Only 17% of small-scale farmers in Bangladesh have access to institutional finance, leaving the majority trapped in costly informal debt cycles as climate shocks intensify; experts opined at a roundtable held Tuesday at The Business Standard Conference Room.

The discussion, titled “COP-30: Challenges and Expectations for Small-scale Farmers and Fishers,” highlighted the mounting financial and environmental pressures on farmers, who contribute 12.9% to GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and sustain 16 million rural families.

Farmers’ Organizations (FOs) Leaders across the country with the govt. officials, CSO representatives have gathered to collect feedback on improving the implementation of NAP (National Adaptation Plan) and NDC (National Determined Contribution), focusing on COP-30.

Apart they called for effective participation in national policy-making tables, emphasis on indigenous knowledge & practices and ensure their inclusion in climate finance and adaptation programming.

Distinguished speakers including Gawher Nayeem Wahra from Disaster Forum; Md Shamsuddoha from CPRD Sazedur Rahman, Director-Blue Economy from Department of Fisheries (DoF); Md. Amirul Islam from AFA; Dr. Md. Younus Ali from SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC); Harjeet Singh from Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative; Mohsin Ali from Wave Foundation; Rowshon Jahan Moni from ALRD; Dr. Radheshyam Sarker, former Deputy Director from DAE; Md. Obydul Haque from SBKS; A.K.M. Rokhsanul Islam Leon from Bangladesh Farmers Foundation (BFF) and Alauddin Sikdar from Kendrio Krishak Moitree (KKM) were also prrsent in the seminar.

M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation moderated the roundtable discussion and he said that climate resilience is the fundamental issue for small-scale farmers and fishers. 

Sanat Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Executive Director of COAST Foundation, in his keynote said that concessional loans introduced by the government at 4% interest remain out of reach due to poor banking infrastructure and regulatory hurdles.

He also mentioned that every climate shock increases future NAP and NDC costs if farmers are not empowered with adaptation tools.

Md. Shamsuddoha stressed on the transparency and accountability mechanism about fund expenses that comes in the name of climate finance.

He mentioned that the Government has developed NDC and NAP focusing on the geographical areas on top of local vulnerable communities.

He also added climate justice will not be ensured especially for the vulnerable communities if we can’t ensure local level governance.

Gawher Nayeem Wahra argued that mismanagement of rivers, not just climate change, was driving the water crisis.

He said that almost 80% of the crisis comes from our mismanagement of water, and only 20% is due to climate change. Unless rivers are allowed their rightful share of water, no adaptation plan will succeed.

Harjeet Singh cautioned against another “conference of empty promises” at COP30. He emphasized that this must be the moment when small farmers and fishers rise up, unite, and demand climate justice-our right to livelihoods, our right to dignity, and our right to a safe future.

Md. Amirul Islam, operations manager for East, Central, and South Asia at AFA, emphasized the need for inclusion.

He mentioned that our small-scale farmers and fishers are among the worst affected by climate change, so their voices and recommendations must be included in policymaking.

Dr. Md. Younus Ali, SAC prioritized the engagement of farmers leaders at the decision-making tables.

Md. Alauddin Sikdar said salinity intrusion and lack of fresh water were leaving fields barren in the south.

He said without repairing embankments and sluice gates, farmers cannot survive. We need to preserve local seeds and directly involve farmers in projects so that we ourselves can play a role in the fight against climate change.

Md. Obydul Haque mentioned about ownership development within the FO members to be sustainable and self-reliant.