's socio-economic condition, resilience planning and disaster preparedness, access to basic services, alternative livelihoods, people's knowledge and awareness on climate change impacts, options on community-based adaptation options indifferent sectors. The questionnaire also included questions to assess how much capacity building is needed for the communities, local government institutes and other stakeholders including the NGOs, CSOs and CBO communities. The data set was made to be disaggregated (where appropriate) by location, gender, ethnicity, and disability. To collect data and information regarding impacts of climate change, community adaptation options, DRM planning, and other key relevant issues, a checklist was developed to conduct the focus group discussions (FGDs). The FGDs were conducted with mixed group (men and women), and the other was with women participants only. Although the research was conducted using the expertise of a skilled team, it had some inherent limitations. The research was conducted in a number of selected villages of the three eco-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh. Hence, the villages represent a fractional picture of the real scenario and corresponding problems in the area. The respondents of the study were to rely on data which were not only just based on perception and observation but also on the informants' reminiscence of past extreme events and ways of tackling.

Appropriate sampling technique and right size of sample for the best estimation of the population characteristics were two important factors for designing the sampling. Determination of representative sample size is a challenging issue. In most cases, the previous information required to determine the sample size particularly standard deviation of population is not available. The alternative way is to consider p = q = 0.50 that allows maximum standard error and also ensure maximum size of sample for specific requirements. The sample size of the baseline study has been estimated in such a way that the obtained result of the study may be within 5% of the true value with 95% confidence interval.

## **4. Results and discussion**

In Bangladesh, agriculture is a central livelihood activity. The people living in the study region, i.e., the coastal zone, blame salinity in the water, too much or too little water, to be harmful for agricultural productivity, but they also have some adaptation strategy and mechanisms to combat these problems. For instance, they have been introduced to stress-tolerant types of agricultural crop varieties to adapt to climatic conditions. The people receive training on various areas including homestead gardening, integrated farm management, integrated pest management, compost preparation, animal manure, and crop rotation management. However, 77% of the respondents from the coastal zone stated that they did not receive any training on agricultural practices, which would be quite useful otherwise. To tackle food security issues, respondents from the coastal zones stated that they depend on less expensive food, they take help from friends and relatives, they intake less than required portions, and they also sometimes go for microcredit when there is food crisis.

The BCAS study also helped to understand the condition of the coastal community at crises and their subsequent shelter stories. The study shows that the community people's access to shelters have a connection with the time of receiving the warning signals. In addition, difficulties in getting early warning message and communication are also reasons for delayed responses to evacuate. The condition of water and sanitation practices of the people in the coastal zone show that the condition of hygiene becomes questionable during extreme events. Although people in the coastal zones have access to a range of sources of drinking water which include deep tube well, shallow tube well, rainwater harvesting (RWH), pond sand filter, ponds/canals and streams, etc., they still have to keep reserves when natural disasters take place. On the other hand, in terms of decision-making at the household level, it can be seen

**91**

*Coastal Community Adaptation to Climate Change-Induced Salinity Intrusion in Bangladesh*

the region to changing conditions brought about by climate change.

through knowledge platforms, training, and awareness programs.

conservative environment in the country.

The study investigated which route was taken by the households while collecting

During monsoon when there is heavy rainfall, the conditions of the latrines in the coastal zone become even worse. This leads to unsafe and unhygienic conditions within the sanitation facilities, with worsened situation during excessive rainfall which causes waterlogging. During most disasters, people in the coastal zones mentioned through this study that their latrines become dysfunctional. They expect help and support to be extended from the government and nongovernmental organizations to follow up on these conditions. The Bangladesh government is aware that they should address this with serious consideration to prevent diseases and facilitate ease in access, especially for disabled and elderly people. In the coastal zones, some people still go to the jungles and bushes for defecation purposes because of a lack of proper facility installed close to the house. Also, the distance of the latrines is another important concern, especially for the elderly people who cannot walk to the toilets. People in all the regions stated that there is a problem of contamination in the drinking water when natural disasters hit. According to the study, cyclones have been attributed to cause problems in their source of drinking water as mentioned by 81% of the coastal community respondents. On the other hand, storm surge was mentioned by 74% of the respondents, excessive rainfall by 36%, and salinity intrusion in water resources by 23%. This shows that people are having a clear perception of the disaster types and how they are responsible for contaminating the water that they use for drinking and cooking. The following

water for household activities and by whom was the water collected. In all three study locations, it was observed that females bear the major responsibility for collecting household water. Many people from the coastal areas mentioned that they use the neighbor's toilet, the use of which becomes increasingly difficult during the onsets of natural disasters. This is particularly true for women, because of the

that in the coastal zones, women are more engaged in some of the key decisions. Both government and nongovernment organizations have initiated awareness programs on the importance of integration of women in household- and community-level decisions. As one of the key results of the study, it confirmed the essence of resilience of

In Bangladesh, the preparedness to disasters is subject to the availability of proper and correct signals. Early warning signal messages in Bangladesh are provided prior to any extreme event, but some people still do not move from home. Early warning system (EWS) needs to be strengthened and is essential to make sure that each and every person follows the early warning messages. This would complement the adaptive capacities of the coastal communities to address climate adversities with a sophisticated lead time. In Bangladesh, way to safe, accessible and affordable water and sanitation is still hindered by a number of factors. Under the current situation of Bangladesh's coastal zones, people highly benefitted from the various training programs that are conducted to address various climate components to the communities. It can be also assessed that a large number of people help from the training programs that capacitate the communities in critical ways that help to overcome disaster aftermath. Hence, people's expectation to receive adequate training on agriculture and disaster management has been increased at present due to its effectiveness. The needs to have agricultural training should be met by the government to understand the best practices in achieving the highest output for crops, both before and after the climatic disasters. In addition to agricultural training, livelihood training and awareness programs should be thoroughly and regularly conducted to increase the resilience of people at large. Responsible authorities should emphasize on fostering people's knowledge on climate change

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80418*

#### *Coastal Community Adaptation to Climate Change-Induced Salinity Intrusion in Bangladesh DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80418*

that in the coastal zones, women are more engaged in some of the key decisions. Both government and nongovernment organizations have initiated awareness programs on the importance of integration of women in household- and community-level decisions. As one of the key results of the study, it confirmed the essence of resilience of the region to changing conditions brought about by climate change.

In Bangladesh, the preparedness to disasters is subject to the availability of proper and correct signals. Early warning signal messages in Bangladesh are provided prior to any extreme event, but some people still do not move from home. Early warning system (EWS) needs to be strengthened and is essential to make sure that each and every person follows the early warning messages. This would complement the adaptive capacities of the coastal communities to address climate adversities with a sophisticated lead time. In Bangladesh, way to safe, accessible and affordable water and sanitation is still hindered by a number of factors. Under the current situation of Bangladesh's coastal zones, people highly benefitted from the various training programs that are conducted to address various climate components to the communities. It can be also assessed that a large number of people help from the training programs that capacitate the communities in critical ways that help to overcome disaster aftermath. Hence, people's expectation to receive adequate training on agriculture and disaster management has been increased at present due to its effectiveness. The needs to have agricultural training should be met by the government to understand the best practices in achieving the highest output for crops, both before and after the climatic disasters. In addition to agricultural training, livelihood training and awareness programs should be thoroughly and regularly conducted to increase the resilience of people at large. Responsible authorities should emphasize on fostering people's knowledge on climate change through knowledge platforms, training, and awareness programs.

The study investigated which route was taken by the households while collecting water for household activities and by whom was the water collected. In all three study locations, it was observed that females bear the major responsibility for collecting household water. Many people from the coastal areas mentioned that they use the neighbor's toilet, the use of which becomes increasingly difficult during the onsets of natural disasters. This is particularly true for women, because of the conservative environment in the country.

During monsoon when there is heavy rainfall, the conditions of the latrines in the coastal zone become even worse. This leads to unsafe and unhygienic conditions within the sanitation facilities, with worsened situation during excessive rainfall which causes waterlogging. During most disasters, people in the coastal zones mentioned through this study that their latrines become dysfunctional. They expect help and support to be extended from the government and nongovernmental organizations to follow up on these conditions. The Bangladesh government is aware that they should address this with serious consideration to prevent diseases and facilitate ease in access, especially for disabled and elderly people. In the coastal zones, some people still go to the jungles and bushes for defecation purposes because of a lack of proper facility installed close to the house. Also, the distance of the latrines is another important concern, especially for the elderly people who cannot walk to the toilets. People in all the regions stated that there is a problem of contamination in the drinking water when natural disasters hit. According to the study, cyclones have been attributed to cause problems in their source of drinking water as mentioned by 81% of the coastal community respondents. On the other hand, storm surge was mentioned by 74% of the respondents, excessive rainfall by 36%, and salinity intrusion in water resources by 23%. This shows that people are having a clear perception of the disaster types and how they are responsible for contaminating the water that they use for drinking and cooking. The following

*Agricultural Economics - Current Issues*

the true value with 95% confidence interval.

**4. Results and discussion**

people's knowledge and awareness on climate change impacts, options on community-based adaptation options indifferent sectors. The questionnaire also included questions to assess how much capacity building is needed for the communities, local government institutes and other stakeholders including the NGOs, CSOs and CBO communities. The data set was made to be disaggregated (where appropriate) by location, gender, ethnicity, and disability. To collect data and information regarding impacts of climate change, community adaptation options, DRM planning, and other key relevant issues, a checklist was developed to conduct the focus group discussions (FGDs). The FGDs were conducted with mixed group (men and women), and the other was with women participants only. Although the research was conducted using the expertise of a skilled team, it had some inherent limitations. The research was conducted in a number of selected villages of the three eco-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh. Hence, the villages represent a fractional picture of the real scenario and corresponding problems in the area. The respondents of the study were to rely on data which were not only just based on perception and observation but also

on the informants' reminiscence of past extreme events and ways of tackling.

Appropriate sampling technique and right size of sample for the best estimation of the population characteristics were two important factors for designing the sampling. Determination of representative sample size is a challenging issue. In most cases, the previous information required to determine the sample size particularly standard deviation of population is not available. The alternative way is to consider p = q = 0.50 that allows maximum standard error and also ensure maximum size of sample for specific requirements. The sample size of the baseline study has been estimated in such a way that the obtained result of the study may be within 5% of

In Bangladesh, agriculture is a central livelihood activity. The people living in the study region, i.e., the coastal zone, blame salinity in the water, too much or too little water, to be harmful for agricultural productivity, but they also have some adaptation strategy and mechanisms to combat these problems. For instance, they have been introduced to stress-tolerant types of agricultural crop varieties to adapt to climatic conditions. The people receive training on various areas including homestead gardening, integrated farm management, integrated pest management, compost preparation, animal manure, and crop rotation management. However, 77% of the respondents from the coastal zone stated that they did not receive any training on agricultural practices, which would be quite useful otherwise. To tackle food security issues, respondents from the coastal zones stated that they depend on less expensive food, they take help from friends and relatives, they intake less than required portions, and they also sometimes go for microcredit when there is food crisis.

The BCAS study also helped to understand the condition of the coastal community at crises and their subsequent shelter stories. The study shows that the community people's access to shelters have a connection with the time of receiving the warning signals. In addition, difficulties in getting early warning message and communication are also reasons for delayed responses to evacuate. The condition of water and sanitation practices of the people in the coastal zone show that the condition of hygiene becomes questionable during extreme events. Although people in the coastal zones have access to a range of sources of drinking water which include deep tube well, shallow tube well, rainwater harvesting (RWH), pond sand filter, ponds/canals and streams, etc., they still have to keep reserves when natural disasters take place. On the other hand, in terms of decision-making at the household level, it can be seen

**90**

information was cross-checked through FGD, and according to the discussion, the major sources of drinking water are mainly affected by cyclone in the coastal zones. People in the coastal zones have indicated that their area is largely hit by cyclone and storm surge. It appears evident through the study's FGDs and KIIs that salinity induced by cyclones and storm surge is one of the biggest problems in the coastal zone. These are positions where the community people expect the use of better technologies and support that can help provide fresh drinking water. Many NGOs are already working in the coastal zone to improve the quality of drinking water. However, climate-resilient water supply and sanitation technologies would help the local communities for long-term sustainability.
