Understanding the Role of Traditional Agricultural Knowledge in a Changing World Climate: The Case of Bandarban Region

Abstract

The study demonstrates the indigenous farming techniques, which crops they are cultivating, the impact of a changing climate on their farming system, and how they manage their cope-up strategy with the changing climate by using traditional knowledge they have used for years. This study tries to address the relevance of indigenous knowledge systems to enhance the resilience of the agriculture system to combat climate change. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews, key informants’ interviews, and focus group discussions. A systematic random sampling technique was used to collect data from 50 respondents (representing 15% of the community). A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared for the primary data collection process. A qualitative data analysis method was applied to evaluate the findings of this research. The result of this research indicates that by prioritizing indigenous agricultural practices in study areas, local communities are getting a chance to offer their cultivation systems in a more climate-smart way. In coping with the adverse effects of climate change like heavy rain, drought, and excessive winter, the ethnic agrarian community has been managing an effective sustainable agriculture system, which gives us the direction to implement this kind of traditional knowledge all over the countryside for a resilient agrarian society. Hence, the study recommends paying more attention to developing and encouraging the effectiveness of the current practices and adjusting the "where”, “when”, and “how" to apply the recommended practices and avoid the unsuitable ones by following the enhanced resilience of local agrarian people.