నైరూప్య

Cultivation on Saline Soil and its Effect on Crops and Livelihood of People: Evidences from Kultali Block, South 24 Parganas

Aminul Haque Mistry*

Soil salinity represents a significant long-term environmental risk in coastal and deltaic environments in the Indian sub-continent. Excess soil salinity may exacerbate existing risks livelihood in densely populated tropical deltas, which is likely to have a negative effect on human and ecological sustainability of these regions and beyond. Indian Sundarban is traditionally backward, disadvantaged and exhibit high degrees of saline infestation with severe cyclonic storms. The farming community in this area is dominated by poor, marginal cultivators and landlesTables people. This study is an attempt to access the causes related with the increase in soil salinity and its effect on soil, plant and livelihood in the riverine plain of Matla river of Kultali block in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The salinity in soil is a one of the culprit for agriculture potentiality which not only reducing crop production but also soil productivity. The most significant impact of salinity is the changes in cropping pattern and indigenous rice verities. Local people are facing increased pressure due to decline in production of yield and cause severe effect on income and food basket.