Program Overview

Much of Bangladesh is flooded every year. To a large extent, the agriculture system has adapted to this normal flooding. However, early floods in May to June, more than normal peak floods in July to August, and late floods extending up to September have severely limited the food crop production potential. Such damaging floods occurred during 1974, 1987, 1988, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004. Due to the 1998 flood, 10 to 20% of the total food crop production was lost. As Bangladesh is experiencing food shortage, the large reduction in food crop production due to severe floods further threatens the food security of the country.

Recurring natural hazards - the floods in particular - undermine the development efforts of Bangladesh and aggravate poverty. Recent studies of coping mechanisms of poor households in the event of natural hazards indicate that individual coping responses have limited effectiveness and may have come at a cost of long- term livelihood potential. Examples include widespread disinvestments in livestock and borrowing in order to meet household food needs. These responses often lead to debt trap. One of the major opportunities to manage the risk of natural disasters in Bangladesh is the proactive decision making to manage the assets and resources of the poorest of the poor through reliable, easily understandable, and long lead climate and flood forecasts.