Drought-Salinity-Waterlogging: Which is more deleterious for sustainable intensification in the coastal polder zone of Bangladesh?

For the sixteenth installment of Delta Talks, the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) presented a webinar on the relative impacts of drought, salinity, and waterlogging on sustainable intensification in Bangladesh’s coastal polder zone.

Dr. Manoranjan Mondal, scientist at the International Rice Research Institute-Bangladesh, highlighted that waterlogging, rather than salinity or drought, poses the most significant threat to crop intensification and diversification in these polder areas. To address this challenge, Dr. Mondal shared that effective drainage systems are crucial for adopting improved agronomic practices and enhancing land productivity.

By harnessing the natural tidal dynamics of river systems, it’s possible to create favorable water environments for high-yielding rice cultivation, particularly during the wet season. This can significantly boost productivity and facilitate the cultivation of dry season crops.

To learn more about the topic, you can watch the full session:

A collaboration between AMD and WUR, Delta Talks is a webinar series focusing on the development and results of research activities on securing food systems and strengthening climate resilience in the Asian mega-deltas. Delta Talks serves as a platform for the joint exchange of research results or ongoing work between AMD and WUR.