An Overview of the Ganges Coastal Zone: Climate, Hydrology, Land Use and Vulnerability

Abstract

The Ganges coastal zone is the contiguous area covering southern Bangladesh and Sundarbans region of West Bengal, India. Agriculture in this zone is the main source of livelihood for the inhabitants; however, it is influenced by several climate, soil, and anthropogenic activities. This zone is covered by polders in Bangladesh and islands in West Bengal. Cropping system in this area is very low due to several constraints particularly high soil salinity and irrigation water scarcity. Researchers and NGOs from Australia, Bangladesh, and India have been working together since 2015 under a project entitled “Cropping system intensification in the salt-affected coastal zones of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India†to sustainably increase cropping intensity and productivity in this area. The project is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). This special issue is based on the research findings of various experiments on the climatic variability, cropping system options, management of fertilizer, irrigation water as well as social and economic issues conducted under the aegis of the project in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.