Even though not a coastal district, Narail’s rivers and canals are seeing a gradual rise in salinity level. In some spots, the water has become too salty for irrigation. As a result, farmers are turning to groundwater for their crops. And since the rain has not arrived on time, the cost of cultivating Boro paddy has tripled. On top of that, groundwater levels have dropped significantly in many areas.

Today is Earth Day. It is a reminder to reflect on what to be done to protect the planet. Bangladesh is one of the country’s most vulnerable to climate change. The country continues to see its agriculture, environment, and biodiversity under threat. This year’s theme for Earth Day is “Our Power, Our Planet.”

Narail, a small district covering 968 square kilometers, is home to about 800,000 people. Most residents depend on farming and fishing. But with surface water salinity now measuring 2.5 times higher than normal, agricultural land is shrinking. According to reports, around 5,000 acres of once triple-cropping farmland have now become single-cropping land.

Porag Boron Biswas is a farmer from Bashbhita village in Narail Sadar. This year, he planted Boro paddy on three bighas of land. A decade ago, he irrigated his land using river and canal water. But that is no longer an option, as the water has become too salty. Now, he has to use underground water through pumps, which has significantly increased his expenses. It used to cost him about BDT 7,000–8,000 to irrigate his land. Now, it costs at least BDT 21,000.

A recent report by the Narail Regional Office of the Soil Resources Development Institute also confirms rising salinity levels in the rivers Madhumati, Afra, Nabaganga, and Chitra. The report says salinity in these rivers has reached a level where their water is no longer suitable for irrigation. And naturally, this salinity has also spread to canals, wetlands, and reservoirs across the district—leaving marginal farmers in a tight spot.

According to the Soil Resources Development Institute in Jashore, signs of salinity in Narail’s water were first detected in a 2000 survey. Back then, around 16,000 hectares of land were affected. By 2009, that number had risen to nearly 19,000 hectares. Another survey was carried out last year, but the results have not been published yet.

For water to be considered suitable for irrigation, the salinity level needs to stay below 0.75 dS/m (deciSiemens per meter). Anything above that makes it unfit for crops. In parts of Narail, river and canal water has reached as high as 1.75 dS/m.

Dr. Md Motasim Ahmeed, Chief Scientific Officer at the Jashore office of the institute, explained, “During certain times of the year, water in areas such as Kalnaghat of the Madhumati River, Baraipara of the Nabaganga, Awria on the Chitra, and Tularampur along the Afra River turns saline. This mostly depends on upstream water flow and how much rainfall the upstream region gets. The more water and rain upstream, the less salinity we see in the rivers.”

Upstream water is facing increased difficulty entering Bangladesh. Meanwhile, tidal water from the sea is easily entering coastal areas. If upstream water flowed in freely, it would push the salty sea water back. But as that natural flow slows down, salinity in surface water is rising.

Dr. Md Mohinuzzaman, Chair of the Environmental Science and Disaster Management department at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), added, “The more water Bangladesh receives through Farakka, the lower the salinity in the region’s rivers and canals. But when the flow from Farakka drops, salt levels rise. Heavy rainfall helps reduce salinity. So, in years with little rain, the salinity goes up. Also, silt buildup in rivers, canals, haors, and wetlands is blocking natural water flow, which means salty water is gradually moving farther inland. That’s something we really need to worry about.”

When saline water enters farmland, crops are damaged, and farmers end up using more fertilizer to cope. Consequently, with higher irrigation and fertilizer costs, the overall expense of Boro paddy cultivation has gone up. Thousands of farmers in Narail Sadar and Kalia upazila are struggling financially as a result.

Roton Ghosh, a marginal farmer from Mulia in Narail Sadar, said, “Because of the salt water, farmers in areas like Mulia, Bahirgram, and Akdia can’t grow more than one crop a year. Just a few years ago, we were growing three crops a year in those same lands.”

Pikul Sheikh, a farmer from Kanchanpur village in Kalia upazila, shared his experience, “When even a little bit of saltwater gets into the field, we have to use way more fertilizer than usual. But when the salt level in the water is high, the entire crop just dies.”

It has been found that due to saltwater, nearly 5,000 acres of once triple-cropping farmland in Narail Sadar and Kalia have now turned into single-cropping land. Thousands of small farmers in the region are bearing the brunt. Boro paddy production, along with other crops, is taking a serious hit.

According to the agriculture department, saltwater has been entering rivers and canals in Narail from March to June for several years now. Because of this, farmers in Narail Sadar and Kalia cannot use surface water for irrigation anymore. Every year, the salt levels keep rising, forcing farmers to rely heavily on groundwater.

Md Meshkat Ali, Assistant Engineer (Minor Irrigation) at Narail BADC, said, “Farmers have no choice but to depend more on groundwater since they can’t use river or canal water. But that’s pushing up their production costs for Boro rice and other crops. If farmers depend on groundwater so much, farmers could face even greater risks in the future.”

Md Jasim Uddin, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Narail, explained, “If we can re-excavate the rivers and canals and allow more freshwater to flow in naturally with the tide, farmers could start using surface water again. That would bring down irrigation costs significantly. In areas where salinity is high, we’re encouraging farmers to grow salt-tolerant crops like wheat, sunflower, and corn. Our field officers are actively working with them.”