Soil Health and Food Security: Perspective from Southwestern Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a primarily agrarian economy. Agriculture is the single largest producing sector of the economy. Soil is the predominant aspect for a successful crop production; whereas, good soil health is a prerequisite for sustainable agriculture and food security. On the other hand, more than 30 % of the cultivable land in Bangladesh is in the coastal area. Out of 2.86 million hectares (ha) of coastal and off-shore lands about 1.056 million ha of arable lands are affected by varying degrees of salinity. Hence, this chapter would deal with status of soil parameters including soil salinity, its threat to sustainable crop production and food securities. Then the focus shifts to find out possible ways and few recommendations towards improving the soil health as well as reduction of the risk in southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh.