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Effect of Salinity on Food Security in the Context of Interior Coast of Bangladesh

Tanzinia Khanom
International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Level 5, House 27, Road 1, Block A, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The Southwest (SW) region of Bangladesh is facing salinity intrusion both environmentally and anthropogenically. In that circumstance, the dominating livelihood agriculture is affected severely including soil and groundwater degradation, health problems and long term effect on ecosystem. Study from the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) found that, from 2000 to 2009, saline water intrusion increased up to 15 km north of the coast and in the dry season reached up to 160 km inland, entering into other interior coastal districts as well due to low flow from upstream rivers. In line with that, this article explored local people’s experience with salinity intrusion in interior coast of SW region. Along with semi-structured & open ended questionnaire, five focus group discussions and eight interviews were conducted to outlines the relationship between food security and salinity intrusion in regards of crop production and examines the impact of salinity on the crop production. The analysis found salinity in both soil and water is favorable for rice cultivation, although yield loss in every year has increased. Community shifted from native to high yield rice varieties to increase production and cope with soil salinity, in turn, the activity increase fertilizer and pesticides usage. Additionally, oilseed, sugarcane and jute cultivation has discontinued for twelve years due to inability to cope with current salinity level. Some other reasons put forward for saline intrusion includes lack of fresh water in the dry season, and saline encroachment from sea through downstream rivers. Through identification of salinity in the study area, the study suggests to measure impacts rigorously and imply necessary adaptation even though the saline level is favorable for rice, to protect interior coast from suffering like exterior coastal districts.

Keywords: Salinity intrusion Interior coast Agriculture

Location: Over all Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-05-2012

End Date: 00-09-2012

Program Area: Food Safety and Security

Commodity: Quality

Objectives:

To select the study area including the agricultural importance in gross crop production and emerging threat on food security of the country.

Methodology:

The primary data was collected during May to September in 2012 by five Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and eight in-depth interviews. Also transect walk was conducted to get an overview of demography of the study area. Secondary data was collected through existing research papers, articles and relevant organization in Bangladesh. The Geographic Positioning System (GPS) device was used to outline the study area along with to indicate water sample collection point in the Madhumati River. Laboratory test has been done on soil and water sample to measure salinity of sample that collected from deep tube-well and river from the study area. The examined deep tube-wells were 350 fte-440 ft deep. Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) process was applied to examine inorganic salts, particularly chlorides dissolved in water. TDS and EC one was collected in May (the beginning of the monsoon) and TDS and EC two both were collected on September (beginning of dry season). The salinity measure tool, provided data in micro-Siemens format which had to be converted in deci-Siemens following this method (µS/ cm x 0.1 ¼ = mS/m x 0.01 ¼ dS/m). Saline problems may become evident when EC escalate 2 to 4 deci-Siemens per meter; otherwise, the problems are usually minor for crops (Maas, 1985). When the EC extent from 4 to 8 deci-Siemens per meter, problems become more evident but crops with moderate salt tolerance usually show signs of reduced growth, foliage burn or chlorosis when its more than 8 (Maas, 1985). The sample was examined in 27ºC in the Environmental Science Laboratory, of Independent University Bangladesh (IUB). FGDs were carried out in groups for both men and women, but in some communities it was necessary to separate the groups into men and women. FGD and interviews were focused on local experiences on agriculture and how salinity intrusion has affected their lives. FGD sampling was done by stratified sampling consisted of 5e9 participants. This technique was used to find the specified group’s problem in the actual term, despite of the presence of irreverent group and some groups selected as a snowball sampling. The group consisted with landowners, local businessmen, subsistence farmer or small fisherman. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to conduct interviews and open-ended questions were applied to conduct group discussion. In-depth interviewee participants were selected based on a simple random sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were applied to collect and analyze data. Based on both traditional and current perspective of the participants, two crop calendars were prepared to understand the changes.

Source of Information: Ocean & Coastal Management; Volume 130, October 2016, Pages 205-212

Article Link (Online Journal): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.06.013

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Five study areas under Kalia Upazila have reported yield loss, and identify soil salinity as the main reason. This article documented people’s experience along with scientific data regarding salinity intrusion and its impact on agriculture; including other push factors (i.e. riverbank erosion, new habitation and land filling). Both climate change factors (i.e. sea level rise, tropical cyclones) and human activities (i.e. upstream damming and excessive usages of fertilizer and pesticides) are amplifying salinity encroachment in interior coast. This has resulted into a costly but unprofitable and laborious farming system. At the same time it has diverted young generation to either non-farm activities or migration (seasonal and permanent) to another part of the country. Existing stakeholder and constitutional management worker are not emphasizing on salinity problem even though the situation is becoming more severe in the context of crop production. To have a stable food production, it is necessary to increase crop yield in Bangladesh. Since food aid is decreasing and price is getting higher in the international food market, it will change the scenario of food security of Bangladesh in future. It is important to create awareness on fertilizer usage, crop varieties, introduce salt-tolerant crops and alternative cropping system to boost up agriculture. Additionally, social forestation, homestead gardening and pond fishing can be encouraged as a substitute for dominant livelihood system for the interior coastal community. The involvement of experts in the matter and further study may assist in finding alternatives to ensure food security and possible adaptation strategy.

Knowledge Management: Journal