Driving climate resilience through locally-led adaptation supported by data-driven local level agricultural planning
By Tausif Ahmed Qurashi, BRAC, Bangladesh, and Md. Abdus Salam, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bangladesh
Bangladesh faces multifaceted climate challenges, including rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion, increasing temperatures, and erratic rainfall patterns. These factors, compounded by frequent climate-induced disasters, threaten food security, with potential crop yield declines of up to 30%. This risk is underscored by the UN World Food Program’s report, which highlights that approximately 25% of the population, largely in disaster-prone districts of Bangladesh, remains food insecure. The challenge is further intensified by 455,000 hectares of fallow land, whose cultivation is hindered by limited access to stress-tolerant technologies, irrigation, and effective extension services.
To address these pressing challenges, BRAC—a Bangladesh-based international organization renowned for its integrated development approach—has implemented innovative programs to enhance the adaptive capacities of vulnerable communities. Through its climate change program, BRAC has reached over 36,964 agricultural households and established climate-resilient farms in at-risk districts. Central to these efforts is the Adaptation Clinic model, a one-stop agricultural service center that serves over 50,000 households by providing stress-tolerant crop varieties, training, and resources to build agricultural resilience.
The Adaptation Clinic model stands out for its holistic approach. It combines locally led adaptation strategies with science-driven technologies, ensuring community acceptance and long-term sustainability. The process begins with profiling farmers at the local level, assessing their vulnerability, agro-ecological conditions, and market demands. With this information, participatory, year-round climate-adaptive agricultural plans are developed with inputs from farmers, government officers, local leaders, and sectoral stakeholders. Farmers are then trained in climate-adaptive and regenerative agriculture and provided with resources like seeds, bio-pesticides, rental machinery services, and soil-testing facilities.
BRAC’s commitment to creating open and inclusive community spaces is reflected in its co-creation approach, making Adaptation Clinics accessible and participatory. Farmer groups, trained and equipped as change agents, help transform agricultural practices in their regions.
In its mission to strengthen the Adaptation Clinic model, BRAC has partnered with BISA-led ACASA to leverage its cutting-edge climate data platform. This collaboration enables Upazila (sub-district) level data analysis and mapping, providing precise insights for planning and decision-making. The ACASA platform is instrumental in training officials and stakeholders on its application, ensuring the integration of data-driven solutions into local adaptation strategies.
Together, BRAC, BARC, and ACASA aim to create informed, localized agricultural adaptation plans that align with broader Upazila development strategies. This alignment will streamline efforts to bolster the resilience of farming communities, enhance productivity, and mitigate climate risks.
The synergy between BRAC’s grassroots outreach and ACASA’s scientific insights exemplifies the potential of collaborative, data-driven approaches to climate adaptation. By empowering communities and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships, this initiative not only strengthens resilience in Bangladesh’s agricultural sector but also serves as a scalable model for other climate-vulnerable regions. Through the Adaptation Clinic model, BRAC and ACASA are creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods and food security in the face of evolving climate challenges.