Can shrimp farming unlock a sustainable future
Bangladesh’s development gains are at risk due to severe climate threats, including rising groundwater salinity that has led many landowners to convert rice paddies into shrimp ponds. Focus groups and a survey of 739 farmers revealed high awareness of climate change, concerns over saline intrusion, and the significant costs of converting to shrimp cultivation.
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Ray-Thiemel-Policy-Brief-August-2025.pdf
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- Bangladesh faces severe climate risks that threaten to undermine the country’s recent development progress in growth, poverty reduction and human development.
- Landowners/operators have responded to increasing groundwater salinity by converting rice paddies into shallow saltwater ponds, which can be used to cultivate shrimp and other saltwater fish.
- We conducted 10 focus group discussions and a survey of 739 shrimp cultivators and rice farmers in southwestern Bangladesh to document (i) that knowledge of climate change is high, (ii) conversion of rice paddies to shrimp ponds is costly, and (iii) those working in agriculture are concerned about shrimp cultivation increasing saline intrusion into nearby plots.