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Impact of cyclones on rice farming

Table 7. Determinants of Cyclone Bulbul‑induced relative financial loss
Variables Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4 Model 5
(loss from rice (loss from fish (loss from vegetable (loss from other (total loss)
cultivation) cultivation) cultivation) crop cultivation)
Occupation (agriculture=1, 0.112** 0.00851 0.0264** 0.0394*** 0.167**
otherwise=0) (0.0444) (0.0176) (0.0116) (0.0133) (0.0682)
Age (years) 0.00378*** 0.00115** 0.000235 −0.000161 0.00491***
(0.00113) (0.000564) (0.000216) (0.000326) (0.00182)
Gender (male=1, female=0) −0.0272 −0.0285*** −0.00824 −0.00919 −0.0791**
(0.0306) (0.00830) (0.00549) (0.00966) (0.0382)
Education (years of 0.00313 0.00172 −0.00163 −0.00417*** 0.00328
schooling) (0.00666) (0.00187) (0.00113) (0.00158) (0.00963)
Household size −0.0212*** 0.00146 −0.00227*** −0.00169 −0.0249**
(number of members) (0.00675) (0.00677) (0.000752) (0.00147) (0.0122)
Constant 0.0910 0.0102 0.0299*** 0.0717*** 0.210*
(0.0719) (0.0475) (0.00768) (0.0203) (0.108)
Number of observations 400 400 400 400 400
R 2 0.051 0.014 0.029 0.046 0.044
Note: Robust standard errors are reported in parentheses. *p<0.10, **p<0.05, ***p<0.01.

effects were substantially undermined during cyclone crop varieties, and reinforced physical defenses against
seasons. These findings suggest that the input-output storm surges could mitigate future risks. Moreover,
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relationship becomes unstable under extreme weather adaptive strategies at the household level, such as
conditions, a pattern consistent with prior studies that savings or access to credit, may play a role in financial
note how climatic shocks disrupt otherwise predictable resilience. Households with varied income sources
production dynamics. A notable finding is the financial exhibited better post-disaster outcomes. The study
3
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vulnerability of households reliant solely on agriculture. also offers a practical and evidence-based framework
Such households reported higher relative financial for assessing disaster impacts on agriculture in other
losses, especially in rice cultivation. This supports coastal regions with similar exposure to climate risks.
earlier research, including that of Blanc and colleagues, While the study provides valuable insights, certain
who emphasize the importance of income diversification limitations must be acknowledged. While the study
in enhancing rural resilience to environmental shocks. adapts the Cobb-Douglas model to assess cyclone
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Furthermore, the negative correlation between impacts under specific conditions, the model may not
household size and financial losses suggests that larger fully capture the complexity of post-cyclone effects,
households may mitigate economic risks through such as prolonged soil salinity, structural crop damage,
collective labor contributions or diversified income and household-level adaptive strategies. The panel
sources, as noted in the broader disaster resilience data are limited to three time points within a single
literature. Post-cyclone effects also reveal lingering agricultural season, limiting the analysis of long-term
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impacts, as seen in the sustained reduction in rice output effects. Finally, the exclusive focus on rice production,
beyond the cyclone periods. These may be attributed while appropriate for this study, does not allow
to persistent soil salinity and structural crop damage, generalization to other crops or sectors.
which inhibits full recovery within a single agricultural
cycle—a phenomenon well-documented in studies of 6. Conclusion
salinity-affected coastal agriculture. 17,37
This study contributes to the broader discourse on This study makes an important contribution to the
climate change adaptation, highlighting the critical need quantification of cyclone-induced agricultural damage
for tailored intervention strategies that address both the by estimating the impact of Cyclones Amphan and
immediate and residual impacts of cyclones. Enhancing Bulbul on rice production in the coastal districts of
community resilience through diversified income Khulna and Satkhira in Bangladesh. Using a unique
sources, improved agricultural practices for salt-tolerant dataset collected from cyclone-affected farmers and

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 51 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025100063