Socio-cognitive constraints and opportunities for sustainable intensification in South Asia:Insights from fuzzy cognitive mapping in coastal Bangladesh

Appreciating and dealing with the plurality of farmers’ perceptions and their contextual knowledge and perspectives of the functioning and performance of their agroecosystems—in other words, their ‘mental models’—is central for appropriate and sustainable agricultural development. In this respect, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) aim to eradicate poverty and food insecurity by 2030 by envisioning social inclusivity that incorporates the preferences and knowledge of key stakeholders, including farmers. Agricultural development interventions and policies directed at sustainable intensification (SI), however, do not sufficiently account for farmers’ perceptions, beliefs, priorities, or interests. Considering two contrasting agroecological systems in coastal Bangladesh, we used a fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM)-based simulation and sensitivity analysis of mental models of respondents of different farm types from 240 farm households. The employed FCM mental models were able to (1) capture farmers’ perception of farming system concepts and relationships for each farm type and (2) assess the impact of external interventions (drivers) on cropping intensification and food security. We decomposed the FCM models’ variance into the first-order sensitivity index (SVI) and total sensitivity index (TSI) using a winding stairs algorithm. Both within and outside polder areas, the highest TSIs (35–68%) were observed for effects of agricultural extension on changes in other concepts in the map, particularly food security and income (SI indicators), indicating the importance of extension programs for SI. Outside polders, drainage and micro-credit were also influential; within polders, the availability of micro-credit appears to affect farmer perceptions of SI indicators more than drainage. This study demonstrated the importance of reflection on the differing perspectives of farmers both within and outside polders to identify entry points for development interventions. In addition, the study underscores the need for micro-farming systems-level research to assess the context-based feasibility of introduced interventions as perceived by farmers of different farm types.</p

Ecological footprints of food systems in South Asia

Food systems in South Asia exert considerable pressure on climate systems, water systems, and biodiversity. Quantifying these impacts and is crucial for steering food systems transitions. However, approaches and assessments for environmental footprints of food systems remain largely fragmented in South Asia, especially for low-income and data-scarce regions. We address this knowledge gap with systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed literature to identify existing methods and datasets applicable for assessing the environmental footprints and planetary boundaries of food systems in South Asia. We find that such assessments have started to become more common, although many remain narrowly focused on reliant on Tier 1 type of approaches. Others are singular case studies or describe experiments. For example, most studies look either at carbon and/or water footprints of national dietary or production patterns and their relationship to ecosystem functioning. We also find a concentration of studies on specific crops or food products in select ecological boundaries. We consequent suggest two avenues for future research: First, consolidating a meso-scale overview of environmental impacts of food systems exercises and strategy development. Second, research is needed to generate sub-regional diagnostic datasets. These could be helpful in developing context-specific, data-driven, and socially desirable solutions to address the most actionable environmental impacts of food systems in South Asia

Spatially explicit database on crop-livestock management, soil, climate, greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potential for all of Bangladesh

Acknowledgments: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) carried out this work with support of the CGIAR research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the Climate Services for Resilient Development (CSRD; https://ccafs.cgiar.org/research/projects/climate-services-resilient-development-south-asia) for South Asia project supported by USAID. This work was also supported by the USAID and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) supported Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA; https://csisa.org) CCAFS’ work is supported by CGIAR Fund Donors and through bilateral funding agreements. For details please visit https://ccafs.cgiar.org/donors. The views expressed in this paper cannot be taken to reflect the official opinions of CCAFS, USAID, or BMGF, and shall not be used for advertising.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Quantifying opportunities for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation using big data from smallholder crop and livestock farmers across Bangladesh

Funding Information: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) carried out this work with support of the CGIAR research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the Climate Services for Resilient Development (CSRD; https://ccafs.cgiar.org/research/projects/climate-services-resilient-development-south-asia ) for South Asia project supported by USAID . This work was also supported by the USAID and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) supported Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA; https://csisa.org ). CCAFS' work is supported by CGIAR Fund Donors and through bilateral funding agreements. For details please visit https://ccafs.cgiar.org/donors . The views expressed in this paper cannot be taken to reflect the official opinions of CCAFS, USAID, or BMGF, and shall not be used for advertising. We sincerely acknowledge the input and support provided by various stakeholders in Bangladesh during stakeholder meetings. We are thankful to Robel Takele and Sanjay Pothireddy for graphics assistance.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mental models and the potential for crop intensification in coastal Bangladesh: How do farmers’ perceptions reflect proposed agricultural development pathways?

The expanded use of surface water for irrigation, intensified farm management, and double cropping have been highlighted by the Government of Bangladesh as policy priorities and development imperatives in the coastal region. A deltaic country, Bangladesh has a dense network of interconnected rivers and over 230 tributaries flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Most farmers cultivate rice during the summer monsoon. In the subsequent winter season that is characterized by low amounts of rainfall, many farmers do not irrigate despite available surface water resources in naturally flowing canal systems. Rather, they tend to fallow their fields or grow pulses without intensive management practices. Use of available water resources for irrigation, intensified farm management, and double cropping are relatively rare. The reasons for this ‘ironic’ situation are complex. They involve challenges with soil and water salinity, lack of infrastructure and market integration, and farmers’ generally low investment capacity and aversion to risk, among others. Most studies in the coastal region have focused on addressing these issues from a biophysical or agronomic standpoint, or by using econometric approaches to examine farmers’ interest in intensified crop management and the use of irrigation. Considering agronomic management, there are many approaches that have been deemed as technologically feasible. Less information is however available on how different kinds of farmers perceive and approach these complex issues. Similarly, the relevance for policy and development initiatives in coastal Bangladesh is relatively under-researched. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze farmers’ perceptions of their predominant farming systems and explore corresponding constraints and perceptions of the use of surface water as a means to intensify farm management.Non-PRIFPRI2; CSISAEPT

Major Climate risks and Adaptation Strategies of Smallholder Farmers in Coastal Bangladesh

Rural households in South Asia’s coastal deltas face numerous livelihood challenges, including risks posed by climatic variability and extreme weather events. This study examines major climate risks, farmers’ adaptation strategies, and the factors affecting the choice of those strategies using data collected from 630 households in southwestern coastal Bangladesh. Farmers identified cyclones, excessive rain and flooding, and salinity as direct climate risks. Increased crop diseases/pests and livestock diseases were perceived as indirect risks resulting from climatic variability. Farmers used multiple adaptation strategies against those risks such as modifications in farm management, use of savings and borrowing funds from family and neighbors, and periodically reducing household food consumption. Off-farm employment and seeking assistance from governmental as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were also common adaptation strategies. The results show that male-headed households are more likely to change farming practices and reduce consumption compared with female-headed households that conversely tended to take assistance from NGOs as an adaptation strategy. Ownership of land and livestock, as well as farmers’ prior exposure to climate change and educational training, also had a significant effect on the choice of adaptation strategy. Therefore, development interventions and policies that aimed at improving resource endowment and training to farmers on climatic risks and their adaptation strategies can help minimize the impact of climatic risks

Potential impact of climate change on crop insect pests and diseases in Bangladesh: Future scenarios and strategies for climate services

Insect pest and disease outbreaks are driven by the environmental factors, presence of susceptible crop plants, and insect pest or pathogen population. Future climate variability and climate change (CC) are expected to modify the distribution and severity of pest damage and disease epidemics. In this paper, we present (i) an overview of the major and emerging insect pests and diseases of key field crops and associated yield losses, (ii) an analysis of historical and future climate scenarios and potential infestation of the agents, (iii) a framework to support integrated pest and disease management, and (iv) recommendations towards policies and actions. We have utilized modeling approaches to provide a preliminary estimate of the potential changes in three insect pests and 14 disease species with three future time-slices

Agronomic, socio-economic, and environmental challenges and opportunities in Nepal's cereal-based farming systems

With economies heavily dependent on agriculture, South Asia is the world's most poverty-dense region. Nepal—a country of considerable geographic variability ranging from population-dense low-elevation Terai region to the sparsely inhabited, poorly accessible Himalayan hills and mountains—has enormous environmental and socio-economic challenges to agricultural development. Runoff from the hills and mountains feed networks of rivers that are crucial for supply of surface and groundwater for the Terai and northern India and Bangladesh, benefitting approximately one-fifth of the world's population. Nepal's farming systems are complex, with insufficient documentation of research evidence on the challenges and opportunities facing them. This review documents the key environmental, socio-economic and agronomic issues affecting cereal-based farming systems in Nepal. Evidences suggest farmers in the hills and mountains primarily practice integrated crop-livestock-tree based agroforestry systems with local varieties of crop and livestock species, and use farm-derived organic amendments and limited external inputs, resulting in low but stable yields. The Terai's cropping systems are predominantly rice-based, with wheat, maize and pulses grown in rotation with low to moderate use of inputs, although high yielding varieties are increasingly common. Major environmental challenges in the high and mid-hills include erosion and soil degradation, while in the Terai, reduced soil fertility and sub-optimal management of water resources are important constraints. Climate variability and extremes are cross-regional challenges. Socioeconomic issues include land use policy, labor out-migration and agricultural feminization. Large gaps between potential and farmers' yields are consistent concerns. While summarizing past and current agronomic research findings, this review suggests new research needs and agricultural development pathways that could address these environmental, socioeconomic and agronomic issues and challenge