Impact of Salinity: A Case Study in Saline Affected Satkhira District

Geographical location turns Bangladesh to the most disaster-prone country. People of the coastal areas of Bangladesh are fighting with different disaster like flood, cyclone, landslides, earthquake and thunderstorm. The aim of the study is to explore the impact of salinity on different sectors specially on livelihood and examine the changing patterns of livelihood and effectiveness of current adaptation measures in Satkhira district. The study found that salinity intrusion has severely affected traditional livelihood options. It has seen that 62.3% people of the study area has changed their livelihood as their previous and traditional livelihood options were affected by salinity which has led to the emergence of alternative livelihood options, such as shrimp farming, crab fattening, and day labor. However, even these alternatives are also facing challenges due to excess salinity and virus attacks. The study highlights the need for collaboration between NGOs and the government to ensure secure livelihoods for the community. The findings of this study have important implications for policymakers and practitioners working on disaster risk reduction and livelihood development in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.