Sustainable Value Chain Approaches for Vegetable Cultivation in Response to Climate Change: A Study in the Southeastern Coast of Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world adversely affected by climate change. Climate change is now hindering the subsistence of the coastal communities by posing severe threats to agricultural sector and food security. This study analyzes the value chain of vegetables in the coastal area of Bangladesh to combat climate change through adaptation approaches. The authors found that profitability of growing vegetables is much higher than traditional crops in the study areas. In most places, the end market of vegetables is small and is not linked to the national market. Almost all the vegetables produced in the region are consumed locally, and there is a gap in supply, which is filled in by vegetables imported from outside market. Marginal farmers tend to consume around 50% of their produce and large farmers consume up to 5% of their produce. They both tend to sell the vegetables to local retailers which are bought by local consumers. Vegetables imported into these regions tend to be the ones which have very high market demand. The study illustrates that all stakeholders of the value chain should concentrate on competitiveness and productivity and look for and exploit multiple ways to add value once initial success has been attained with a single deal. Strong private sector alliance, along with public private ventures, is needed for ensuring sustainability within the agriculture products value chain for climate change adaptation for the climate hotspot in Bangladesh.