Market System Adaptation to Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Case of the Sorjan-Induced Bio-Economy in Coastal Bangladesh

The coastal region of Bangladesh, a dynamic and fertile landscape, is paradoxically recognised as the nation'smost climate-vulnerable territory. Encompassing approximately 32% of the country'sland area and supporting a population of over 35 million, this region is the agrarian heartland for its inhabitants (World Bank, 2020). However, this primary livelihood source faces existential threats from a confluence of environmental and socio-economic pressures. The relentless intrusion of salinity, driven by sea-level rise and reduced freshwater flow in the dry season, is progressively rendering vast tracts of land unsuitable for conventional agriculture (Habib et al., 2022). This slow-onset disaster is compounded by acute shocks—frequent and intense cyclones, tidal surges, and seasonal flooding—that lead to catastrophic waterlogging, destroying standing crops and eroding precious topsoil (IPCC, 2022).

These climate-induced challenges are severely exacerbated by a critical lack of fresh irrigation water during the dry months, forcing farmers into periods of fallow landor low-yield monocropping. The result is a narrowing of cropping diversity and a direct threat to regional food security and economic stability (MoA, 2021). There is, therefore, an urgent need to identify, validate, and scale adaptive agricultural practices that can withstand these shocks, ensuring the future of coastal communities. In response to these challenges, the Sorjan farming system has re-emerged as a beacon of climate-smart agriculture. While its principles are rooted in ancient practices, its modern application represents a paradigm shift. Sorjan is a meticulously designed raised-bed and ditch system featuring alternating deep channels (sinks) and high, wide beds (ridges). This design fosters a dynamic and resilient micro-ecosystem that provides multifaceted benefits, including proactive salinity management, improved drainage, integrated water reservoirs, and opportunities for crop and fish diversification (BARI, 2019). As such, the Sorjan system signifies a transition from conventional farming that is vulnerable to environmental challenges toward a more productive, diversified, and ecologically balanced approach.

While much of the existing research has focused on the agronomic and environmental benefits of Sorjan farming, a significant gap remains in understanding how its adoption influences and transforms local and regional agricultural market systems. The success of climate-adaptive technologies depends not only on on-farm adoption but also on the responsiveness of input supply chains, output market linkages, and value chain actors. Therefore, this study shifts the analytical lens from a purely comparative farm-level assessment to a systemic examination of market adaptation spurred by the Climate Adaptive Sorjan Model. the research aims to:  Assess the influence of the Climate Adaptive Sorjan Model on the transformation of the agricultural input market, specifically examining the growth and diversification of eco-friendly input supply chains in coastal Bangladesh.  Evaluate the changes in forward market linkages resulting from Sorjan-based production, including market penetration, price dynamics, and trader engagement in the value chain.  Identify the key drivers and barriers in the adoption of market-supporting mechanisms that enable scaling of climate-resilient farming systems invulnerable coastal regions.  Propose strategic recommendations for strengthening market systems that support the widespread replication and scalability of climate-adaptive agricultural models beyond project-based interventions.