[01] Milton Kumar Saha, Department of Disaster Risk Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. [02] Akm Abdul Ahad Biswas, Department of Disaster Risk Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. [03] Md. Faisal, Department of Disaster Resilience and Engineering, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. [04] Javed Meandad, Department of Meteorology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh. [05] Ryhan Ahmed, Faculty of Disaster Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. [06] Joy Prokash, Faculty of Disaster Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. [07] Faisal Mahmud Sakib, Faculty of Disaster Management, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh.

Climate change is projected to have serious environmental, economic, and social impacts on coastal farmers whose livelihood almost depends on nature. This study examines the perception of coastal farmers about climate change and determines the barriers of adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices to adopt the changing climate. Data was collected in January to March of 2018 from 160 randomly selected farmers in four villages of Kalapara sub-district in Patuakhali Bangladesh. A pretested interview schedule was used to obtain data from the farmers. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also performed to collect supplementary information from the extension officers and farmers. A binary logistic model was used to assess the determinants of adaptations strategies practiced by the farmers in response to climate change. Results revealed that farmers mainly perform 15 CSA practices to cope with the effects of climate change, such as salinity, floods, cyclones, storm surge, and droughts. The practices are saline tolerant varieties, submergence-tolerant varieties, drought-resistant varieties, an early variety of rice, sorjan method, pond side vegetable cultivation, watermelon cultivation, sunflower cultivation, plum cultivation, relay cropping, urea deep placement, organic fertilizer, mulching, rainwater harvesting, and seed storage in plastic bags. Results from the logit model indicate that farmer’s level of education, occupation, family size, cultivated farm size, farming experience, cattle ownership, annual income, market difficulty, access to farm information, training experience, organization affiliation, and perception of climate change, all affect farmers’ selection of adaptation strategies for climate change. This study provides direction for policymakers in order to strengthen the adaptation strategies of farmers and guide policies accordingly. These strategies have the potential to minimize the adverse effects of climate change.

Adaptation, Bangladesh, Climate Change, Perception, Smart Agriculture

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