A new feature from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) highlights how women in climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh are adapting to environmental change through integrated farming and livelihood diversification.
The story focuses on Khadija Aktar, a farmer from Bagerhat in southwestern coastal Bangladesh, where rising soil salinity, flooding, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events are increasingly disrupting traditional agriculture and livelihoods.
Like many women in the region, Khadija faced persistent poverty and limited economic opportunities. Early marriage and household responsibilities further constrained her ability to earn a stable income. However, her situation began to change after she joined the SWAPNO project, a local initiative supported by UNDP that provides wage employment, training, and livelihood support for women.
Through the programme, she received training in vegetable cultivation, livestock rearing, and fish farming. She later developed an integrated farming system that combines all three activities, helping her reduce financial risk by ensuring that losses in one area can be balanced by income from another.
This diversified approach has provided Khadija with a steady monthly income and improved her household’s financial stability. It has also enabled her to employ local labour during peak farming periods, contributing to job creation within her community.
Beyond economic gains, the increased income has strengthened her role in household decision-making and given her greater confidence in planning for the future. She now hopes to expand her farm and create more employment opportunities for women in her area.
The UNDP highlights Khadija’s experience as an example of how targeted support, skills training, and climate-adaptive farming practices can help vulnerable communities build resilience in the face of worsening environmental conditions.
As climate pressures continue to intensify across coastal Bangladesh, such community-based approaches are increasingly seen as essential for protecting livelihoods and promoting long-term sustainability.
