This document summarizes a poster presentation on homestead farming systems (HFS) in coastal Bangladesh. The summary includes: - HFS is a locally adapted system that increases resilience to climate change impacts like salinity rise and crop damage. It integrates crops, aquaculture, livestock, and trees. - A study of 480 households found HFS enhances income and dietary diversity compared to other systems. HFS households had 39% higher average income and met more of their nutritional needs. - HFS supports over 50 species and year-round production. Its biodiversity helps mitigate climate risks and boost the rural economy.

1. A POSTER IN DHAKA METRO
Family Farmers world wide can play a crucial role in ending hunger: UN
Ban Ki-moon
• Family Farmers are key to unlocking global progress
• Preserve natural resources and agro biodiversity
• Cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable agriculture and food
system

2. Homestead farming:
A bio-diversified system to enhance resiliency in
the era of climate vulnerability
Jitendra Kumar Sundaray
A. Bhattacharya, A G Ponniah, T K Ghoshal, A. D Deo, J P Sharma, M Phillips1
ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, India
1 Worldfish Penang, Malaysia

3. Outline of the presentation
• Background
– Current challenges
– Profound impact of climate change in Agriculture
– Locally adapted mitigating measure
– Advantage of HFS over other farming system
• Research objective and methodology
• Result & Discussion
– Impact of climate change on livelihood
– Feature of HFS
– Seasonal calendar of HFS
– Biodiversity in HFS
– Impact of Biodiversity on rural economy
– HFS and Food Security
• Way forward
• Conclusion & Recommendation

4. Current challenges
Tidal surges & Coastal erosion: Inundation of land
High Salinity: Average salinity reached up to 10 PPT
Disease infection: Vast spreading of water borne diseases
Low agricultural productivity: An average of 2.3 ton/ha
(District Statistical Handbook, 2009)
Poverty
Food & nutrition insecurity

5. Profound impact of climate change
Non-access of healthy & sufficient food
Reduce crop yield
54% malnourished children
39% lower paddy production
against national average
Changes in water quality
58% HH unable to access safe
drinking water
Erosion of beaches
47.5% households are landless

6. Traditional farming system containing high level of species diversity
& practiced since long back in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nigeria etc.
HFS
Resource
rich
Small
scale
Bio-
diversified
Integrated
system
Increase
productivity
Resource
recycling
Locally adapted mitigating measure
Financial
solvency
Food &
nutrition
security

7. Particulars
Homestead
farming System
Other farming
System
Advantage of HFS over other farming system

8. To assess the extent of HFS in providing resiliency
against the current challenges due to climate
vulnerability.
Research Objective & Methodology
Selection of study area (depending
on the need of the study)
Collection of secondary data (from
local level govt. bodies)
Selection of farmers through
randomization
Interviewing the farmers
(480 households)
Methodology
Objective

9. 9
Study area
India
West Bengal
South 24 Pargana
Kakdwip
Namkhana
Sagar
North 24 Pargana

11. Soil erosion &
inundation of
land with saline
water reached
salinity up to 25
ppt
Agricultural
land is reduced
by 21% with
low
productivity
(2.3 ton/ha)
Small &
marginal
farmers
contribute 99%
household
Practice of
seasonal
migration.
Engagement of
agriculture &
related
activities is
reduced by 17%
Non-
agricultural
activities
involve 67%
households
Impact of climate change on livelihood

12. Soil salinization
(N 210 45.258'
E 880 16.520’)
Engagement in
non-agricultural
activities
Pictorial view of challenges
Low production
Crop damage

13. Features of homestead farms
Horticulture/
Agroforestry
(37% land)
Aquaculture
Animal
husbandry
(13% land)Homestead
Farming
System
Food,
Spices, Timber,
Fodder, FuelFish
Poultry &
Dairy
products
• Average homestead land area is 0.1 ha.
• All components together enriched biodiversity of the system.
(50% land)

14. Fish culture
Cultivation of
perennial crops
Livestock &
poultry rearing
Cultivation of
winter veg.
Cultivation of
summer veg.
Stocking of fish
Seasonal calendar of HFS activities
HFS provides diversified products through year round activities

15. Biodiversity in HFS
Components Economic products % of total species of
each component
Crops
(Horticulture/
agro-forestry)
Food items
(vegetable and fruit)
76
Spices 12
Timber 10
Medicinal 12
Fodder/Firewood 5
Others (Ornamental, cash
crops etc.)
5
Aquaculture Fish 92
Shrimp/Prawn 8
Animal
husbandry
Poultry products 40
Livestock products (meat) 60
The greater crop diversity and mixed farming offer a considerable
protection against farming risk due to climatic changes

16. Species composition in HFS (dominant sps.)
All together 42 crop species, 38 aquaculture species and 5 animal
species were encountered in HFS

17. Locally-adapted species
are highly resistant to
adverse conditions
Short duration
diversified crops provide
benefits within few
month
Resource
integration enhance
farm processes
Increase
productivity
HFS resulted 39%
enhancement of the
gross income of the
national average of BPL
households.
Impact of biodiversity on rural economy
Income
increased

18. Relation of HFS with food & nutrition security
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Energy Protein Fat
%ofrequirednutrition
Animal
husbandry
Horticulture
Aquaculture
Total production in HFS
Marketing 27%
Consumption 73%
Species
diversity
supports
dietary
diversity and
nutritional
security
Nutrition intake from HFS
The products also contain high value of micronutrients such as
vitamins & minerals which reduce the risk of a long list of ailments.

19. Way forward
Practice farming of more salt tolerant and climate resilient
crops like fish species, Pacu, fruit varieties like banana,
guava, sapotta etc.
Culture of brackishwater species in homestead pond such as
Scatophagus argus (spotted scat), Etroplus suratensis (pearl
spot), Mystus gulio (Tangra) etc.
Integration of more resources with innovative technology
Enhance the practice of betel vine which plays as a buffer
against economical loss & short-term coping measure which
give long-term relieve to the farmers.

20. Conclusion
This diversified system has enormous
potential to enhance the resilience in the
nutritional & the economic insecurity of
rural poor.
7/1/2014 CPWF WORKSHOP 20

21. Recommendation
Institutional assistance: Provide quality input in subsidised
rate to the farmers & make a proper marketing channel
Govt. Policy: Required for formation of synergy between
the indigenous and modern technologies for effective
implementation in the farmers’ field
Recognition: As an organised farming system for
micro/macro financial support
Need : Skill and awareness development on HFS and
connectivity among all stakeholders
Integration: Program taken by UN and MSSRF, India for
family farming

22. Homestead farming ensure
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