Climate crisis hits haor rice, threatening food security

The haor region, one of Bangladesh’s key rice-producing zones, is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, posing a serious risk to the country’s food supply.

The haor basin and its surrounding plains account for about a quarter of Bangladesh’s Boro rice, with the haor alone contributing 15% of annual output. But farmers are now facing unpredictable floods, rising temperatures, droughts, and water shortages—all of which are jeopardising cultivation and harvests.

Beyond environmental threats, systemic challenges such as outdated irrigation systems, low mechanisation, and limited access to quality seeds continue to undermine productivity. Farmers have voiced the urgent need for climate-resilient rice varieties, modern harvesting equipment, and fairer market access.

To address these issues, the Climate-Smart Rice Value Chain (CS-RVC) project has introduced several adaptive strategies. These include early-maturing, stress-tolerant rice varieties; energy- and water-saving techniques like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD); community seed banks; crop clinics; and mechanisation support. Training sessions and demonstrations are helping farmers adopt these innovations.

Recent field feedback highlights strong preference for newer rice varieties like BRRI dhan96 due to their resilience and shorter growing cycles. The AWD method is also showing promise in reducing irrigation costs and conserving resources.

Spanning five upazilas in Kishoreganj and Sunamganj, the CS-RVC initiative aims to benefit over 10,000 farmers by 2027. It takes a system-wide approach, strengthening each stage of the rice value chain—from seed production to post-harvest handling.

Experts stress that long-term resilience in the haor region requires stronger institutional coordination, improved access to high-quality inputs, and increased investment in modern agricultural infrastructure. They also underscore the need for inclusive planning to ensure that farmers at the grassroots level can thrive despite growing climate pressures.