The Post-Tsunami crops through salt tolerant species

Natural disasters or human activities can transform idyllic places into extreme environments. This is what has occurred in tsunami affected areas on December 2004. After emergency relief, the hit populations have to learn ways to cope with new living conditions, and after early recovery and immediate actions, governments and NGO’s have to face mid-to long–term rehabilitation efforts. "Apart from the rehabilitation of the infrastructures, such as damaged ponds and water supply and drainage systems, there is a need for more responsible farming practices," says Mike Phillips, a FAO aquaculture expert: “FAO believes that it is now time to move forward with medium and longer term actions to promote sustainable livelihoods of the coastal communities”. Although the governments have taken quick steps to respond to these losses in the short term, one has to expect long-term effects as well. There is therefore a crucial need for long-term mitigation measures in the management and planning for more resilient livelihoods and environmental rehabilitation; there is also a need for longer term planning of agriculture rehabilitation and development, because many of those affected by the tsunami depended on local agriculture not just for food but also for their livelihoods. Effectively the tsunami had a very dangerous impact on the natural environment, with several marine and coastal national parks severely damaged, coral reefs destroyed by debris, and agricultural land affected by salt water intrusion. These environmental impacts will in turn have grave consequences for the tourism and fishing industries, not to mention grazing and farmland. In other words, people’s basic livelihoods are critically at stake. After the sea water flooding of the countryside all over Indian Ocean coasts on December 2004, territories have been damaged by salinity, so farmers have to deal with new chemical conditions they didn't know before. The populations in the territories affected by tsunami may not have previously encountered the phenomenon, and there may be a lack of accessible information on identifying and dealing with salt-affected soils. They should to know how to monitor saltwater content in their fields and in nearby ditches from which they pump water for irrigation. Tsunami's salt water may leave lands uninhabitable. The waves have left behind substantial salt deposits as well as destroyed crops and eroded soil. Some scientists state that territories maybe need 30 years to regain fertility. Fortunately some experiments around the world let hope for the possibility to cope with soil salinity in several ways. The land rehabilitation efforts include appropriate drainage, deep rooting crops, gypsums which might be introduced when and where appropriate. Rain and drain help fight saltwater intrusion. Additions of organic matter help reduce the effects of salinity on crop growth. After draining salty water from the fields, fresh (non-salty) water needs to be pumped into the affected fields to flush out the salts in the soil. Local authorities are dredging canals to provide water for high-risk areas.