Salinity hits cultivation on 1.0m hectares in coastal dists

Salinity hinders crop production in over 1.0 million hectares of land in coastal areas posing a serious threat to the food security of the country, experts said Sunday at the world soil day programme.

They emphasised on raising cropping intensity in the 93 sub-divisions under 19 districts in the coastal belt appropriating stress tolerant seed and modern technology to ensure sustainable food security for the growing population of the country.

The observations came at the seminar marking the 'World Soil Day 2021' at a city hotel.

Agriculture ministry organised the event with assistance of Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI), UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Soil Science Association and Practical Action Bangladesh, said an agriculture ministry press release.

This year, the World Soil Day is observed with the theme 'Prevent salinity, increase soil productivity'.

Agriculture minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said the government has now been working giving utmost importance to crop production in an adverse environment and land in coastal saline-hit regions, haor and hilly districts in Chattogram region.

He said that salinity has been rising amid climate change.

In order to keep the food production system stable and sustainable, cultivable crop varieties and production technologies have to be developed and to be disseminated in the saline-prone lands of coastal and southern areas, Dr Razzaque said.

"We are working on it and in the meantime, our agricultural scientists have also been able to develop improved salinity-tolerant crops while work is also underway to expand these varieties and production technologies rapidly among the farmers," he added.

Agriculture additional secretary Hasanuzzaman Kallol delivered the welcome address.