Salt affects plant growth mainly through:
(a) toxicity from excessive uptake of salt substances such as sodium,
(b) reduced water uptake, known as water stress and
(c) reduction in uptake of essential nutrients particularly potassium.

Early signs of salinity damage are (a) darker leaves than the normal color of bluish-green, (b) smaller leaves and (c) stems with shorter spaces between leaf nodes. When the problem gets more serious, leaves (a) become yellow (chlorotic) and (b) are affected by "burning" (firing, browning) and the death of leaf edges.

As a starting point FAO staff has worked with national agriculture staff to develop a tentative cropping calendar and priority crops for relief and rehabilitation (provide link to the cropping calendar). Actual distribution of the seed will depend on needs assessment that are now being conducted and time of planting will need to take into account the salinity issue.

High quality seed of the right crops and varieties will be procured in the most cost-effective and efficient way from local and national sources or internationally if necessary. Coconuts and other planting materials will be important for the rehabilitation and it would be expected that they would be sourced locally.