A solution to salinity

The problem of saline water is inceasing in ACP agricultural production. Already half of the world s groundwater resources are saline, and on almost half of the world s irrigated land salinity is limiting production. Even if today in most countries irrigation is only used on a small proportion of cultivated land, the problems associated with it can only grow. Some locations suffer more from than others, within and between ACP countries and beyond. Coastal lands are obviously at risk. The problems are now being addressed in those areas with the acutest problems, through the Dubai-based Biosaline Agriculture Centre (BAC). The Centre became operational at the end of 1999, and for the current four-year period it is gradually developing its network. It has started with a regional focus ('the Gulf, and other regions of the Islamic world') and it intends to develop a wider role during the period. Its primary activities are focusing on developing sustainable management systems for the irrigation of forage and food crops and greening plants with saline water, on providing a source of salt-tolerant plants, and providing training and information on saline-irrigated agriculture and associated technology. The applications will be focused on coastal and marginal lands. For the immediate future, the geographic focus means that for interested parties elsewhere, it will be a question of observing and noting the work of the Centre, rather than seeking concrete active partnerships. However, its extensive research and development portfolio, and its institutional strength, are themselves reason enough to follow its work, and, once informed, spotting the opportunity to develop closer links. The Centre has a regular newsletter, published three times a year, and it is set to grow into a hub for the exchange of information and experiences of people and institutions working in saline agriculture. [caption to illustration] This should have been a rice field Biosaline Agriculture Centre PO Box 14660, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Fax: +971 4 336 1155 Email: bac@biosaline.org.aeThe problem of saline water is inceasing in ACP agricultural production. Already half of the world s groundwater resources are saline, and on almost half of the world s irrigated land salinity is limiting production. Even if today in most..