Biological and socioeconomic implications of seawater intrusion on coastal agroecosystems

Abstract

Seawater intrusion (SWI) has emerged as a critical environmental and socioeconomic challenge in the coastal belt of Badin District, Pakistan. This study investigates the impacts of SWI on rural livelihoods, food security, and migration through household surveys and socioeconomic profiling. Findings reveal that agriculture remains the dominant livelihood, engaging 55% of respondents, yet declining freshwater availability and salinization have degraded nearly 22% of cultivated land, reducing crop productivity and livestock resources. Average monthly household income (Rs. 17,042) barely exceeds expenditures (Rs. 16,072), leaving families highly vulnerable to food insecurity. Poor infrastructure, limited access to healthcare and safe water, and exploitative credit systems further exacerbate poverty. Natural hazards, including floods, unseasonal rains, and storms, compound the impacts of SWI, while the malfunctioning Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) has intensified land degradation and crop loss. Consequently, migration has become an adaptive strategy, with over 100 households relocating from affected union councils due to declining agricultural opportunities. The study underscores that SWI is not only an ecological issue but also a driver of socioeconomic instability, poverty, and rural–urban migration. Urgent policy interventions such as regulated freshwater releases downstream of Kotri Barrage, rehabilitation of LBOD, embankment reinforcement, and stricter industrial effluent management are essential to mitigate SWI impacts and safeguard food security. These findings highlight the pressing need to integrate climate adaptation, sustainable water management, and community resilience into national strategies for coastal development.