Enhancing Innovation to Adapt Rice Cultivation to Flash Flooding in Bangladesh

Abstract

The agriculture sector is highly vulnerable to the various effects of climate change. It is crucial to support Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) thinking for enhancing innovation in this sector. Extension and advisory services (EAS) can play a critical role in supporting AIS thinking and enhancing innovation to this end. However, many of the concepts, principles and insights associated with AIS thinking have not been implemented at the field level in response to various challenges of farming including climate change. Therefore, knowledge on the role of EAS in enhancing innovation to adapt the agriculture sector to various effects of climate change remains rare. This scenario is more prevalent in developing countries like Bangladesh, where the staple food is impacted by climate change induced flash flooding. Climate change and AIS to support adaptation to it is thus a great concern for the sustainability of rice farming.

This thesis aims to investigate the role of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the most significant public EAS of Bangladesh, in enhancing innovation to help rice farming adapt to flash flooding. To achieve this aim, a total of four research questions were examined. They are: 1. How can EAS support innovation in the agricultural sector to adapt to climate change? 2. How can DAE strengthen farmers' innovation networks to adapt rice cultivation to flash flooding in Bangladesh? 3. How can DAE facilitate learning to enhance innovation for adapting rice farming to flash flooding in Bangladesh? and 4. How can the organizational capacity of DAE be developed to help rice farming adapt to flash flooding in Bangladesh? The thesis employed a number of theoretical lenses, including innovation networks, social learning, and capacity development for agricultural innovation system. The research was conducted in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh that is highly productive for rice farming and extremely vulnerable to flash flooding. In this study, a range of data collection methods were used, including surveys, focus group discussions with various actors such as DAE staff and farmers, and reviews of literature.

The findings showed that EAS need to embrace a range of transformative roles that include connecting and working with multiple actors and groups, and supporting interaction and learning among diverse actors for adapting to climate change. The thesis demonstrated that DAE should strengthen both agronomic and harvesting networks of farming actors to adapt rice farming to flash flooding. The study identified that DAE should facilitate learning and support discussions among various farming actors based on local concerns and use of local knowledge and resources. The thesis explored a number of aspects that influence the organizational capacity of DAE to help rice farming adapt to flash flooding.

The thesis has contributed to knowledge on AIS thinking to enhance innovation and adapt the agriculture sector to various effects of climate extremes. Particularly, it has identified the critical role of EAS in enhancing innovation in the farming sector to adapt to flash flooding. The thesis has suggested future research directions based on the issues raised in this study. Show more