Bangladesh is at the forefront of combating the detrimental effects of climate change on food security, according to a recent report by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment of London School of Economics (LSE).
The report sheds light on the historical efforts and emerging duel crisis faced by Bangladesh in ensuring food security amidst climate change and global conflicts.
Climate change poses a severe global threat to food security, with heightened vulnerability in Bangladesh. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict exacerbates the challenge, causing significant surges in staple food, fuel, and fertilizer prices, raising concerns about poverty levels and worsening food insecurity.
In Bangladesh, long-experienced cyclones, droughts, and floods are now intensified by climate change, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events. The dual challenge of increasing flooding and heightened extreme heat days compounds issues, resulting in reduced crop yields, livestock health issues, altered pest and disease distribution, and decreased agricultural labor supply. This, in turn, leads to income reduction, restricting households' ability to afford sufficient nutritious food.
The report highlighted that Bangladesh has made progress in improving food production and security, with a positive trend in food security measures. Professor Elizabeth Robinson, Director of the Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics mentioned “Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in terms of improving food and nutrition security. Yet climate change is making further improvements even harder."
Under a catastrophic climate change scenario (3.6°C temperature increase by 2100), Bangladeshi people will suffer moderate to severe food insecurity by nearly 5 per cent between 2021- 2040. In contrast, if the Paris Agreement target of limiting temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celcius is achieved, the proportion of people affected by food insecurity would increase by 4.4% between 2021- 2040. This suggests that strong action taken globally to mitigate climate change will have clear food security benefits in countries like Bangladesh.
The report also mentioned that over the years, Bangladesh's journey to ensure food security has evolved amidst challenges and policy adjustments. Since 1971, a focus on agricultural development for self-sufficiency faced challenges, prompting a comprehensive approach after the 1974 famine. Safety nets, including schemes like Food for Work (FFW) and Test Relief (TR), addressed accessibility issues and contributed to stable food supplies. The National Agricultural Policy (1999) and National Food Policy (2006) emphasized sustainability and nutritional enhancement. Despite strides, global food price hikes in 2007–08 increased poverty. Recent setbacks, including the Russia–Ukraine conflict and escalating climate change impacts, pose renewed challenges to food security. The evolution of policies reflects Bangladesh's ongoing commitment to addressing these challenges, emphasizing resilience and adaptability in the face of global and climatic uncertainties.
The report also highlighted that for the future policy implications, the Bangladeshi government is prioritizing adaptation and resilience in the face of climate change impacts, linking food security with climate resilience. Policies, such as the 2008 Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) of 2023–2050, emphasize climate-smart agricultural practices and sustainable farming methods.
Bangladesh should embrace climate-smart agriculture, incorporating saline-tolerant crops, aquaculture, resilient rice varieties, agroforestry, and sustainable land management. Government initiatives like shrimp aquaculture and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) signify progress. The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy (2023–2050) stresses diverse diets. Climate-smart technologies enhance nutrient-dense crops, while safety nets aid affordability.
Government support, including climate services, crop insurance, and storage practices, will further bolsters the sector. Acknowledging agriculture's climate impact, Bangladesh focuses on mitigation through practices like alternate wetting and drying, improved fertilizer management, and addressing residue burning. Professor Robinson stated "Bangladesh's government is already promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, and has a number of safety nets in place, but yet more efforts will be needed to build resilience across the food value chain, to improve food and nutritional security across the population."
Dr Shouro Dasgupta, Environmental Economist, Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change and Visiting Senior Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute, LSE also mentioned “Proactive policies targeting both food production such as reinsurance schemes for smallholder farmers and access to food and nutrition such as cash transfer are needed.”
As Bangladesh continues to face climate change and its impact on food security, experts urge concerted efforts from policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to adopt adaptive strategies and prioritize sustainable practices.
Bangladesh has made progress, increased efforts, including extended research, targeted consumer protection, and improved healthcare access, are necessary to address rising temperatures. Despite associated costs, these investments promise a more resilient and productive population amidst changing climate conditions.
