Change of Food Habit in Northern Inland Chars in Bangladesh

Author 1 : Rizwanul Hoque Galib Department of Marketing, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur. Email: galibbrur@gmail.com Author 2 : Kanij Fatema Tinni Department of Marketing, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur

Abstract: People of Bangladesh inherit rice dominated food habit. But climate change forces change in diet and eating habit in the Northern parts Inland Chars. Due to environment and other cultivating facilities traditional staple foods are harder to produce here. Inland Char communities are constantly under threat from both socio-economic and ecological disasters resulting huge food insecurity. The lack in smooth transportation system has contributed to this by separating them from mainland. In such scenario, the people of these areas are adapting with this situation in their own way by producing crops those are not so popular. This has brought a change in the main stream food consumption pattern and opens up a new perspective of super micro economy in those areas. This study focuses on how food habits of the people of these areas are changing with climate change. This study will help to disseminate inland char communities coping ability to sustain with the impact of climate change.

 Introduction Climate change is a significant and lasting change in

the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years, most of the times which only can be felt. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change due to its geographical position. Climate change in Bangladesh is an extremely crucial issue and according to National Geographic, Bangladesh ranks first as the nation most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the coming decades. More intense and frequent cyclones, prolonged floods, increased river and coastal erosion, droughts and salinity of farmland are all environmental problems made worse by climate change.

Methodology:
Qualitative method
Discussion tools (Focus Group Discussion, Semi

Structure Interview) Diagramming tools (Seasonal Calendar). Secondary data from different NGOs and Govt. institutions has been used.

Objective of the Study:

Overall study objective is to know about the food habit and vulnerability to climate change in inland chars. Specific objectives of the research were: To learn about the inland char peoples food habit. To know socio economic condition of selected char people. To learn about the affects of climate change in those regions. To estimate how char dwellers can adapt their livelihood to Climate change.

The Study Area: The selected areas were Char Isla in Gangachara upazilla and Char Gonai in Kaonia Upazilla under Rangpur district.

Socioeconomic status of char dwellers

More than half of its people live below the poverty line

(WFP, 2005). 95% of the selected households in the char villages are male headed. (FAP 16/19, 1993). Agriculture is the main occupation in char areas (56.7%). (Halder; BRAC; 2003) A wide variety of livelihood options traditionally existed based on: Asset, knowledge, technology, capacity of the people and institutional support etc.

Effects of Climate Change Char areas:

Rainfall variability.
River bank erosion & flood. Frequent migration Temperature extremes. Salinity crop yields (costal). Natural disasters.

Findings & Recommendations:

Altered main meal with potato, maize, kaun etc.
Fruits can be grown easily. Adequate early warning and disaster risk management

systems should be developed and employed. Crop diversification.

Conclusions: Adaptation options are urgently needed for the reducing Char Dweller's vulnerability, for that change in food habit can be a useful one.

References: Statistical Year Book 2010 Oxfam project proposal Baseline Survey Terms of Reference Bangladesh Beruae of Statistics. Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture. Where the Rain Falls Project Case study: Bangladesh. CARE Bangladesh. Adger WN (2000), Institutional adaptation to environmental risk under the transition in Vietnam. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 90(4), 738-58