Confronting the challenges of salinity intrusion on agriculture in South Asia

Salinity intrusion—accelerating due to sea level rise and coastal erosion—is leading to contamination of surface water and groundwater reserves, wetlands loss, and various public health risks. It makes the livelihoods of many people dependent on fisheries and agriculture increasingly uncertain.

It will take a multi-sectoral approach to adapt to the challenges of salinity intrusion. The costs of response measures could be immense. Effective adaptation requires a strategic investment plan that identifies priority areas of intervention to allocate limited financial resources.

Photo: Ashoke Kumar Sarker/WorldFish