Assessing the links between climate change resiliency and food security in northwestern region of Bangladesh

Climate change is intensifying threats to food security across the developing countries, pushing vulnerable nations like Bangladesh towards a breaking point - where resilience is no longer an option but a survival imperative. Despite growing concerns, however limited empirical research exists on how climate resilience influences food security across rural and urban farming households. This study examines climate resilience in northwestern Bangladesh and its impact on farming households' food security. Using multistage random sampling, 498 households across 16 villages in extreme climate zones were surveyed. A climate resilience index (CRI) was developed to assess resilience, and a binary logistic model analysed its effect on food security; the findings indicate a positive association between them. Other key determinants of food security include household income, non-farm employment, crop diversity, education level of the household head and farm size. Also, urban households exhibit greater resilience than rural ones, with 38.7% and 32.8% classified as food secure, respectively. Enhancing climate resilience through adaptive strategies can improve food security, while off-farm activities provide critical financial support. Policy interventions, such as government or NGO-led agricultural financing, could further strengthen food security.