Small-scale Agriculture, Women’s Empowerment, and Food Security: A Review of the Coastal Belt of Bangladesh

Abstract

Small-scale agriculture is a cornerstone of livelihoods in Bangladesh’s climate-sensitive coastal belt, where women contribute substantially to production, processing, and market engagement. This study investigates how climate stressors, gender dynamics, and institutional constraints shape women’s empowerment and food security in coastal rural communities. Using mixed methods including household surveys, field trials, and literature synthesis across coastal regions of Bangladesh; we examine adaptive strategies, labor patterns, land access, technology adoption, and market participation. Results show that 50% of farmers use organic fertilizers, 42% cultivate climate-resilient crops, and 25% practice integrated cropping. Women’s engagement in paid work and migration increases household agency but entails social stigma and double workloads; they perform 7.6 times more household chores and 6 times more caregiving than men. Women’s land ownership remains limited (10–13%), and adoption of saline-tolerant varieties, despite 1–2 t/ha yield gains, is low due to extension and knowledge gaps. In fisheries and aquaculture, 1.4 million women participate in post-harvest activities, yet only 10% enter formal value chains. These findings highlight that climate adaptation, gender equity, and inclusive market access are interlinked drivers of resilient agriculture. Policies fostering women’s land rights, extension services, and value chain integration can strengthen empowerment and food security in coastal Bangladesh.