How Community Enterprise Approach can build climate resilience in Bangladesh

Aquaculture not only addresses food security and climate resilience but also provides a sustainable livelihood for vulnerable communities. Photo: TBS

angladesh ranks 7th among countries most affected by climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021 by Germanwatch. From 2000 to 2019, climate-induced disasters have caused significant economic and social disruptions. 

The number of internal climate migrants may reach 19.9 million by 2050, comprising half of those in the entire South Asian region. The current rate of annual loss to gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately 1.3 percent due to climate-induced disasters may rise to 2 percent by 2050 and over 9 percent by 2100 under extreme scenarios. 

The key risks and vulnerabilities of climate change will pose disproportionate and severe impacts on Bangladesh's resources, water and food security, infrastructure, livelihoods, ecosystem, health, and biodiversity. 

Amid these challenges, floodplain aquaculture emerges as a beacon of hope. This innovative model not only addresses food security and climate resilience but also provides a sustainable livelihood for vulnerable communities. By transforming underutilised natural resources into productive assets, floodplain aquaculture has the potential to mitigate climate impacts while advancing socio-economic development.

Climate challenges in Bangladesh
Spanning 147,570 square kilometres, Bangladesh's terrain is predominantly composed of floodplains, making it highly susceptible to flooding. Annually, over 60% of the country can experience floods, exacerbating the vulnerability of agricultural lands and livelihoods. 

Most of these floodplains are composed of private lands, owned by different owners that are mainly used for agricultural purposes during dry seasons, while livelihood activities in the rainy season are confined to limited capture fisheries when many farming households suffer great hardship. 

These natural resources have lost their productivity due to overexploitation, indiscriminate use of pesticides, pollution, and climate change. However, most of the floodplains during the rainy seasons remain underutilised and ungoverned due to high transaction costs for coordination, limited information, and the capacity gap for investment-based resource development. 

In absence of livelihood opportunities, many opted for seasonal migration to urban areas and sometimes became victims of human trafficking. 

Due to climate change, more agricultural areas would be flooded in the near future, which would disrupt existing agriculture practices and livelihoods, and create more climate-induced migrants and victims of trafficking.

The impact of climate change compounds these issues. Increased flooding disrupts existing agricultural practices, forcing many farming households to migrate to urban areas in search of work. This seasonal migration often leads to socio-economic vulnerabilities, including exposure to human trafficking. If left unaddressed, climate-induced displacement will only intensify, further destabilising rural livelihoods.

The case for floodplain aquaculture
Rice dominates Bangladesh's agricultural landscape, covering 80% of cultivable land and serving as the staple food crop. However, rice cultivation is also a significant source of methane (CH₄) emissions, contributing to climate challenges alongside high-density aquaculture systems, which occupy around 0.5 million hectares and are notable emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

In contrast, Bangladesh's 2.8 million hectares of floodplains remain underutilised but offer immense potential as renewable resources. These floodplains contribute minimally to fish production yet hold the promise of transformative benefits if managed sustainably. 

Research indicates that bringing just 25% of these areas under community management could positively impact approximately 6.7 million people, including 2.7 million landless individuals.

Floodplain aquaculture offers multiple advantages. It can reduce pesticide use, improve rice yields through the natural fertilising effects of fish, and provide higher earnings for farmers. By integrating agriculture with aquaculture in these floodplains, Bangladesh can simultaneously boost rice and fish production while enhancing carbon sequestration, reducing emissions, and replenishing soil carbon—paving the way for sustainable agricultural practices.

The Community Enterprise Approach
The Community Enterprise Approach (CEA), pioneered by SHISUK, exemplifies how floodplain aquaculture can be effectively managed. Launched in 1997, this approach transforms neglected floodplains into thriving ecosystems by aligning individual interests with community goals. Under the model, local households collectively invest in eco-friendly infrastructure and become stakeholders in the initiative.

The CEA focuses on boosting productivity through regenerative agricultural practices while lowering carbon emissions. By enhancing soil and water management and minimising the use of harmful chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides, particularly in rice cultivation, this model prioritises sustainability. 

The approach has proven effective in generating diverse employment opportunities, increasing nutritional intake, fostering improved gender relations, and promoting holistic community development. Moreover, it aligns with Bangladesh's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), showcasing its potential for broader adoption on a national scale.  

Despite challenges like elite capture and the environmental impact of private enclosures, the Community Enterprise Approach to Floodplain Management (CEAFM) remains a robust solution. Its emphasis on community ownership ensures that floodplain management stays within the hands of local users, fostering equitable resource distribution and sustainable development. By empowering local communities, CEAFM exemplifies a scalable, people-centred model for sustainable resource use. 

Economic and social benefits
The Daudkandi model, a flagship initiative under the CEA framework, underscores the transformative power of community-driven development. 

By leveraging local resources, fostering social networks, and engaging communities actively, the Community Enterprise Approach to Floodplain Management (CEAFM) has delivered transformative economic and social benefits. These include enhanced productivity, increased income and employment in the fishing sector, reduced agricultural costs, and a strong emphasis on agro-ecological sustainability. 

This model addresses poverty while simultaneously promoting sustainable agriculture, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and conserving environmental resources.

The "Eco-Friendly Management of Floodplains" initiative aligns seamlessly with both national and global goals for sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. Its focus on collective governance not only strengthens local resilience but also inspires neighbouring communities, paving the way for regional adoption and transformation. 

With sustained political backing, CEAFM could emerge as a flagship model for climate resilience and sustainable development in flood-prone, low-income regions.

Beyond environmental and economic gains, the model tackles pressing social issues, such as forced migration and displacement. By creating local job opportunities, empowering women, and fostering social cohesion, CEAFM provides holistic solutions to the challenges faced by vulnerable communities. 

Scaling up the Daudkandi model to more floodplains could expand nature-based solutions, advance sustainable land and water management, and encourage low-carbon development—offering significant contributions to global climate action.

In the face of escalating climate challenges, floodplain aquaculture offers a sustainable pathway for Bangladesh. By transforming underutilised floodplains into productive resources, the Community Enterprise Approach not only enhances food security and livelihoods but also builds resilience against climate change.

The Daudkandi model demonstrates how local empowerment and ecological solutions can drive transformative change. As Bangladesh continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, embracing innovative models like floodplain aquaculture could pave the way for a sustainable and resilient future.

Sakiul Millat Morshed is an entrepreneur & CEA leader who is representing Bangladesh in COP 29 in Baku,Azerbaijan. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.