Rajshahi farmers are harvesting their paddy amid satisfactory yield BSS

The voices of world leaders are always heard everywhere -- from the UN to OP26. Can poor farmers make their way to that stage? Hardly!    

But the poorest small-scale farmers of Bangladesh spoke at the COP26 about the projects and practices that are helping them adapt, thanks to IFAD for arranging a virtual visit to Bangladesh, enabling them to speak up.

The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has highlighted the impact of climate change on small-scale farmers at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change currently underway in Glasgow, UK, through the virtual visit to Bangladesh.

The small-scale farmers, who produce 70-80% of Bangladesh’s food, are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – and, ironically, contribute to it the least.

“Bangladesh contributes less than 0.47% of global emissions, yet it is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in her statement at the Leaders’ Meeting on Action and Solidarity–The Critical Decade at COP26.

It is also a leader in climate action, offering several examples of how poor rural communities can adapt to the impacts of climate change, build resilience and restore livelihoods.

Accompanied by documentary filmmaker Qasa Alom, the audience virtually met and interacted with farmers participating in IFAD-supported projects, to discuss their climate challenges and how they and their rural communities are adapting.

IFAD’s experience in Bangladesh over 40 years shows how climate-sensitive agricultural techniques and approaches can have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of local populations.

Two examples are the Haor Infrastructure and Livelihood Improvement Project-Climate Adaptation and Livelihood Protection project (HILIP-CALIP) and the Promoting Agricultural Commercialization and Enterprises project where IFAD is working with the government and other key partners to ensure that rural populations have all the tools and infrastructure they need to create profitable and sustainable livelihoods, despite the threat of cyclones, droughts, soil erosion and rising water levels.

“While progress is being made, the government of Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh need more financial and technical support to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” said Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President at IFAD on Wednesday.

“Successful projects really need to be scaled up, and that’s why the discussions at COP26 are so important. I’m confident that if we all come together and do provide the finance necessary, we will be able to have a successful response to climate change in countries like Bangladesh,” he added.

In Sunamganj hoar district, participants spoke about how frequent and prolonged flooding would sweep away their homes and cattle, and how it cut off mobility.

Source from: UNB(2021). Voices of Bangladesh’s poor farmers resonate at COP26. Retrieve from: Dhaka Tribune(November 4th, 2021). https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/11/04/voices-of-bangladesh-s-poor-farmers-resonate-at-cop26