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Intensification of Landuse in the Coastal and Offshore Areas of Bangladesh

M. J. Uddin
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

M. S. Hussain
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

A. K. Taraqqi
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

A. S. M. Mohiuddin
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper provides a review of what is currently known about the possible impact of sea level rise due to climate change in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. The coastal belt covers an area of around 2.85 million hectares, almost one fifth of the total area of the country, which include extensive floodplains, tidal flats, mangrove forests, marshes, lagoons, bars, splits, estuaries and others. The entire area remains vulnerable to the tropical cyclonic storms accompanied by severe tidal surges from the south. The coastal belt is protected by embankments, which prevent the entry of saline water in the agricultural land. However, the saline water is pushed toward inland through the rivers during the dry season when the flow of fresh water from the upstream is drastically reduced by human interference. Mangrove forest occupies a sizeable area in the; southwestern part of the coastal belt. Bangladesh receives annually about 2.5 billion tons of suspended sediments every year along with river water. Due to tidal effect, a portion of this sediment is used for upliftment of the coastal land surface. With the gradual rise of sea level, the coastal land surface will also be rise by this process. The important factors affecting land use in the coastal belt include salinity, absence of good quality irrigation water and lack of drainage facilities. Since Aman rice is mainly rain-fed, there are occasional crop failures due to cyclonic storm or drought. In spite of the possible sea level rise, Bangladesh should try to intensify the use of coastal lands by growing more crops there in attaining sustainable food security. Research should immediately be initiated so that the production system could be made sustainable. Alternatively, the maximum yield techniques may be adopted with the use of optimum doses of inputs to get maximum production per year from one crop- the Aman rice.

Keywords: Landuse intensification, Coastal and offshore areas, Climate change

Location: Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

Objective of the study was to identifying factors that are responsible for low cropping intensity in the coastal belt of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Climate is a global indicator and an interacting agent among biota, air, sea, land and ice components. In Bangladesh, the coastal belt has a pronounced tropical monsoon climate starting in June and continues up to October which is warm and humid and during which more than 80 percent of the total annual rainfall is received.The major physiographic unit exits in the coastal belt of Bangladesh were old Meghna estuarine floodplain, young Meghna estuarine floodplain, Ganges tidal floodplain, Chittagong coastal tidal plain, Matamuhari tidal floodplain, Ganges River floodplain, lower Meghna River floodplain, Peat basins and Sandy beaches. Coastal areas are endowed with both fresh and brackish water resources. During monsoon, there is abundant fresh water, whereas during the winter, water becomes a scarce resource (World Bank, 2001). Due to reduced fresh water flows in the rivers during the dry season, the surface water systems suffer from saline water intrusion, making it unsuitable for agricultural, domestic and industrial purposes. The groundwater aquifers in the coastal region are under growing stress of salinization resulting from over extraction (ESCAP, 1987). Sea level rise and low river flows would substantially contribute to that stress in the coastal areas where winter agriculture is dependent on groundwater (Reddy and Hodges, 2000). Land is the greatest natural resource in the coastal belt. Four major agroecological regions (FAO-UNDP, 1988) having distinctive characteristics have been identified in this belt: Ganges tidal floodplain, young Meghna estuarine floodplain, Chittagong coastal plain and St. Martin's coral island. About 2.85 million hectares of land in Bangladesh bordering the northern apex of the Bay of Bengal and constituting the coastal off-shore lands, is subject to tidal salinity. Flood in Bangladesh is an annual feature due to a) onrush of snow melt water from the Himalayan Mountains through the two major rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra b) rainfall in the catchments of the rivers including the third major river, the Meghna. It takes devastating effect when onrush of water from the Ganges and the Brahmaputra occur at the same time along with heavy monsoon rainfall in the deltaic catchment area of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna and coincidence with high tide resulting in drainage congestion.

Source of Information: Oriental Geographer, Vol. 52, No.1 & 2, 2008

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

About 2.5 billion tons of sediments are annually carried to the Bay of Bengal through the Meghna Estuary. A budget may be made to utilize this huge amount of sediments for the upliftment of the coastal area. Dredging of inland rivers to push the sediments into the sea and at the same time, increasing the carrying capacity of inland rivers are essential. Erosion and subsequent accretion games in the coastal and off-shore areas of Bangladesh are positive aspects regarding sea level rise. In this connection, new char lands formation and their stabilization may be important in the crop intensification and sustainable food security in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal