ICC-B suggests climate-smart farm practices

The International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICC-B) has suggested the government adopt climate-smart agricultural practices to improve the resilience and sustainability of the agriculture sector.

The chamber made the recommendation in the July-September issue of its quarterly news bulletin, where it discussed the threat of climate change to global food security and agricultural productivity.

The bulletin cites various reports and studies that show how climate change is reducing crop yields, nutritional quality and livestock performance, highlighting the need for more investment in adaptation measures.

These measures are particularly important in the agriculture sector, which is very vulnerable to climate change, it said.

"Agriculture is highly sensitive to temperature changes and extreme weather events, so even a limited temperature rise (1.5°C) will have a big impact," it said, adding that the agriculture sector is one of the key economic pillars of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's agriculture sector accounts for 11.50 percent of its GDP and employs 41 percent of the population.

ICC-B said Bangladesh is responsible for only 0.4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is insignificant compared to other mega-industrial economies.

"But Bangladesh is high on the list of countries most vulnerable to climate change. High population density, poverty and reliance on climate-sensitive sectors for water and food security, particularly water resources, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, increase its vulnerability to climate change," it said.

The World Bank 2020 report states that nearly 690 million people are hungry, up by nearly 60 million in five years, while the ADB states that climate change is already impacting agriculture and food production in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.

The editorial also refers to a recent study by Standard Chartered Bank, which shows that by investing $1.2 billion in adaptation by 2030, Bangladesh could prevent projected damages and loss of GDP growth amounting to $11.6 billion.

The bulletin called for more action and cooperation from all stakeholders to tackle the climate crisis and ensure food security for all.