Adaptation of Seasonal Land Use for Livelihood Support in Chalrayenda and Chaltebunia villages.

Objectives

Main Objective: Improving land use for sustainable livelihood of 50 targeted households for the adaption of climate variability by the end of the project.

Immediate Objective: Ensure supplementary uses of lands considering water resources of 50 households under changing environment.

Background

The project area namely Chalrayenda and Chaltebuni village under Rayenda union of Sharankhola upazila in Bagerhat district is vulnerable to different types of natural hazards and disasters. In the last few decades, due to climate change, natural calamities have increased in manifold. The impact of climate change is more likely to take place in the coastal areas of the country and in the project area, especially in terms of coastal flooding during cyclonic surge. Along with natural hazards, the area also suffers from different social and economic problems such as unemployment and poverty.  On the contrary, due to climate change, the salinity of the area in land is increasing which is directly affecting agricultural production. The yield of agricultural crops is declining due to salinity. The land use of the area is changing from crop agriculture to shrimp culture, which is being practiced by the rich people. Major crops land of that area is the dominant of Aman crops. After Aman, all the lands are lying idle due to salinity in the land and lack of supplementary irrigation facilities. So, seasonal rainfall is the only means of irrigation for cultivation here resulted only one crop of the project area lands which is the threat for food security and nutritional efficiency. Their livelihood is encircled with agriculture. They have very little land to cultivate and they haven’t got enough support or lack of technology and knowledge to get supplementary to cultivate more in these few land to cope with the disaster they faced.

As the community is very poor and vulnerable to different hazards and risks, are not capable to use modern technology. So, diversifications of cropping and supplementary stressed crops which can sustain in that climatic disruption are needed here. It is also important to note that multi uses of lands with the crops that required small scale irrigation based on saline and stresses tolerance can bring the changes in lands uses for ensuring food security with nutritional back up support. 

Target beneficiaries

The climatic adverse vulnerable group who are already affected by climate change in the village of Chaltabunia and Chalrayenda villages of Rayenda union in Sharankholan sub district. The target groups mainly will be marginal farmers with a view to improving land uses and to reduce the pressure from Sunderban who generally get single crop (only aman crop) from their lands due to soil salinity and the lack of supplementary irrigation facilities.

Outputs

Result # 1. Introducing saline tolerant sunflower cultivation of 10 farmers of the project area as supplementary crop

Result # 2. Improved water resources for daily uses and for supplementary irrigation of 50  households

Result # 3. Well organize targeted beneficiaries and enhance their capacities through networking & linkages with service providing authorities/ organizations

Accomplishments and challenges

Due to seasonal variation of rain, the water reservoir capacity increasing remains a challenge. Outcomes of targeted result 2 can only be gained beyond the project time frame.

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

This project prioritizes women during beneficiary selection as women are the primary users as well as front line victims accute water crisis in the area.