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Landuse in Some Coastal Saline Areas of Bangladesh.

S. M. Imamul Huq
Professor
Depertment of Soil Science, Dhaka University, Dhaka-1000.

Anwar Iqbal
PSO (S&I)
Soil & Irrigation Division, BARC, Dhaka-1215.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

One hundred and thirty farmers affected by salinity problems in three thanas of Barguna District were surveyed to evaluate the land use pattern of the area. Of the three thanas, the farmers in Patharghata have the highest amount of land per family, averaging 3.5 ha. 70% farmers of this thana possess lands measuring more than 2ha while 51% of the farmers in Barguna have lands measuring lesser than 2 ha. Of the three thanas, F₁ to F₂ types of land are most widespread in Amtali (78%) followed by Patharghata (75%) and Barguna (62%). The S₄ type saline soils are mostly present (20%) in Patharqhata. Depending on the inundation land types (F₁ to F₂) or the salinity types (S₁ to S₄) single, double or triple cropping are practiced. The single cropping includes kharif- 2, local aman, the double cropping includes kharif-1, localaus and kharif-2, local aman or kharif-2 and rabi while triple cropping includes kharif-1, kharif-2 and the rabi crops. Depending on the intensity of soil salinity, 78% farmers in Barguna, 22% farmers in Patharghata and 21% in Amtali practice triple cropping. However, double cropping is common in all these three than as (100% in Barguna, 64% in Amtali and 61 % in Patharghata). Of the rabi crops, the important ones are the sweet potato, chillies and grain legumes. The average yield of most crops is lesser than the national average. A few farmers harvest salt by traditional methods. No farmers were found to have prawn culture in any of the thanas.

Keywords: Salinity, Land type, Farm size, Cropping intensity

Location: Barguna district, Bangladesh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Land management

Objectives:

To evaluate the present agricultural land use and the constraints there of in three thanas of Barquna district through questionnaire survey and on the spot visit followed by soil and other analyses.

Methodology:

The areas surveyed were the three thanas of Barguna district situated between 21°93' Nand 22-°43' N' latitude and 89°12' and, 90°45' E longitude at the South of Bangladesh. Preliminary studies on the incidence of soil salinity were conducted over 25 unions in three thanas of Barguna district. Basing on the data thus obtained, the survey area was demarcated to be only those which are affected by various degrees of salinity so as to affect the normal agriculture at least during a substantial period in the year. Accordingly, 107 villages spreading over 18 unions in the three thanas were surveyed. A total of 134 farmers were surveyed. The survey was conducted with a set questionnaires that had four sections viz. (i) general information including the amount of land under cultivation; (ii) information on land uses that included among others the present land use, crop/cropping pattern, cultural practices, land types, irrigation I drainage facilities or situations, water pre ervation facilities etc.; (iii) information on crop damages; and (iv) information concerning salinity having 22 different sub-questions on the aspect. Soil, water and plant samples were collected from each spot for laboratory verification of farmer's response, particularly on the salinity question. The surveyed data were quantified to make them more meaningful. The data presented in the text are averages of the number of surveyed farmers for each thana which were 70 tor Amtali, 40 for Barguna and 24 for Patharghata respectively.

Source of Information: Oriental Geographer, Vol. 36 No.2, 1992

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

A vast area in the coastal saline zone of Bangladesh is left unused, particularly during the dry season when the incidence of salinity in those areas is high making it practically impossible for the farmers to make a better use of their lands due principally to a lack of technological know-how about the management of salt affected soils. Non availability of improved and resistant varieties of crops are some of the factors underlying the major land uses of the areas. The farmers depend on the age-old indigenous methods by taking advantage of the natural fresh water sources and the residual moisture for their crops. In fact, they depend on the rain water to wash the salts away to make the lands suitable for Kharif-2 crops. Prawn culture is not practiced in the area. Some farmers (ca. 40%) cultivate salts by traditional methods. Research needs must be directed towards improving the land use by incorporating location specific appropriate technologies and soil-water-crop management practices.

Knowledge Management: Journal