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 cyclon