Small-scale farmers and fishers, sustaining 16 million families, remain excluded from climate finance and policy. At a Dhaka roundtable, experts urged inclusion, transparency, and river governance, warning COP30 must deliver climate justice—not empty promises—for Bangladesh’s most vulnerable communities.
At a time when climate shocks are intensifying and the world’s attention is turning to COP30 in Belém, small-scale farmers and fishers in Bangladesh are warning that they remain excluded from decisions that will determine their survival. At a roundtable held on Tuesday at The Business Standard conference room, farmers’ leaders, civil society organizations, and climate experts demanded that national and international policymakers prioritize their rights, voices, and livelihoods in climate negotiations.
Farmers locked out of finance
Despite being the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy contributing 12.9% to GDP and sustaining 16 million rural households small-scale farmers are still struggling against structural barriers. Only 17% have access to institutional finance, while the overwhelming majority remain dependent on high-cost loans from informal lenders.
“Concessional loans at 4% interest were introduced by the government, but they remain out of reach because of banking bottlenecks and weak rural infrastructure,” said Sanat Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Executive Director of COAST Foundation, in his keynote. He warned that every climate disaster further inflates the cost of implementing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). “If farmers are not empowered with adaptation tools today, the financial burden tomorrow will be far greater,” he added.
Governance, Justice and Transparency
Speakers repeatedly emphasized the gap between lofty climate finance commitments and actual delivery on the ground. Md. Shamsuddoha of the Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) called for strong accountability in climate fund management. “The Government has developed NAP and NDC frameworks focused on geographical zones but often overlooking vulnerable communities within those areas. Without local-level governance, climate justice will remain elusive,” he cautioned.
Gawher Nayeem Wahra of Disaster Forum highlighted another blind spot: water governance. “Almost 80% of Bangladesh’s water crisis stems from mismanagement, and only 20% from climate change,” he argued. “If rivers are not allowed their rightful flow, no adaptation plan will succeed, no matter how well funded.”
Global perspective, local struggles
From the global frontlines of climate justice, Harjeet Singh of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative warned against another “conference of empty promises.” He urged farmers and fishers to organize and amplify their voices at COP30. “This must be the moment when small farmers and fishers rise up, unite, and demand climate justice our right to livelihoods, dignity, and a safe future,” he declared.
Similarly, Md. Amirul Islam, Regional Operations Manager at AFA, stressed the urgency of inclusion. “Our small-scale farmers and fishers are among the worst affected by climate change, yet their concerns are absent in the rooms where decisions are made. Their voices must be part of policymaking.”
Dr. Md. Younus Ali of the SAARC Agriculture Centre underscored that farmer leaders themselves need to sit at decision-making tables, not just be passive recipients of policies designed in Dhaka or beyond.
Voices from the ground
On-the-ground testimonies from farmers’ organizations underscored the urgent realities. Md. Alauddin Sikdar of Kendrio Krishak Moitree described how salinity intrusion and water scarcity are turning southern farmlands barren. “Unless embankments and sluice gates are repaired, our survival is impossible. Preserving local seed varieties and directly involving farmers in projects is essential. We want to be part of the fight against climate change, not just its victims,” he said.
Md. Obydul Haque from SBKS added that building ownership and self-reliance within farmers’ organizations is vital. “Without strengthening farmer-led institutions, adaptation will remain unsustainable,” he stressed.
Broad consensus for action
The event brought together a diverse group of leaders and experts: Rowshon Jahan Moni from ALRD, Mohsin Ali from Wave Foundation, Dr. Radheshyam Sarker, former Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, A.K.M. Rokhsanul Islam Leon of Bangladesh Farmers Foundation, and Sazedur Rahman, Director of Blue Economy at the Department of Fisheries.
Across these interventions, several themes stood out: recognition of indigenous knowledge and practices, meaningful participation of farmers in climate finance programming, and the need to bridge the gap between national policy frameworks and community realities.
Resilience as the foundation
Moderating the discussion, M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation, closed with a reminder that climate resilience for small-scale farmers and fishers is not just a development issue — it is the foundation of Bangladesh’s survival in a warming world. “Without them, there can be no sustainable adaptation, no food security, and no climate justice,” he said.
As COP30 approaches, the message from Dhaka is clear: the rights, knowledge, and resilience of small-scale farmers and fishers must be placed at the center of national and global climate strategies. Anything less risks turning adaptation into another broken promise, with millions paying the price.
