Impact of saltwater intrusion on agricultural productivity and water use among coastal communities -

Abstract

Coastal aquifers are vulnerable to potential saltwater intrusion due to overexploitation of groundwater and potential climate change impacts such as sea level rise, altered precipitation patterns, and decreased groundwater recharge. In its turn, saltwater intrusion poses a threat to agricultural productivity due to increased salinity that is invariably damaging to soils and plantations. This study assesses the quality of groundwater resources at a pilot area along the Eastern Mediterranean (South Lebanon) with a special reference to saltwater intrusion using specific salinity indicators. It then examines the economic impact of saltwater intrusion on agricultural productivity of an important coastal crop, banana, in the pilot area. While the overall groundwater quality was reasonably acceptable, evidence of secondary saltwater intrusion was recorded. Banana farmers are apparently using both groundwater and surface water resources for crop irrigation, an unplanned effort reducing the impact of groundwater salinity on banana production. With the expected increase in impacts of climate change on water resources, the conditions can deteriorate justifying the development of mitigation measures and adaptation strategies, to control or adapt to potential impacts of saltwater intrusion.