PIROJPUR, June 5: Intrusion of saline water of the river has been affecting the crop cultivation on hundreds of hectares of land in the district, reports UNB.

Agriculture Extension Department said river waters in seven points in Mathbaria and Nazirpur thanas have been found unsuitable for irrigation as salinity in the water has increased alarmingly.

Meanwhile, irrigation on a vast tract of cropland in the thanas has already been stopped on the advice of the agriculture officials.

A research, conducted by the Scientific Officer of AED, showed that the existing level of salinity in water exceeded all past records.

The level of salinity is 3.41 ECDS metre at Baramachhua point of Haringhata river. 3.78 metre in Shapleza canal and 3.15 in TuShkhali canal in

Mathbaria thana while 6.80 metre at Baburhat point in Baleshwar river. 3.21 metre in Tarabunia canal and 3.10 metre in Dhighirjan canal in Nazir-pur thana.

This correspondent while visiting different areas of these points mentioned above found the crops growing reddish due to the intrusion of river water during the tide or use of river water in irrigating the cropland.

In this situation, farmers as well as officials are apprehending that paddy could not be cultivated on these saline affected lands in near future.

Moreover, the district lacks irrigation pump, as river water is the main source of irrigation in the river-based district creating concern among the growers.

The farmers urged the authorities concerned to take immediate measures in this regard.