Waterlogging in the Southwest Coastal Areas of Bangladesh: Local Adaptation Techniques and Challenges

Waterlogging is a critical environmental problem in the southwest coast of Bangladesh predominantly in some parts of Jashore, Satkhira and Khulna districts which create substantial impacts on livelihood. Therefore, this research aims to analyze how the coastal society deals with the increasing pressure on livelihood that emerged during and after waterlogging episodes. This research is dependent on empirically gathered data using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A total 210 in-depth interviews from six unions, two unions from each of the three districts were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. In addition, six focus group discussion sessions and six key informant interviews were organized. For statistical analysis of collected data, SPSS was used. The study identifies some critical impacts of waterlogging on livelihood which include physical and mental illness, crop failure and damage, disruption in cropping mechanism, loss of income, and increasing level of debt. The adaptation techniques practiced by the local people have been identified to be short term and insufficient to permanently improve livelihoods in the face of recurrent waterlogging