Climate change has greatly affected the livelihoods, food security, malnutrition, and income of people in the southwestern region of Bangladesh. This has led to unemployment in the southwestern region. LEADERS, a research-based development organization, is trying to mitigate the effects of climate change through research and information dissemination. One of the ways to do this is to provide scholarships to researchers to conduct research on local problems in coastal areas.
In continuation of this, on Monday (June 30), LEADERS’ Climate and Adaptation Knowledge Management Center awarded scholarships to researchers. Antara Biswas, Assistant Professor of the Department of Bengali, Khulna University, Leaders Project Coordinator Mosa. Laila Khatun, and Knowledge and Research Manager Tushar Sarkar were present as guests at the scholarship award ceremony organized at LEADERS’ Khulna Regional Office. They emphasized coastal problems and mentioned the relevance of the research.
The research team includes Ayesha Akhter Iti from Jahangirnagar University, Md. Sefatul Islam and SK Rakibul Islam from Khulna University, and Raj Debnath from Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University.
They will conduct research on the impact of climate change on local people, such as: Analysis of the effectiveness of adaptation strategies in agricultural production affected by salinity in Shyamnagar Upazila, Causes and policy responses to climate-induced migration: Analysis in the context of Satkhira district, Climate change and mental health: Psychological impact of environmental disasters on the coastal population of Shyamnagar, Adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies for the indigenous Munda population of coastal Bangladesh.
In his speech, the special guest addressed the researchers on climate change, saying, “Your research helps us understand the reality. However, if these studies are more deeply connected to the lives and livelihoods of people at the field level, then they will be truly effective. By making the real picture of local problems, culture and experience part of the research, we will be able to move forward in inventing sustainable adaptation strategies.” He also applauded this commendable initiative of Leaders.
Researcher Raj Debnath said about his research, titled ‘Effectiveness of Adaptation Strategies Adopted in Salinity-Affected Agricultural Lands of Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira’, the study will analyze the effectiveness of locally implemented adaptation methods. The results obtained through this study will be helpful in increasing the productivity of farmers and will highlight effective and realistic solutions for them. Besides, it will help policymakers in adopting sustainable agricultural plans. The study will make an important contribution to combating the adverse effects of climate change in the agricultural sector.
At this stage, the researchers exchanged views and applauded the commendable initiative of the Leaders.
