Adaptation strategies to waterlogging among coastal farmers in Bangladesh: Practices, determinants, and implications for resilient agriculture

Agriculture in Bangladesh’s coastal region is persistently affected by waterlogging, yet limited knowledge exists about the specific adaptation strategies farmers employ to mitigate its effects. This study aims to identify waterlogging-specific adaptation strategies and the factors influencing their adoption among coastal farmers. A cross-sectional survey of 412 farmers in Zianagar and Morrelganj sub-districts in Pirojpur district was conducted, employing descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis. Common strategies included early planting (74.8 %), elevated trellis platform (69.9 %), duck rearing (60.9 %), short-duration water-tolerant crops (57.8 %), and raised bed farming (55.8 %). Around 16.3 % of farmers adopted four strategies, while 16 % adopted five. SEM results show training significantly promotes early planting (β = 0.02), floating agriculture (β = 0.07), salt-tolerant crops (β = 0.04), raised bed farming (β = 0.03), short-duration water-tolerant crops (β = 0.02), high bed–low ditch system (β = 0.02), crop zoning (β = 0.05), and community group participation (β = 0.02). Farming experience positively influences the adoption of short-duration water-tolerant crops (β = 0.01). Larger farm size is positively associated with elevated trellis platform (β = 0.11), high bed–low ditch system (β = 0.14), embankments (β = 0.1), and fish farming (β = 0.12), while negatively associated with duck rearing (β = -0.31). Agricultural extension contact enhances community group participation (β = 0.02). The study highlights that training, income, farm size, farming experience, and agricultural extension contact are key drivers of diverse waterlogging adaptation strategies among coastal farmers. These findings provide actionable insights for designing targeted agricultural training, resource allocation, and policy interventions to strengthen climate resilience in coastal farming communities.