Bangladesh’s Fight Against Salinity: Salt-Resilient Crops Hold the Key to Food Security

Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in agriculture over the past five decades.

Through scientific innovation, improved irrigation, high-yielding crop varieties and the hard work of millions of farmers, the country has transformed itself from a food-deficit nation into one that is largely self-sufficient in rice production.

However, climate change is threatening these hard-earned achievements.

Among its many impacts, soil salinity has become one of the greatest challenges to sustainable agriculture.

Every year, saltwater intrusion is degrading fertile farmland in the coastal region, reducing crop yields and threatening the livelihoods of millions of farming families.

Unless Bangladesh accelerates the development and adoption of salt resilient crops, the country could face increasing food insecurity in the coming decades.

Bangladesh’s coastal belt covers 19 districts and supports nearly one-third of the country’s cultivable land.

This region plays a crucial role in producing rice, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds and fish.

Yet rising sea levels, cyclones, tidal surges, reduced upstream freshwater flow and poor water management are increasing soil salinity at an alarming rate.

According to the Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI), approximately 1.06 million hectares of agricultural land are already affected by different levels of salinity, representing nearly 63 percent of the cultivable land in coastal Bangladesh.

SRDI also reports that saline-affected land increased from 833,000 hectares in 1973 to 1.056 million hectares by 2009.

More recent satellite-based research published in Nature Scientific Data (2025) estimates that about 14,600 hectares of land become saline every year, indicating that climate change is accelerating the problem.

The consequences are severe. Salinity reduces seed germination, damages plant roots, limits nutrient absorption and lowers agricultural productivity.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), severe salinity can reduce crop yields by 30 to 70 percent, depending on the crop and the level of salt concentration.

Rice, wheat, maize, vegetables and fruit trees all suffer under saline conditions.

The World Bank warns that Bangladesh could lose approximately 6.5 percent of its agricultural land by 2040 because of sea level rise and salinity intrusion if stronger adaptation measures are not implemented.

Such losses would seriously affect national food production as the country’s population continues to grow.

The human cost is equally alarming. Millions of farmers in Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Noakhali and Cox’s Bazar are already experiencing declining agricultural productivity.

Lower crop yields reduce household incomes, increase poverty and encourage migration to urban areas.

Women often bear a disproportionate burden as they travel longer distances to collect fresh water and manage household food shortages.

Children face greater risks of malnutrition when families can no longer afford diversified diets. The impacts of salinity therefore extend beyond agriculture to public health, nutrition and social stability.

Recognising the growing threat, the Government of Bangladesh has introduced several important initiatives.

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed salt-tolerant rice varieties such as BRRI dhan47, BRRI dhan67, BRRI dhan73 and BRRI dhan97.

Similarly, the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) has released salt-tolerant rice varieties suitable for coastal farming.

These innovations have enabled many farmers to cultivate land that was previously considered unsuitable for rice production.

Through the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers have also received training on climate-smart agriculture, improved water management and the use of resilient crop varieties.

In addition, the government has incorporated climate resilience into major policy frameworks such as the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, the National Adaptation Plan, and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.

Investments have also been made through the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund and various development partners to strengthen embankments, improve irrigation systems and support climate adaptation.

These initiatives deserve recognition. Bangladesh is internationally acknowledged as a leader in climate adaptation, and its agricultural scientists have made significant progress under difficult conditions.

However, the scale of government action remains insufficient compared with the rapidly expanding salinity crisis.

First, government research has focused primarily on rice, while relatively limited progress has been made in developing salt-tolerant varieties of vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, wheat, maize and fruit crops.

Food security is not only about producing rice; it also depends on ensuring adequate nutrition through diversified agricultural production.

Second, many small farmers still lack access to quality salt-tolerant seeds, modern irrigation technologies and agricultural credit.

Research innovations often take years to reach farmers because of weak extension services and inefficient seed distribution systems.

Third, water management remains a major challenge.

Damaged embankments, poor drainage and inadequate freshwater storage continue to expose agricultural land to repeated saline flooding during cyclones and high tides.

Without improving water infrastructure, even the best crop varieties cannot achieve their full potential.

Furthermore, agricultural research funding remains relatively modest considering the magnitude of the climate challenge.

Bangladesh must invest substantially more in agricultural innovation if it is to protect future food security.

Several countries facing similar challenges offer valuable lessons.

The Netherlands has transformed saline-prone land into productive farmland through advanced water management, climate-resilient infrastructure and continuous research on salt-tolerant crops.

Israel has pioneered the use of desalination, recycled wastewater, precision irrigation and biotechnology to sustain agriculture under saline conditions.

Australia has invested heavily in breeding salt-tolerant wheat and barley, while Vietnam has expanded salt-tolerant rice cultivation throughout the Mekong Delta to adapt to sea-level rise.

India, through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, has successfully introduced salt-tolerant crop varieties in several coastal states.

These experiences demonstrate that science, innovation and long-term investment can significantly reduce the impacts of salinity.

Bangladesh should now pursue a comprehensive national strategy for salinity resilience.

Greater investment is needed in research institutions such as BRRI, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), BINA and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) to develop climate-resilient varieties of a wide range of crops.

Collaboration with international organisations such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) should be strengthened to accelerate research and technology transfer.

At the same time, farmers require easier access to certified climate-resilient seeds, affordable agricultural credit, crop insurance and timely extension services.

Modern irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, freshwater reservoirs and improved embankments should be expanded throughout the coastal belt.

Public-private partnerships can also play an important role in producing and distributing quality seeds more efficiently.

Bangladesh’s agricultural success has always depended on scientific innovation and the resilience of its farmers. Climate change is now demanding another transformation.

Every year, thousands of hectares of productive farmland are lost to salinity, threatening national food security and rural livelihoods.

Developing and expanding salt-resilient crops should therefore become a national priority, not simply an agricultural programme.

By investing in research, modern water management and climate-smart farming today, Bangladesh can protect its farmers, secure its food supply and build a resilient agricultural system capable of feeding future generations despite a changing climate.

(The writer is the Editor and CEO of News Network)