Drainage induced waterlogging problem and its impact on farming system: a study in Gosaba Island, Sundarban, India

Ghosh, Soumen; Mistri, Biswaranjan

doi:10.1007/s41324-020-00328-8

Cited by 29 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Furthermore, the influent discharge of the local rivers has resulted in increased salinization of the groundwater, which is available from the shallow aquifers located in the region [6]. The severe impact of heavy siltation, resulting in waterlogging and increased salinity is quite evident in the Gosaba islands (belonging to the Sundarbans), as recorded in the recent works of Ghosh and Mistri [41]. Additionally, studies conducted by Banerjee [5] and Biswas et al [12] indicate that the salinization shows wide heterogeneity across the eastern, western and central sectors of the Sundarban, with hyper-salinization in the central sector compared to eastern and western parts.…”

Section: Salinization Of Freshwater Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threat of arsenic contamination, salinity and water pollution in agricultural practices of Sundarban Delta, India, and mitigation strategies

et al. 2021

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The paper through a critical appraisal of the agricultural practices in the Indian Sundarban deltaic region explores the tripartite problems of arsenic biomagnification, salinity of arable lands and ingress of agrochemical pollutants into the freshwater resources, which endanger the health, livelihood and food security of the rural population inhabiting the delta. The threefold problem has rendered a severe blow to the agrarian economy consequently triggering large-scale outmigration of the rural population from the region. Although recent studies have addressed these issues separately, the inter-connectivity among these elements and their possible long-term impact upon sustainability in the Sundarbans are yet to be elucidated. In the current scenario, the study emphasizes that the depleting freshwater resources is at the heart of the threefold problems affecting the Sundarbans. Owing to the heavy siltation of the local river systems, freshwater resources from the local ravines have salinized beyond the point of being used for agricultural purposes. At the same time, increasing salinity levels resulting from fluctuation of pre- and post-monsoon rainfall, frequent cyclones and capillary movement of salinized groundwater (primarily during the Rabi season) have severely hampered the agricultural practices. Salinization of above groundwater reserves has forced the farmers toward utilization of groundwater, which are lifted using STWs, especially for rice and other cultivations in the Rabi season. The Holocene aquifers of the region retain toxic levels of arsenic which are lifted during the irrigation process and are deposited on to the agricultural fields, resulting in bioaccumulation of As in the food products resourced from the area. The compound effect of consuming arsenic-contaminated food and drinking water has resulted in severe health issues recorded among the local population in the delta. Furthermore, due to the sub-optimal conditions for sustaining agriculture under saline stress, farmers often opt for the cultivation of post-green revolution high-yielding varieties, which require additional inputs of nitrogen-based fertilizers, organophosphate herbicides and pesticides that are frequently washed away by runoff from the watershed into the low-lying catchment areas of the biosphere reserve. Such practices have endangered the vulnerable conditions of local flora and fauna. In the present situation, the study proposes mitigation strategies which necessitate the smart use of locally obtainable resources like water, adaptable cultivars and sustainable agronomic practices like organic farming. The study also suggests engaging of conventional plant breeding strategies such as “Evolutionary plant breeding” for obtaining cultivars adapted to the shifting ecological conditions of the delta in the long run.

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Section: Salinization Of Freshwater Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threat of arsenic contamination, salinity and water pollution in agricultural practices of Sundarban Delta, India, and mitigation strategies

et al. 2021

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“…River channels have been disconnected from their parent source. The construction of embankment in early 19th Century to prevent saltwater intrusion in agricultural soil has been raising siltation within channels and slowly increasing the elevation of the adjacent channel area than the inland areas (Bannerjee, 1998;Ghosh and Mistri, 2020). As a result, the saucer-shaped appearance of agricultural land is prone to waterlogging and decreases agricultural production (Mistri, 2012).…”

Section: Lack Of Fresh Water For Irrigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Farmers have practised rice-based farming system in low lying coastal land of Sundarban based on traditional methods (Bandyopadhyay et al, 2003). The mismanagement of drainage system still causes large scale water inundation during climatic extremes (Mistri, 2014, Ghosh andMistri, 2020). As a result, farmers continue to face a massive loss in agricultural productivity due to high soil salinity (Debnath, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coastal Agriculture and Its Challenges: A Case Study in Gosaba Island, Sundarban, India

Ghosh¹,

Mistri²

2020

SACI

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Agriculture is the main economic activity in Sundarban to sustain the basic livelihood of rural people. In recent decades, the nature of agriculture mainly cropping patterns, crop productivity, and agricultural land use is gradually changing because of various natural as well as anthropogenic factors. The frequent occurrence of climatic extremes over the Bay of Bengal has been directly or indirectly affected the agricultural system of the delta. In the wake of the 2009 cyclone Aila, the crop production in Gosaba rapidly declined due to high salinity and low pH in the soil. Most of the agricultural land remains a seasonal fallow due to the shortage of freshwater during the dry season. The direction of the surface slope has been altered by the unsystematic construction of embankment and haphazard construction of closure in river channels. The saucer-shaped appearance of the island causes massive drainage congestion induced waterlogging problem in the agricultural field. Waterlogging causes crop damage and low productivity. Farmers continue to face substantial monetary loss and entrapping in poverty. To overcome these issues, climate-resilient cropping strategy, proper maintenance of the drainage system, and adaptation of modern land reshaping techniques for diversified agriculture systems are urgently needed for the profound agro-based economic future of the delta.

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“…Inundation-related challenges in low-lying areas located, especially in the deltaic plains, received less attention and therefore problems remained less addressed (Ahmed and Sarker, 2015; Ghosh and Mistri, 2020; Rahman and Islam, 2018). Cities are intensifying, encroaching open fields, flood plains and water bodies are depleting rapidly to cater various needs of exploding population (Ahmed et al , 2021; Ahsan et al , 2021; Ghosh and Mistri, 2020; Pallavi et al , 2021; Zhang et al , 2021). As a result versatile, self-sufficient city landscapes become depleted, degraded zone that aew generally known as peri-urban areas (Liu et al , 2021; Sansare and Mhaske, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waterlogging mitigation and safe water supply: lessons learnt from low-lying areas of Basirhat municipality, India

Dey¹,

Islam

Paul

et al. 2022

IJDRBE

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a replicable model that ensures Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage as well as water treatment facilities at the community level by providing total service coverage at community scale. An intervention was implemented in one of the low-lying areas of Basirhat Municipality (West Bengal, India) that included a number of action programs in order to address household- and community-level water-induced challenges. Design/methodology/approach A research study was undertaken to identify the root causes of the problems that are generally spawned from geomorphological, hydro-fluvial, climatic factors and processes and the situation becomes complicated when many other cumulative problem-contexts layovers the existing ones. A number of social and technological innovations were tested in the field and this paper critically examined the intervention processes and outcomes. It was implemented through participatory process by involving related stakeholders working at that scale so that necessary public acceptance is received for scaling up, at least, in the similar physical, social, economic and institutional contexts. Findings The problem conceptualization process, spatial assessment for contextualizing the problem, design of interventions for different scales, development of project deployment strategies from field-based learnings contributed in developing a total solution based on fusing of household-level technical solutions, social innovations and actions for community engagements towards sustainability. Mobilized community members in addressing local inundation and waterlogging crisis. Satellite image-based maps shown to make them understand the upper-lower connection of drainage. People also developed their own action plans and engaged themselves in resuscitation of an old canal, removed the garbage that resulted in improved drainage conditions in the area. Research limitations/implications Pandemic due to COVID 19 and its related prolonged lock down, West Bengal State Assembly Election, closure of municipal governance system due to the forthcoming municipal election, closure of educational institutions, closure of Anganwadi Centre in the field area were the limitations. Due to the lock down, it was difficult for the team to maintain the time frame as well as the budget. As per the Election’s Code of Conduct gets released no public meeting was allowed without permission, people in the vicinity became suspicious, hence movement of the team members got restricted. Practical implications Due to the COVID protocols, the team could not organise mass training programs. It was difficult for the team members to commute in public/private transport, hence filed work got impacted. As the team could not access data from the health department, they developed a strategy of generation data on body mass index, mid-upper arm circumferences and waist-to-hip ratios to understand the status of health and nutrition of the community. It was difficult to access the Public Health Engineering Department’s laboratory situated in the municipality for water sample test. Cost escalated due to extension of the project time. Social implications During the second phase (wave) when people lost access to health facilities they requested the team to stop field visit. Women’s empowerment through acquiring knowledge and skill on treatment and safe storage of drinking water at home. Men appreciated and recognized this, which improved the status of women in the society. Children after expressing their willingness to learn the new technology of water purification were given handholding training by their mothers and knowledge transfer has taken place in the next generation. Mobilized community members in addressing local inundation and waterlogging crisis. Satellite image-based maps to understand the upper-lower connection of drainage helped them develop their own action plans and engaged themselves in resuscitation of an old canal, removed the garbage that resulted in improved drainage conditions in the area. Originality/value Household-level solutions include supply of low cost, easy operable, sustainable water purifiers, community-level solution focused on securing water-related challenges at social/public gathering places and wider catchment area level solutions include the engagement of local communities to drain out stagnant waters by clearing drains, creating/digging small canals through collective actions. Geo-spatial techniques (topographical mapping, spatial survey, water quality tests) along with social methods such as participatory appraisals for gathering information on human health, public awareness campaigns and partnership development with local government agencies were the major activities performed as part of the implementation of interventions. It is imperative to mention that water-related challenges in the low-lying settlement areas of Basirhat Municipality have effectively been addressed by relying on necessary theoretical underpinnings (Disaster risk reduction/humanitarian principles) transmitted through application of scientific techniques and mediated through local people and their agencies.

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Drainage induced waterlogging problem and its impact on farming system: a study in Gosaba Island, Sundarban, India

Cited by 29 publications

References 21 publications

Threat of arsenic contamination, salinity and water pollution in agricultural practices of Sundarban Delta, India, and mitigation strategies

Threat of arsenic contamination, salinity and water pollution in agricultural practices of Sundarban Delta, India, and mitigation strategies

Coastal Agriculture and Its Challenges: A Case Study in Gosaba Island, Sundarban, India

Waterlogging mitigation and safe water supply: lessons learnt from low-lying areas of Basirhat municipality, India

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