DHAKA : In the climate-vulnerable coastal belt of Bangladesh, a successful initiative in Dumki upazila of Patuakhali district is demonstrating how climate-smart agriculture can help farmers overcome salinity challenges, boost production and strengthen rural resilience.

The intervention, implemented under the Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management Project, has turned previously fallow, saline-affected land into productive cropland, offering a practical example of climate adaptation at the grassroots level, according to Climate Budget Report 2026-27.

The case study from Muradia Union in Dumki upazila highlights the experience of a local farmer whose land remained uncultivated during the Rabi and Boro seasons due to moderate salinity. 

As a result, the framer was able to grow only one crop, transplanted Aman rice, each year.

To address the challenge, the project supplied the farmer with fertilizers and seeds of BRRI Dhan 67, a rice variety developed specifically for coastal regions and capable of tolerating salinity levels of up to 8 ds/m.

The support enabled the farmer to cultivate rice during the Boro season on 50 decimals of land that had previously remained fallow.

The results were encouraging. The farmer harvested about 29 maunds of rice, achieving a yield of 5.6 metric tons per hectare. Of the total production, he sold 20 maunds at Tk 1,360 per maund, earning Tk 27,200. The remaining nine maunds were retained for family consumption, contributing to household food security.

The success of the initiative has enabled a shift from single-crop to double-crop cultivation, reducing vulnerability to climate-related risks and enhancing the resilience of coastal livelihoods.

The experience reflects broader national efforts to strengthen climate resilience through targeted investments in agriculture, water management and adaptation measures.

In the foreword of the Climate Budget Report 2026-27, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury underscored the importance of climate finance in supporting such initiatives.

"Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture where climate vulnerability intersects with the pursuit of sustainable and inclusive development. ... In this context, climate finance is not merely a source of support; it is a key enabler of resilience, innovation, and sustainable development," he said.

In his formal budget speech, the finance minister reiterated the government's commitment to "protecting the nation from the impacts of climate change... by building a sustainable, green, climate-resilient, and livable future for generations to come."

The Dumki experience illustrates how climate-resilient technologies and targeted support can help coastal farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions while improving incomes, food security and long-term sustainability.