Impact of Salinity Intrusion on Coastal Agriculture and Farmer’s Livelihoods in Bangladesh

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to explore the major impacts of salinity intrusion on coastal agriculture and farmer’s livelihoods in Bangladesh. The study has attempted to identify some effective measures for the sustainability of coastal agriculture. The study was conducted based on both primary and secondary data during 2010-2020. To collect primary data, a total of 150 respondents out of 240 households were randomly interviewed and samples are drawn proportionately from study sites. Descriptive and inferential statistics have been done to analyze data. The ArcGIS mapping tool was adopted to represent the spatio-temporal change of saline area. It reveals that due to high salinity intrusion the coastal agriculture has already experienced noticeable adverse impacts especially in increasing rate of salinity, loss in cultivable land and production. Shrimp farming with brackish water and tidal inundation are explored as the main causes for salinity intrusion. In study sites, the level of salinity in 2020 is much stronger than in 2010. It reveals that due to strong salinity in agricultural land the farmer's are suffering from low income, unemployment, scarcity in irrigation and freshwater. It was identified that the planned shrimp culture, management of the embankment, cultivation of saline tolerant crops and raising public awareness will be the possible measures to control the intrusion of salinity. Therefore, it is expected that the evaluation of the revealed impacts of salinity intrusions and the explored measures will be effective to ensure the sustainability of coastal agriculture in Bangladesh.