Climate Change Hazards and Coping Measures of the Coastal Community in Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira District

Abstract

The study has been conducted to five unions named Burigoalini, Gabura, Munshigani, Ramjannagar and Koikhali of Shymnagar upazila under Satkhira district the most vulnerable coastal region of Bangladesh to identify global climate change hazard and copying measured of the disaster of the coastal community. In the recent past an amplified number of fatalities happened and the greater impact also happened to the coastal people. The aim of the study is to assess the climate change hazards on the coastal community and copping measure of the coastal people by applying both the quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative study followed the purposive sampling technique. The total sample size of this study is 100 and a survey was conducted with the help of structured interview questionnaire .For qualitative part, the study conducted 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with the male and female respondents from July to December, 2013. The result of the study depicts that climate change induced natural disasters have severely affected coastal people's life and livelihoods. People change their occupation due to climate change. From 100 respondent's maximum 28 % change their occupation from agricultural farmer to brick worker, day labor, carpenter, fish farmer, fishermen, motorcycle driver and petty businessman. The study examines the impact of climate change on agricultural productivities, fisheries, livestock and structural challenges that the coastal people face. Maximum 19 % respondents said crop affected by disease due to cyclone. The study also indicates that due to climate change they suffer from various kinds of diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, fever, skin disease. Maximum 30 respondent's family member suffered from diarrhea. The study also explores the adaptation measures taken by the local people. They take some coping measure like alternative occupation, producing adaptive species, migrating towards town, participation of women in work. From 100 off 35% were adapted by alternative occupation, respondents 17 numbers were adapted by producing adaptive species, 30010 migrated towards town, 21% women participated in works. This research work can help the vulnerable coastal people to develop their consciousness about the negative effect of climate change. In the same way the policy makers, concerned people as well as government know about the vulnerable situations of that particular people and take decision about the welfare activities and help them by training some strategies of coping mechanism for sustainable livelihoods of that particular people.