Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world due to its geographical location, dense population, and climatic conditions. Among the various natural disasters,

cyclones and floods are the most frequent and devastating. These calamities not only cause loss of lives and infrastructure but also have a severe impact on agriculture, which is the backbone of the country’s economy. Agriculture provides employment to nearly 40% of the labour force and contributes around 13% to the national GDP. Therefore, the repeated destruction caused by floods and cyclones poses a serious threat to food security, rural livelihoods, and national development.
This article explores the impact of cyclones and floods on agriculture in Bangladesh, analysing the causes, immediate and long-term effects,and the strategies needed to mitigate these adverse consequences.

Geographical and Climatic Context

Bangladesh is situated in the delta of three major rivers —the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and

Meghna — which makesit highly susceptible to riverine floods.The country also lies along the Bay of Bengal, which is a hotspot for tropical cyclones, especially during the pre-monsoon

(April–May) and post-monsoon (October–November) seasons. The low-lyingtopography of Bangladesh means that a significant portion of the land is barely above sea level, making it vulnerable to storm surges and tidal floods.

Cyclones: Nature and Agricultural Impact

Cyclones are powerful storms that often bring with them high-speed winds, torrential rainfall, and storm surges.In Bangladesh, cyclonessuch as Sidr (2007), Aila (2009), Amphan(2020), and Mocha (2023) have left behind trails of destruction.

Crop Damage: Cyclones flatten standing crops such as rice, jute, and vegetables. The saltwater intrusion from storm surges makes agricultural land saline, rendering it unfit for cultivation for months or even years.

LivestockLoss: High winds and floodskill livestock and poultry, which are crucialsources of income for rural households.

Infrastructure Destruction: Cyclones destroyirrigation systems, seedbeds, storage facilities, and rural roads, further disrupting agricultural activities.

Soil Degradation: Thesalinisation of soil and erosionof fertile topsoilreduce long-term agricultural productivity.

Floods: Types and Agricultural Impact

Floods in Bangladesh are typically of four types — river floods, flash floods, tidal floods, and urban floods. While some floodingis beneficial for agriculture by replenishing soil fertility and providing irrigation, excessive or unseasonal flooding is highly damaging.

Loss of Crops:Prolonged flooding during the Aman or Boro season can submerge fieldsfor weeks, destroying rice and other seasonal crops.

Delayed Planting: Unseasonal floods delay the sowing of seeds and transplanting of seedlings, thereby reducing yield.

Fishery Damage: Floods wash away fish farms and destroy hatcheries, affecting aquaculture, a significant part of the rural economy.

Pest and DiseaseOutbreaks: Stagnant water creates breedinggrounds for pests and fungal diseases that affect crops.

Economic Consequences

The financial losses due to cyclones and floods in the agricultural sector are staggering. A single major cyclone or flood can lead to billions of taka in damages. For instance, Cyclone Amphan in 2020 caused over Tk 13 billion in damage to the agriculture sector alone.

Food Insecurity: Reduced agricultural output leads to higher food prices and food shortages, affecting both urban and rural populations.

Rural Poverty: Most small and marginal farmers do not have crop insurance. When they lose crops, they also lose their income source, often plunging them into debt.

Migration: In search of livelihoods, many rural families migrate to cities, adding to urban poverty and slum growth.

Government and Institutional Response

The Government of Bangladesh, along with international donors and NGOs, has taken several steps to reduce the impact of natural disasters on agriculture:

Early Warning Systems: Improved weather forecasting and dissemination of cyclone and flood warnings help farmers take preventive measures.

ResilientCrop Varieties: Research institutions have developedsalt-tolerant and flood-resistant rice varieties, such as BRRI dhan51 and BRRI dhan52.

Relief and Rehabilitation: Emergency relief, seed distribution, and cash assistance are provided to affected farmers.

Infrastructure Development: Construction of cyclone shelters,embankments, and flood- control drainage systems help protect agricultural land.

Challenges in Mitigation

Despite these efforts, severalchallenges remain:

Inadequate Insurance: Crop insurance coverage is very limitedin Bangladesh, leavingfarmers vulnerable.

Fragmented Land Holdings:Small and scatteredplots make it difficult to implement large- scale preventive measures.

Limited Accessto Finance: Many farmers lack access to affordable creditfor rehabilitation.

Climate Change: Rising sea levels and increasing cycloneintensity due to global warming make future disasters even more unpredictable.

Opportunities for Sustainable Solutions

Bangladesh must adopt a long-term, integrated approach to make agriculture more resilient to floods and cyclones.

Climate-Smart Agriculture: Techniques such as raised seedbeds, floatinggardens, and rainwater harvesting can minimise flood damage.

Strengthening Cooperatives: Farmer cooperatives can providebetter access to credit, seeds, and shared equipment.

Digitisation and Mobile Technology: Mobile-based weatheralerts, market information, and financial services can empower farmers.

Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborations betweenthe government, privatesector, and NGOs can accelerate innovation and implementation.

CapacityBuilding: Training and awareness programsfor farmers on disaster preparedness and response are essential.

Cyclones and floods are unavoidable realitiesfor Bangladesh, but their impacton agriculture can be reduced with proper planning and resilience-building measures. Agriculture must be made climate-resilient throughthe use of technology, infrastructure, and inclusive policies. Protecting the livelihoods of millions of farmers is not only a matter of economic stability but also of national food security and social equity.In the face of an uncertain climatefuture, proactive adaptation is the only sustainable path forward.

By investing in adaptive agriculture, Bangladesh can not only safeguard its food systemsbut also set an example for other climate-vulnerable countries striving to protect their most essential economic sector.