India To Try Growing Salt-Tolerant Crops

In the pilot effort, an area in Tamil Nadu state will house dozens of species of halophytes, or salt-loving plants, that can be cultivated as cash crops, the BBC reported this week.

Halophytes, found naturally throughout the coastal areas of India, can be used to produce edible oils, medicines, vegetables, and cattle and fish feed.

Researchers say salt-resistant plants are important for people living in coastal areas where vast stretches of land have become saline and unsuitable for any other form of cultivation. Read the full report here.

Source: Science News, UPI.com, New Delhi.