Rising salinity and agriculture
As I travel to the southern parts of Chittagong, I can see acres of waste land --tracts of land lying idle. There is little sign of green--the landscape looks almost grey. In the past, the farmers used to grow crops in those lands during this time of the year. Unfortunately, the scene of lush green paddy field is now a part of the memory. In fact, one can see only caked earth covered with dead stubbles and weeds.
According to the news reports, it is the rise of salinity of the water of the Karnaphuli and the connected canals that have forced the farmers to leave their lands idle. The crux of the matter is that the water is no more suitable for agriculture.
As the sea level is on the rise, saline water is creeping into the interior of this land. This is a major environmental issue that calls for immediate action.
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