1Department of Agronomy, School of Agriculture and Allied Science, The Neotia University, Jhinga, Sarisha, West Bengal, India
2Department of Statistics, School of Agriculture and Allied Science, The Neotia University, Jhinga, Sarisha, West Bengal, India
*Corresponding author: tanujkumar.mandal@tnu.in (ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4599-7548)
Online Published on 27 October, 2023.
Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest of the world and shared between India with a 40% of landmass and remaining with Bangladesh. The ecosystem of Sundarbans is dynamic and in the developmental stage by formation of new islands through soil erosion and sedimentation. It is a low-lying area with an average elevation below high tide line. Traditional method of rice-based farming system is common in low lying coastal land of Sundarbans. Climate change, rising of sea level and frequent cyclones have been changing the crop production and cropping pattern in the Sundarbans delta. The communities of Gosaba, Kultali, Kakdwip, Sagar, Patharpratima and Namkhana blocks of Sundarbanss have been affected by climate change and soil salinity. The agricultural production system is totally hampered after the strike of cyclonic storm ‘Aila’ in 2009, and super cyclone ‘Amphan’ in 2020 due to high salinity and pH condition of soil. Human migration is very common in Sundarbans delta because of extreme poverty and at least one family member is working in other states of India in 75% of families. Crop cultivation is very challenging due to high salinity and changing climate in Sundarbans. Use of salt tolerant variety, land shaping, use of organic manure, rain water harvesting are the key elements to manage the saline soil of Sundarbans delta.
• Ecological vulnerability and soil salinity are major problems of agriculture in Indian Sundarbans.
• All possible options including agronomic interventions as described are to be adopted for agricultural sustainability of Sundarbans.
Sundarbans, Bangladesh, Ecosystem, Islands, Crop cultivation, Climate
