Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Cyclone Preparedness:A Case Study of Katmarchar Village under Koyra upazila in Khulna district.

Abstract

The remote coastal people of Bangladesh suffer from recurrent devastating cyclones from ancient time.  They expressed hard realities of life for cyclones and to cope with cyclones, they apply early warnings and some protection measures. This knowledge and practices reduce more or less damage and cost. It performs a socio-cultural and physical capital.

The study is based on field survey by using PRA tools, questionnaire survey, visual survey and semi-structured questionnaire survey. Two FGD sessions is conducted for identifying symptoms and effectiveness of early warnings and another two FGDs is conducted for other preparedness measures of cyclones.

Suggestion was given for early warnings of animal behaviour, weather behaviour, river & canal behaviour. How we can use this knowledge in the area is discussed in this study.

Other indigenous practices like preparedness calendar, safe place and route map, paddy selection etc. provides a good idea about cyclone preparedness.

Housing design considerations, techniques and protection measures provide the idea of indigenous knowledge and practices. This paper covers different aspects of roof protection, wall protection, roof form, roof shape, knotting practices, floor elements, elevation of plinth level, setting style of houses and trees, storage of belongings and emergency food etc. of housing in the village.

It was found in the study area that the available indigenous construction practices are sufficient enough to be modernized and upgraded.  It can ensure a cyclone resistant housing. But sustainable strategy and its comprehensive implementation are required from the government, non government and household levels in an integrated manner.

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Indigenous knowledge reveals the hand-on-experience by people living in close contact with nature which, in turn, is transmitted from one generation to the next through oral tradition. This knowledge is the local and traditional knowledge used by rural people for agriculture, disaster, natural resources managements, fisheries, livestock, healthcare practices and other activities. Bangladesh possesses a rich heritage of indigenous knowledge and practices about cyclone preparedness, much of which are now being lost due to their non documentation.

The rural people of Bangladesh are living with different natural calamities from ancient times.  They have developed through a process of innovation and adaptation a variety of coping strategies and techniques that practiced in the local environment, economy and socio-cultural systems. Still today, some remote rural people are excluded from modern information system; they apply indigenous techniques to face cyclones and keep their eyes active on how monsoon changes for forecasting disasters as well as to be prepared against dangers.

The study area is Katmarchar village under Koyra upazila in Khulna district because it is the severe cyclone prone area of Khulna district especially Bangladesh and also represents the coastal scenario. A statistics reveals 16% cyclone, created in the Bay of Bengal, hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Following this trend there is a possibility of 1.12 cyclones in a year to be occurred. In the last 30 years, nearly 900,000 people died due to disastrous cyclones of Bangladesh and six out of nine depressions formed in the Bay of Bengal normally cross the belt of Bangladesh almost every year. (Nirapad Barta: A. Hasseb Khan: 2001: p.1)

This study will help to examine the relevance and need for cyclone preparedness. It helps to assess efficiency, effectiveness and problems of preparedness mechanisms at the household and community level using indigenous knowledge and practices. As Indigenous knowledge is a information base and social capital for a society so, findings revels that how much plays positive role for the society. It also facilitates decision making and helps to take appropriate and effective actions and reduce damage and cost.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

1.      To assess the effectiveness of household level indigenous knowledge regarding cyclone preparedness activities in the study area.

2.      To identify the limitations of indigenous knowledge of cyclone preparedness activities in the study area.

3.      To suggest measures for strengthening cyclone preparedness activities by using indigenous knowledge.

1.3 Terminologies

¦  Indigenous Knowledge

Indigenous knowledge is the peoples experience and practices of a cyclone prone area which transmitted from one generation to the next generation by oral and practical tradition.

According to Institute for Global Environmental Strategies:

Knowledge unique to a given culture or society, acquired through accumulation of years of experiences of local people, informal experiments and intimate understanding of the natural systems stressed by climate change and socio-economic development.

¦  Cyclone Preparedness

Cyclone preparedness means to take measures in expectation of a cyclone to ensure that appropriate and effective actions can take the people.

Prepared ness may be two types:

                                            i.            Structural measures: like housing, shelter, stockpiling, cropping etc.

                                          ii.            Non -structural measures: like warning, advisory support etc.

¦  Vulnerability

Vulnerability is the ability or inability of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, recover from or adapt to, any external stress placed on their livelihoods and well-being.

The degree to which an area, people, physical structures or economic assets are exposed to loss, injury or damage caused by the inputs of a hazard.

¦  Focus Group discussion (FGD)

An FGD is a social science research method to gather qualitative information from a homogeneous group to address particular issue.

Kitnizer (1994:103) has defined focus group as ‘group discussions are organized to explore a specific set of issues such as peoples views and experiences of contraception, drink driving, nutrition or mental illness.’ (Neogi: 2001:15-16)

¦  Facilitator/Moderator

Facilitator is the key person of an FGD session. S/He can not pay attention to extract data from the group but care all aspects in terms of group feelings and attitudes. S/He creates a homely atmosphere. Facilitator controls the dominant participant tactfully and at the same time s/he carefully activates salient participants.

¦  Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

Dr. Robert Chamber, inventor of PRA, says that it enhance the capacity of people in the area of analysis of knowledge and experience with their life and environment , sharing opinions with external people, formulation as well as implementation of plan based information, collected by themselves. (Nirapad barta: vol-7, 2004)

According to Cohen and Uphoff (1977), Participation includes people's involvement in decision-making processes, in implementing programmes, their sharing in benefits of development programmes and their involvement in efforts to evaluate such programmes.(Kumar:2002:24)

1.4 Discussion and Literature Review

The notion of ‘Indigenous Knowledge’ is the farmer’s first movement for agricultural production. The term ‘Indigenous’ grew from a more general critique of development praxis.

1. According to Ellen and Harris (1996), Indigenous knowledge is:

                i.    Local, in that it is rooted in a particular community and situated within broader cultural traditions.

              ii.    Tacit knowledge and, therefore, not easily codifiable.

            iii.    Transmitted orally, or through imitation and demonstration. Codifying it may lead to the loss of some of its properties.

            iv.    Experiential rather than theoretical knowledge. Experience and trial and error, tested in the rigorous laboratory of survival of local communities, constantly reinforce Indigenous knowledge.

              v.    Learned through repetition, which is a defining characteristic of tradition even when

knowledge is added. Repetition aids in the retention and reinforcement of Indigenous knowledge.

            vi.    Constantly changing, being produced as well as reproduced, discovered as well as lost; though it is often perceived by external observers as being somewhat static.

Other relevant reviewed literatures are shown following, to understand the depth and magnitude of the problem.

2 Mr. Niaz Ahmed khan (2000: pp. 147-150) in his book “Of Popular Wisdom: Indigenous Knowledge and Practices in Bangladesh”. In this book describes about the indigenous perceptions, predictions and survival strategies concerning cyclones in Maheshkhali Island in Bangladesh. Here author discussed about warning systems and ‘self protection instinct’ of indigenous survival strategies 1991 cyclone period. However, the present study is for disaster preparedness by using indigenously perceptions, warning signals, and practices. However some concept of perceptions, predictions, and survival strategies of the cyclone period will help the present study through acquiring knowledge about indigenous technique of Maheshkhali island people. On the other hand this book showed about IK and practices can be used for disaster management and people’s responses about disaster.

3.  Mr. Abdul Haseeb Knan et. al. (ed.) (2004: pp.1-10) a journal named “Nirapad Barta”, find out indigenous knowledge in different research areas of Bangladesh by field investigations. According to the newsletter indigenous knowledge are described as “highly effective” for disaster management in every forum but in reality these all are kept ignored and ruled out considering superstitions. In case of floods, droughts, nor’westers and cyclone people have their own historically rooted conjectures of forecasting and disaster fighting but modern development discourse does not permit to include them.

Another issues is considering in this newsletter is in context of Bangladesh and globe about using yesterday’s knowledge for tomorrows disaster management.  This will help present study to identify the prospects of indigenous knowledge in practice. Some disaster myths, proverbs, and folk culture are shown in this document.

4.  Mr. Kh. Md Nahiduzzaman (2001: pp. 58-87), in his thesis “Housing Development Scheme for Coastal Areas Adjacent to the Sundarbans: A Case Study on Ghar Kumarpur Village of Shyamnagar Thana of Satkhira District” shows about indigenous housing practices at the disaster affected area.he shows that the indigenous construction practices by using locally materials are sufficient enough to be modernize and updated. In this paper shows manifold sectors like housing, especially rural housing, disaster and their consequences on the resources of Sundarbans. This study will help present study about indigenous practices of housing side due to mitigate disaster damage.

5. Mr. Md. Shahed Hassan, Professor of Anthropology department of Dhaka University in his article “Indigenous Disaster Management Culture: A Comparative Study between the Cyclone Affected People of Bangladesh and Japan” is an internet report shows the specialized disaster tradition of www. asa2000.anthropology.ac.uk. This tradition is the vulnerable or risk exposed people mentally process and store their knowledge so that they can retrieve as needed. In this research he shows the survival strategies and indigenous perception and prediction capacity of The Maheshkhali Island people of Bangladesh during cyclone period.  He also shows the cyclone affected people of Bangladesh and Japan were selected to know their way of perceiving and predicting the onset of calamities, including local terminology used as and when warranted. Finally this study discussed IK issues on cultural, socio-economic and technological aspects, the knowledge shown in the process of withering away with gradual decline of the possessors; and the potential users find difficulties to decode and relate them to their stored knowledge base.

7. Mrs. Phillipa Hawell (2003: p p.1-10) a consultant of Benfield Hazard Research Center, in her article “Indigenous Early Warning Indicators of Cyclones: Potential Application in Coastal Bangladesh” shows local knowledge: indigenous early warning by semi-structured interview survey. She shown warning indicators for four charlands (Dhal char, char Jahiruddin, Char Motahar, and char kukri Mukri) during 1996 both men and women. These indicators is weather patterns ,sea/ river patterns, animal behavior and ,others (like bending trees, water hyacinth in the cannals, muddy smell on the wind etc). These Indigenous indicators can be shown in the application side of present study. However survival strategies during cyclone period in the char areas of Bangladesh are shown in this study.

8. Mr. Mahmudul Hasan et. al. (2000 pp.34-44) in his  research paper “Indigenous Knowledge and Perception of the Charland People in Coping with Natural Disasters in Bangladesh” showed indigenous knowledge and perception of people while coping with flood and riverbank erosion (both banks and char lands) of the Jamuna River in Sirajgonj District. This study shows indigenous knowledge in to three major types:

                            1. Indigenous knowledge in structural measures

                            2. Indigenous knowledge in agricultural cropping

                            3. Indigenous knowledge in human safety measures

This study highlights two general kinds of reaction of the affected people; one is pessimistic attitude of psychological side eg. mental stability.  Another is positive attitude of daring and adventuring mentality. However, concepts about structural and human safety measures can play effective role of the present study for disaster preparedness at household level.

1.5 Rationale of the study

The above discussions are presenting the research gap as well as knowledge gap. The feasibility and utility of the research gap are discussed.

a. Feasibility

The objectives of the study are achievable considering access to information, concerned persons, and relevant experts; time limit etc. Katmarchar village is selected for the study for the following reasons:

¦  Indigenous survival strategies of cyclones have practiced in the area.

¦  Area represents the severe cyclone prone area of the country.

¦  Rapport building was done with field personnel and concerned agencies.

¦  Indigenous knowledge and practices issues acts as a mitigation part against disaster.

According to Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP, “Every dollar spent on disaster preparedness is 6 dollars saved in reconstruction costs.” (Source: www.bloomberg.com)

¦  The research is familiar with disaster preparedness planning. From the point of view, the area is rich due to the existence of critical planning and development issues.

b. Utility

The study will help to provide better and new understanding about indigenous knowledge in cyclone preparedness. Academician and professional of Disaster Management and Planning will be interested in the results of this study. Different institutions such as BDPC, BARCIK, DMP, BDCRS, ADAB, DRU, IVS, COMMUNICA, CCDB, Environmental science, Anthropology departments of different institutions and other related agencies will be benefited. New idea will directly help to formulate new cyclone preparedness approaches or any kind of interventions related to cyclone preparedness planning in remote coastal rural areas.

c. The Value of Participatory Approaches

Employing participatory approaches to indigenous cyclone preparedness is above all, a means of strengthening and empowering local capacity. By bringing stakeholders together and providing an opportunity to draw attention to their different indigenous people interests and experiences, problems are identified and information are shared and acquired by both participants and facilitators.

Participation is, therefore, critical in the planning phase of cyclone preparedness to ensure local sensitivity, a full understanding of Indigenous Knowledge issues and the continued participation and feedback of stakeholders.

Giving opportunity to the stakeholders for present, analyze and share their experiences is also a means of empowering their social capital through strengthening indigenous knowledge networks and adaptive capacity.

Finally working closely with local people can help professionals to gain a greater insight into the communities they seek to serve, enabling them to work more effectively and produce better results.

1.6 Limitations of the study

Some unpredictable, unwanted and unexpected situation arose while the study was conducted.  PRA is not an easy task.  While doing PRA and questionnaire survey it was hard to convince people that the study is done only for research purpose. As a result there was some bitter experience, and it could have drawn any unknown blockage to the information that was collected. Other limitations were:

¦  Only Katmarchar Village is a little portion of south-western coastal belt adjacent to the Sundarbans. This village was chosen, by the researcher’s own prudence, as representative part, which may not show the representative characteristics for the entire coastal belt adjacent to the Sundarbans.

¦  Manpower for the study is not quite enough. The study was sought for more surveyors.

¦  Mainly the study is based on primary information like PRA, observation, questionnaire survey and informal talks. Sometime for better information it was bounded to find out literate person.