Climate Smart Disaster Risk Reduction: Indigenous Knowledge Practiced for Agriculture Sector in Coastal Bangladesh

The coastal region of Bangladesh is highly exposed to climate-related natural disasters, with communities facing various hazards almost every year. Over generations, people in these areas have developed local or indigenous knowledge to adapt to their environment and reduce disaster impacts. This study focuses on identify, analyze, improve, and document indigenous knowledge that enhance resilience in the agriculture sector of Dashmina Upazila, Patuakhali District-one of the disaster-prone coastal regions. A mixed-method approach was used to collect data. Fifteen Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 6–10 participants each explored community knowledge about agriculture. These were followed by 20 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with individuals such as social leaders, NGO workers, and community representatives to validate and expand on the FGDs’ findings. Additional data were gathered through direct observations using transect walks, five detailed case studies, and a review of secondary sources such as reports, articles, and research papers. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 for creating tables and summarizing information, while qualitative insights were described narratively. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis was used to evaluate the indigenous practices. The study identified several effective traditional practices, including crop selection based on weather observation, raised farming land, planting fruit trees on house plinths, arum cultivation in lowlands, ridge-furrow farming for hydrophobic plants, seed preservation in mud pitchers, and livestock management strategies like using raised platforms (Killa) and jute sack covers. These practices offer low-cost, practical solutions that improve agricultural resilience. The study recommends integrating such knowledge into disaster risk reduction and development planning.