Linking climate change perceptions, adaptive strategies, and food insecurity: evidence from southwest coastal Bangladesh

Climate change poses a significant challenge for rice farmers in the southwestern coastal regions of Bangladesh, exacerbating food insecurity. This study investigates the relationship between climate change, food security, and the role of adaptive strategies among rice farmers in Koyra, Dakope, and Paikgacha – three Upazilas in the Khulna region. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 843 rice farmers and analysed using descriptive statistics, student <i>t</i>-tests, one-way ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. Results showed that 25% of farmers in Koyra, 17% in Dakope, and 13% in Paikgacha experienced extreme food insecurity. Koyra and Dakope reported higher levels of food insecurity compared to Paikgacha. Adaptive strategies accounted for the largest variance (15.8%) in food insecurity, while coastal floods (3.8%), agroforestry…