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Context of salinization and adaptation preferences in the coastal areas of Bangladesh: Bringing together farmers’ salinity perspectives into policy to achieve SDGs
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  • Md Aminul Islam,
  • Lisa Lobry de Bruyn,
  • Richard Koech,
  • Nigel Warwick
Md Aminul Islam
University of New England

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Lisa Lobry de Bruyn
University of New England
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Richard Koech
Central Queensland University
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Nigel Warwick
University of New England
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Abstract

The increasing salinization of coastal areas of Bangladesh reduces options for rice intensification but offers a suitable environment for shrimp and salt farming. Under these contested land use settings, adaptation decisions to address salinity require an understanding of the salinity perspectives of all farmer types. Primary data was collected from randomly selected rice, shrimp and salt farmers in two coastal sub-districts through semi-structured interviews at household level. Also, key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with personnel from research and extension organisations from different levels (e.g. national and local). Salinity perceptions among the various types of farmer differed. While the majority of rice farmers (87%) perceived increased salinity, just over half of the salt and shrimp farmers perceived that salinity has decreased over the past 20 years. Most rice farmers (62%) perceived anthropogenic factors as the main cause of increased salinity, while the majority of shrimp and salt farmers focused more on natural factors. Rice farmers perceived under saline conditions a yield loss (42%), followed by less income (30%). In contrast, shrimp farmers (70%) and salt farmers (55%) perceived production gains when high salinity prevailed. Rice farmers’ adaptation preferences to cope with salinity is development of salinity-tolerant rice varieties that have greater tolerance at the reproductive stages, while shrimp and salt farmers’ preferences are engineering-based solutions. Thus, research and extension services on integrated coastal resources management need to consider all livelihood perspectives, as this approach could accelerate the pace of achieving the SDGs (i.e.. SDG-1, SDG-2 and SGD-3).
12 Feb 2021Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
12 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
18 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
19 Nov 20211st Revision Received
21 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
21 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
21 Apr 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 May 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 May 20222nd Revision Received
30 May 2022Submission Checks Completed
30 May 2022Assigned to Editor
21 Jul 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Accept