Communication Strategies for Disaster Preparedness in Agriculture Sector in Bangladesh

Abstract

The study reveals that the highest proportion of the farmers collects information on disaster preparedness from NGO workers, friends and relatives, and UP chairman. In respect of the use of mass media, the highest proportion of the farmers opined that they receive information from the radio closely followed by television. Regarding group contact method, demonstration appeared very important. Farmers' preferences on message demand for disaster preparedness were for information on shelter and relief during flood then hourly warning for flood and information on various aspects of agriculture before flood. Farmers' message demand on drought was for early warning for drought and then drought resistant varieties/ technologies, and probable diseases of animals and its remedies. Quite similar to the farmers' views, the policymakers at the headquarters level also mentioned that agricultural knowledgeable villagers followed by respected persons in the villages, and village leaders are the most accessible communication media in the villages, and interpersonal contact followed by personal localite and mass contacts are very useful for increasing farmers' knowledge. Regarding the use of mass media policymakers opined that radio followed by television and miking at the villages are the best methods for awareness about the disaster preparedness among the villagers. In respect of contacting rural women, the policymakers viewed that neighbours (i.e. interpersonal contact) followed by miking at the village, announcing messages in the schools and posters are the appropriate media. In order to reduce the communication constraints with rural women for disaster preparedness, the use of local female community leaders was viewed as the most important one followed by the use of local female school teachers and appointing female workers temporarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]