Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Impact of Soil Salinity on Livelihood Strategies: a Study on Two Selected Villages of Satkhira District, Bangladesh

Mohammad Zaber Hossain*
Soil Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Mohammed Ziaul Haider
Economics Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Razibuzzaman
Soil Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Bina Rani Mojumder
Soil Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study analyzes the effects of soil salinity on the livelihood strategies of small farmers. It explores the responses of farmers to various technologies available for the agriculture sector to cope with the salinity problem. The study are consists of two villages in Asasuni Upazilla of Satkhira District. The study finds that farmers try to handle salinity problem at their own level with traditional and costly methods. No new technologies are disseminated among the farmers. The application of lime, fitkiri etc. are the strategies adopted by the farmers. This study also considers the intensity of land use, income and the land fragmentation aspects and tries to relate the said aspects with salinity.

Keywords: Salinity, Livelihood, Strategy, Satkhira district

Location: Two villages in Asasuni Upazilla of Satkhira district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil salinity

Objectives:

The main factors that contribute towards salinity in the Satkhira district are: crop husbandry techniques, cropping mixes, irrigation technology and the geo-physical properties of the sub soil and soil. Besides this, introduction of shrimp culture in this area is one of the major causes for enhancing salinity problem. Both of the soil and water salinity have adverse effects on people’s living standard, daily life activities and socio-economic conditions. This study attempts to identify the impacts of soil salinity on the livelihood pattern of the people in the south-west region of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The study area: This study considers two villages in Asasuni Upazilla of Satkhira district as the study area. One is located in low saline area of Fingri village at Fingri Union and the other is in Sreeula and Moheskur villages at Sreeula Union which is a high saline area.

Methods: A total of 100 respondents (farmers) are interviewed by taking 50 randomly selected respondents from Fingri village and 25 randomly selected respondents from each of Sreeula and Moheskur villages. Statistical techniques such as frequency distribution and correlation analysis are used to analyze the data. SPSS and MINITAB are used for this purpose. The distribution of 100 sample farm households on the basis of landholding size is less than two hectares (52%), 2 to 5 hectares (37%) and over 5 hectares (11%). A well designed interviewing schedule is used to collect information from the farmers. Face to face interviews are conducted for this purpose.

Source of Information: Khulna University Studies Special Issue (SESB 2010): 43-48 : June, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The salinity intrusion is an alarming phenomenon for the south-west region of Bangladesh. Soil salinity has emerged as a problem which is not only reducing agricultural productivity but also putting far-reaching impacts on the livelihood strategies of small farmers. The most significant impact of soil salinity is the changes in land use activities. This study finds that farmers in the low saline area are looking for a number of land use activities. They cannot stand for long in same cultural practice due to unavailability of knowledge and necessary technology to adopt for mitigating the problem arisen from soil salinity. The temporary solutions being adopted by the farmers seem to have adverse effects in the long run. These will not only put more pressure on the small farmers who are already at the cutting edge but will also spoil the soil and ultimately the whole agricultural setup.

This study is based on direct conversation with the small farmers in saline and non saline area of the south-western part of Bangladesh. The age, occupation, land ownership, educational qualifications are the main points considered to generate diversity in responder selection. However, a joint action by government, NGO’s and the farmers is immediately required to control the situation. Moreover, to understand the long-run consequences of salinity, an in-depth, integrated and dynamic study is needed.

Knowledge Management: Journal