ICT for Climate Action in an agrarian community Oxfam in Bangladesh Gobeshona Seminar, May 2017 26 May 2017

Climate Vulnerabilities of Bangladesh Frequency and intensity of extreme weather event increased Changes in seasons Erratic rainfall Climate Change reduces rice production in Bangladesh by an average 3.9 % each year

Agriculture and Agrarian Community in Bangladesh 30 agro-ecological zones Paddy is the main crop 61.2% arable land under cultivation 56% of agricultural land is irrigated 20% surface water supply 80% from groundwater 80% people directly or indirectly dependents on agriculture 65% of total population is engaged in agriculture activities 71.5% population of women is engaged in agriculture and related activities Women accounted for 45.6% of total employment in agriculture

Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture Cyclone intensity and frequency have been increased Salinity intuition in the cropland Changes in seasonal calendar Rainfall erratic Village Atulia of Shyamnagar District New crops introduced Shift from agronomy to fisheries Climate resilient crop varieties

Rights and Entitlements Resilience through Economic Empowerment, Climate Adaptation, Leadership and Learning (REE-CALL) Economic Empowerment DRR, CCA Women Leadership Rights and Entitlements

Participatory Research and Ownership with Technology, Information and Change (PROTIC) SMS/ OBD/ Call Center APPs

Knowledge of Farmers on adaptive agriculture Community in a participatory rapid assessment found that 25% of them has lack of knowledge on current crops in field. Only 16% of the young people know the Khanar Bachon. Many crops are introduced to cope with climate change; where community knowledge was Zero, Paddy cultivation is not only a farming, it has social and cultural values; shifting from paddy is not welcomed by community.

Access to Agriculture Information 0.5 km Cattle to grazing Grass for cattle 10 min walk Crop field Fual wood 2 km Child to school 1.5 km Cattle bring back Meetings 1km Bathing 15 min walk Roaming Stay home

Knowledge Hub PROTIC RESEARCERS ICT Extension workers Addition for PROTIC Existing Contents Existing APPs New Expert Content New APPs New Content from Community Universities and other Experts Baseline Women farmers Extension workers Learning PROTIC RESEARCERS

Knowledge Hub SMS, Outbound Dial (OBD), Apps and Call Centre services on agriculture, agro meteorology, and early warning system

Agricultural Information need Call center data of 1 year says: Pesticide 45% Fertilizer 22%

Information Ecology Develop and implement an interactive mobile phone information system and responsive community ‘hub’ in Bangladesh, for isolated communities in sand islands (char) and coastal communities as a model for further uptake; engage village communities, local NGOs, universities in Bangladesh, Oxfam and Monash University in Participatory Action Research (PAR).

Digital content development on adaptive agriculture Need assessment Draft text Text review SMS draft Field test PCVA Expert feedback Technically Okay Community understand There is no regulatory body for digital content Lack of documents on adaptation practices

Community Facebook Group Sharing their problems in the Facebook pages and groups Share real life crisis No status without picture Few comments Help identify the issues on which digital content needs to developed

App(s) Too many Apps App for every solution Only 35% of apps in mobile are being used Off-line Apps are more popular Government has project for 500 apps

? Agro-meteorology Advisory service Too many varieties Homestead crop Adaptation practices area new It worked for potato blight but not for the rice blast ?

Challenges in Developing Digital Content Lack of information Risk of modification Language barrier Regulatory Expectation to technology

Resilience Intervention: REE-CALL and PROTIC Access to Market Information Livelihood Diversification Technology Economic Empowerment DRR & CCA Women Leadership Rights and Entitlements Access to Information Community stereotype Network Reduce Care Work Early warning Climate change prediction Preparedness Recovery Know the policy Information on social safety net Legal aid

Agro-ecological zones and digital content Local Crop Calendar Local varieties Centerline crossed middle of the country Too many diversity; 21 Spp of crop in an union

Resilience Baseline: 18 2015: 30 2016: 37

Recommendations Meaning of the digital content to the end user; Ecosystem based Adaptation and Community based Knowledge Hub management are the key essentials for making the mobile phone - relevant, trusted, reliable, comprehensive and accurate for interactive and information on time.

Thank you