Cordaid Seminar: Breaking the Salt Barrier for Bangladesh's Coastal Farmers
Cordaid recently hosted a seminar, 'Breaking the Salt Barrier', to tackle the pressing issue of saline-resilient agriculture in Bangladesh's coastal belt. The event, held at Hotel Sheraton Dhaka on 30 September, brought together key stakeholders to discuss the impact of rising soil salinity on smallholder farmers and explore future solutions.
Rising soil salinity, a significant threat to agricultural productivity, has left millions of smallholder farmers in Bangladesh's coastal belt struggling. Over 30 per cent of the country's land lies in coastal areas, with more than half remaining fallow due to salinity intrusion and climate change-related challenges. To address this, Cordaid's COASTS project, concluding in June 2025, worked to help farmers adapt and build resilience.
The seminar, organised by Cordaid, highlighted the importance of developing locally produced saline-tolerant seeds and mapping suitable varieties for different soil types. Tajwar Awal and Amarendra N Biswas, key figures in the field, underlined these points. Dr Md Mahmudur Rahman, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, echoed their sentiments, stressing the need for saline-tolerant seeds and technology in affected districts. Ms Ella Lammers, praising the COASTS project's impact, noted increased cultivation, higher production, stronger market linkages, and women's empowerment.
The seminar concluded with a call to action. Participants agreed to scale up saline-resilient agriculture, mainstream such practices into government extension services, strengthen partnerships, ensure seed availability, and promote community-led, nature-based approaches.
The seminar 'Breaking the Salt Barrier' underscored the urgent need for saline-resilient agriculture in Bangladesh's coastal belt. With coastal areas accounting for a significant portion of the country's land, addressing salinity intrusion is crucial for food security and farmers' livelihoods. The seminar's outcomes, if acted upon, could pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for Bangladesh's coastal farmers.
