As sea levels rise, growers in Koira upazila of Khulna are employing innovative methods to adapt to saline soils and becoming self-sufficient by cultivating salt-tolerant crops. After selling the crops, their income has also increased several times in the last three years.
The lands that used to be covered with salt are now surrounded by greenery where various types of crops and vegetables are grown throughout the year.
Due to salinity in the soil and rows of shrimp enclosures in the upazila, the agricultural lands were used to produce crops only during the monsoon season. Besides, natural disasters aggravated by the climate emergency, unsustainable shrimp farming compounded the problem, jeopardising the lives of those who rely on agriculture.
The upazila is extremely vulnerable to flooding and cyclones and farming problems were a result of increased salinity in the soil. According to Dutch NGO Cordiad, 53% of coastal Bangladesh is affected by salinisation. By 2050, it is predicted that one in seven people in the country will be displaced by climate breakdown. The sea level is projected to rise by 50cm over the same period, leading to a loss of about 11% of Bangladesh’s land.
Local farmers said that they were not making much profit by cultivating paddy only in monsoon season after battling natural calamities, including Sidr, Aila, Fani, Bulbul, Amphan. Later, they started learning the method of cultivating salt-tolerant crops and have been getting various services including training through various government and private organisations.
After visiting various unions of the upazila, the Daily Sun correspondent saw the fields are getting greener, some have cultivated fish and vegetables through integrated farming. Rows of beans, watermelons, quinoa, sunflowers, bitter gourds, brinjals, pumpkins, tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, sweet potatoes, and various vegetables were adorning the fields.
Apart from this, farmers are cultivating potato, garlic, sunflower and corn on fallow lands. Their activity lasts from morning to evening.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office sources, agri-cultivation on fallow lands and integrated cultivation of fish and vegetables in Koira have increased greatly.
In the current year, 24,259 tons of vegetables were produced on 1,270 hectares of land in the upazila. Out of this, 2,500 tonnes of eggplant has been produced, 44,528 tonnes of watermelon produced on 1,200 hectares of land, sunflowers on 88 hectares, maize on 40 hectares, Boro on 4,925 hectares, mustard on 146 hectares and sweet potatoes on 150 hectares of land.
Apart from this, many abandoned and uncultivated lands in several villages including Bagali, Hatyardanga, Baga, Srirampur, Bamiya, Kheona, Batulbazar and Koira no 3 were brought under agricultural cultivation.
Abul Hossain, a farmer of Hatiar Danga village of Koira Amadi union, said, “I cultivated watermelons on 12 bighas of land as gained profit by cultivating on 5 bighas of land. Farmers are now self-reliant although fertilizer and pesticide prices are a little high in the market.”
Abdul Quader, a farmer of Naksha village in Koira, said “My family have been farming for generations. But sometimes due to salinity and lack of fresh water, the cultivation of the land stopped. I was forced to leave the village and go to the city for livelihood.”
Abdul Quader said, “I worked for several months in the integrated cultivation of fish and vegetables in Dumuria of Khulna. After returning home, I started farming after leasing three bighas of land with a plan of integrated farming of fish and vegetables. Seeing my success in the first year, many farmers in the area were encouraged. We are trying to survive by adapting to the hostile environment. With persistent profit, I also was able to buy some land myself this year.”
“This year I cultivated fish and vegetables on 5 bighas of land. Spending more than Tk1.5 lakh in a year, profit can reach to Tk6 lakh to Tk7 lakh. The Agriculture Office supports with advice and training as well as seeds and fertilisers.”
Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in Khulna, Harunor Rashid said that in 2015, they first initiated to production of crops on saline land. They achieved success in 2017 by researching several technologies and developing salt-tolerant crops. “Farmers have succeeded by using technology developed by BARI. Hope this success will increase day by day.”, he said.
He said “Crop production has increased in the saline land of Koira upazila in the last three years. “Already we have been able to develop improved salt tolerant varieties of many crops including rice, lentil, watermelon, potato, maize, barley, sunflower, vegetables. Work is underway for rapid expansion of these varieties and production technology among farmers in many areas, including coastal Koira.”
Koira Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said, “Crop and vegetable cultivation has increased a lot compared to the previous days. Farmers are being supported through demonstrations and incentives in crop and vegetable cultivation. Farmers are expected to earn good profits from vegetables this year. The agriculture department is providing overall advice to the farmers in crop production.”
