Livelihood Zones in West Bengal

1

Livelihood Zones in West Bengal

A scenario for AWM interventions

Prepared by:

Rajarhat PRASARI, Kolkata (India)

In consultation with

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome (Italy)

2

PRASARI was established in year 2007 and is a Non Govt.

Organization working in rural development sector. Within a less

than four years’ span, PRASARI has proved its role in improving

food sufficiency in southern parts of West Bengal viz; Sundarbans.

PRASARI shares part of its success with local PRIs (Panchayeti Raj

Institutions) as well who are taking further initiative and a lead role

in some parts of Sunderban. Further in the line, PRASARI has

expanded in the northern parts of WB as well viz; Jalpaiguri district

and the theme over here, is to introduce and promote SRI (System

of Rice Intensification). PRASARI believes that small and marginal

farmers over here would be benefitted most with this new

intervention.

Today PRASARI is the leading organization in the state of West

Bengal in promoting SRI.

PRASARI receives its support from various national funding

agencies such as NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development) and SDTT (Sir Dorabji Tata Trust) and recently

started consulting FAO of UN on AWM (Agriculture Water

Management) Potential in India.

This document has been prepared by PRASARI in consultation with

FAO of UN, Rome, Italy. This document explains mainly about the

Livelihood Zones identified during the workshop held during

November 2010 in Kolkata (India). The data used in this document

were collected from various government agencies as soft copy and

though various online resources such as government websites.

Mailing address: PRASARI 17 B, Bapujinagar, Jadavpur, Kolkata – 92 India

[email protected]

+91-33-24297935 +91-9836341858

May 2011

mailto:[email protected]

3

1

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

4

ater is a precious natural resource and in Indian scenario, availability of water is getting scarce

in several states; reason is not the unavailability and rather is not being able to harvest the

potential. E.g. the case of West Bengal - fig 1 (1 and 5) explains the situation; there is a huge

difference between ground water potential (yield Litres/sec) and ground water quality where ground water

is low. West Bengal where more than 72% of population resides in villages and is predominantly agriculture

dependent; rural livelihoods are vulnerable to both floods and droughts - water has to be planned,

developed, conserved and managed as such, keeping in view the socio-economic aspects and needs of the

State (MInistry of water resources 2002). It is also one among most important aspects to be considered

during development planning at ground level.

In the light of technology where a major portion of agriculture can be fed with deep tube wells, horizons,

even with shallow water pumps, can put drought prone areas vulnerable to mass famine (Fig 1; 4). Though

the proportion of utilization would vary from state to state but various researches show that there has

been a sharp decline in the ground water table over the years (Fig 1; 8). Availability of technology and

proper infrastructures might help conserving water and make it able to get utilized for dry seasons but lack

of awareness among communities towards water related issues can put efforts at risk. According to a NGO

viz; Development Alternatives Group, It is recognized that water problems cannot be solved only by quick

technical solutions; solutions to water problems require the consideration of various cultural, educational,

and scientific aspects (DevelopmentAlternativesGroup 2001).

In India, State Governments mostly run various schemes such as canal irrigation, RLI (River Lift Irrigation)

etc. through local administration in the area and try to strengthen the situation of irrigation facilities for

the local farmers. The arrangement in most situations is based on users’ cooperatives/societies (Phadhke

2002) and it should ideally be like this only. Somehow the trend shifts towards the utilization of ground

water resources; reasons might be lack of proper maintenance of canals/RLIs or so (IWMI 2010).

Furthermore, the use of shallow water tube wells and other low power irrigation devices allow users have

independent rights to use ground water for farming purposes. In this light, if policies of devolving

management of resources assume that (only) users will organize and take on the necessary management

for community based irrigation facilities grow major possibility of the system getting dysfunctional within a

short span of time only (Meinzen-Dick, Raju et al. 2002).

Coupling the above information with monsoon rainfall; largest source for water for the agriculture – on all

India time scale has been without any trend and mainly random in nature over a long period of time. But

on the spatial scale, existence of trends was noticed such as Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim and

Bihar Plains (decreasing) and Punjab, Konkan & Goa, West Madhya Pradesh and Telangana (increasing)

(Guhathakurta and Rajeevan 2008). Above mentioned trends are based on the rainfall data from 1901 –

2003 so It can be easily assumed that with vagaries of climate change, this rainfall trend might show a

different trend in future as well. This also implies that policies for water use should be realistic and

essentially be looking at broader perspectives and should not look for only immediate solutions as this

might put Indian agriculture on a temporarily boost putting long term interests at risk.

W

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

5

IMPORTANT MAPS OF INDIA

Figure 1; 1 – Hydrological map, 2 – District wise population, 3 – Drought prone areas, 4 – Flood prone areas, 5 – Ground water quality, 6 – Land use, 7 – Population growth, 8 – Decadal ground water fluctuation (1997 - 2006)

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

6

2

BACKGROUND

7

Workshop held in November 2010 in Kolkata (WB) helped

produce a map of WB (Fig 1) with different zones1 delineated on

the basis of similarity of living conditions of rural communities.

Participants from different govt. and non-govt. agencies

contributed to explore solutions as well to overcome the

problems of water for agriculture purposes in WB; relevance of

each solution was also defined for each zone.

Further in the line, participants also helped to find out priority

zones (where AWM can be an entry point) and few criteria such

as poverty level, unavailability of infrastructure etc. were

considered for it to be relevant in the context of rural

communities over there.

The zones defined in Fig 1 are based on the information provided by

the expert participants and does not necessarily match with the AEZ2

map of the West Bengal. This was a two days’ workshop and experts

showed excellent participation for the entire group activities during

the workshop; various group discussions and presentation helped

brought key features of West Bengal forward.

In total there were made five groups3; facilitators provided them with

necessary tools such as different relevant maps, blank attribute sheets

and that were with clear objectives. So in spite of being from different

back grounds, participants could come to some kind of consensus and

ultimately could produce the map showing different zones relevant for

AWM interventions.

1 See annexure for details. 2 AEZ – Agro ecological zones

3 See workshop report for more details.

Figure 3: AEZ map of West Bengal.

BACKGROUND

Figure 2: Different zones defined by the participants during the group discussion.

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3

METHODOLOGY

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Three main steps are considered in order to explain profile of different zones.

A. Identification of different zones

B. A brief look in to different aspects of State of West Bengal

C. Different livelihood zones and major characteristics

D. Identification of AWM investment potential

A. Identification of different zones Workshop provided participants a platform to discuss and redefine the zones necessary for AWM

intervention. Initially there were little disagreements pertaining to demarcation of different zones but later

due to expert facilitation, participants could come on a common consensus.

B. A brief look in to different aspects of State of West Bengal It would be worthwhile to have a look at this state in a nut shell; population and land use pattern are major

in this topic – would be able to give an overview of the state in general.

C. Analysis of different datasets Datasets pertaining to area, population, climate, workers, agriculture etc. were obtained from Bureau of

Applied Economics & Statistics (Govt. of West Bengal) and National Atlas & Thematic Mapping

Organization (Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India).

A lot of information has been fetched from different scientific papers and secondary resources for making

better analysis of existing datasets obtained from different government departments.

D. Identification of AWM investment potential Looking at the several solutions been identified by the participants, it was a must task to find out the

relevance of each solution in each area, hence every solution was checked against each zone (Table 2) as

per its relevance for making an investment.

METHODOLOGY

10

ZONES’ DELINEATION IN WB

The two days’ workshop held in Kolkata

facilitated by PRASARI and FAO gave

participants from different government and

non-government agencies a platform to

discuss about possibilities to improve

agriculture-water situation in West Bengal.

During the workshop, initially many zones

were identified but rearrangement (through

rigorous group discussions and

presentations) resulted in total 15 zones (except Kolkata) (Fig 2, Table 1). Different maps such as soil map,

AEZ map and agro-climatic maps were considered in order to delineate boundaries for livelihood zones.

LIVELIHOOD ZONES - IDENTIFICATION

A detailed analysis considering several important factors such as climate, population, agriculture, poverty,

and water related issues etc. is done in order to define different livelihood zones. It was also analyzed on

how a specific zone can be considered for making an investment; poverty followed by lack of infrastructure

for water, technology and management still make most important criteria amidst all intended for making

an investment. West Bengal GIS layers (up to block level) were used in order to define the boundaries of

Livelihood zones. These layers were then superimposed over the administrative map of the state; the

delineation of the boundaries of the entire livelihood zones is random in nature and is not district specific.

Hence, it gives all the zones a vague boundary contrasting to normal revenue map of the area (Fig 4). It is

also clear from the Livelihood Zones’ map that a single zone might consist of more than one district.

LIVELIHOOD ZONES - NOMENCLATURE

Table 1: Nomenclature of Livelihood Zones based on key characteristics and key livelihoods

Zone Nomenclature based on key characteristics and key livelihoods in the zone

Zone 1: Hilly-Terai Rain-fed Grain Crops4-Fruits-Vegetables- Spices5- Livestock Livelihood Zone.

Zone 2: Terai-Grain crops-Fiber-Vegetables-Livestock Livelihood zone.

Zone 2a: Terai-Grain crops-Fiber-Tobacco-Vegetables-Livestock Livelihood zone.

Zone 3: Barind Rain-fed- Grain crops-Pine apple-Fiber Livelihood zone.

Zone 4: Barind-Rice-Horticulture Livelihood zone.

Zone 5: Gangetic Alluvial & Barind- Rice-Sericulture Livelihood zone.

Zone 6: Ruhr & Alluvial-Grain crops-Poultry-Livestock Livelihood Zone.

Zone 7: Ruhr & Alluvial-Grain crops-Fishery-Poultry-Livestock-Cottage Industry Livelihood zone.

Zone 7a: Old Vindhyan alluvial-Grain crops-Fishery-Poultry-Livestock-Cottage Industry Livelihood Zone.

Zone 8: Ruhr & Alluvial-Grain crops-Livestock Livelihood zone.

Zone 9: Eastern Plateau & Alluvial-Grain crops-Livestock Livelihood zone.

Zone 10: Coastal & Alluvial-Grain crops-Fishery-Floriculture-Vegetable-Legumes-Livestock Livelihood zone.

Zone 11: Coastal-Grain crops-Horticulture-Livestock-Fishery Livelihood zone.

Zone 12: Coastal-Grain crops-Fishery-Livestock-Bund Horticulture Livelihood zone.

Zone 13: Coastal-Small Scale Single crop (Grain/Horticulture)-Capture Fishery-Livestock Livelihood zone.

4 Grain crops typically include Rice, Wheat, Mustard and Maize, and in some zones such as zone 1, it is Millet.

5 Spice crops typically include cardamom, ginger, turmeric etc.

IDENTIFICATION OF DIFFERENT ZONES

Zones’ delineation in West Bengal

Livelihood zones’ identification

Livelihood zones’ nomenclature

11

LIVELIHOOD ZONES IN WEST BENGAL

Table 2: Zones and districts falling under a particular zone

SN Zones Districts falling under the zone 1 Zone 1 Darjeeling

2 Zone 2 Jalpaiguri

3 Zone 2a Koch Bihar

4 Zone 3 Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Maldah

5 Zone 4: Maldah

6 Zone 5: Maldah, Murshidabad

7 Zone 6: Birbhum, Bardhman

8 Zone 7 Birbhum, Bardhman, Nadia, Hugli, Haora, East Midnapur, West Midnapur, Bankura, North 24 Parganas

9 Zone 7a Birbhum, Bardhman

10 Zone 8: Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur

11 Zone 9: Purulia

12 Zone 10: Kolkata, Nadia, Haora, North and South 24 Parganas

13 Zone 11: South 24 Parganas

14 Zone 12: South 24 Parganas, East Midnapur

15 Zone 13: South 24 Parganas

Figure 4: Livelihood Zones' Map

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AN OVERVIEW

West Bengal with the area of 88752 Km2 is

the third largest economy in India. West

Bengal has 18 districts and Kolkata serves as

the state capital. There are over 23 towns

with a population of over 100,000. The largest

cities are Kolkata, Howrah, Asansol, Durgapur

and Siliguri. Other important towns include

Darjeeling, Kharagpur and Haldia. Kolkata is

amongst the largest metropolitan regions in the world. The state has international boundaries with

Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal (IMRBInternational 2010).

The River Ganga and its numerous tributaries have

contributed to some of the most fertile regions in the

world. In West Bengal, agriculture is the mainstay for

about 70% of the population. The land usage in West

Bengal is as follows - arable land: 62.8%; forests 13.38%;

the rest is for other purposes – shall be discussed in

details in following subsections.

The state of West Bengal has been a center of a brilliant

and rich history, culture and heritage. With a population

of over 90 Million, West Bengal is the fourth most

populous state in India, and ranks first in terms of

population density. West Bengal is predominantly an

agriculture driven state (Fig 1; 6), however, there has

been a rich tradition of industrial setups since the start

of the industrial age in India. The state is actively

engaging investments in industrial sectors to ensure

resurgence in of a glorified past as a leader in

industrialization in India. West Bengal is a state with progressive thought and forward vision; the people of

the state are generally identified by a strong sense of culture and cognizance. West Bengal has earned the

distinction of being one of the “food basket” states of India (Prahalad 2010).

Table 3: Overview6 of West Bengal.

Particular Measure

Capital Kolkata

Area ~ 89000 km2 (2.7% of India’s area)

Human Development Index (HDI) 0.61

No. of Districts 18

State Language Bengali

Population > 91 Million (Male: Female = 51%:49%)

Urban – Rural Breakup of Population 22.97: 72.03 (%)

State’s share in India’s Population 7.28 %

Population Growth (1991-2001) 17.77%

6 Source: www.indiaat75.in

STATE OF WEST BENGAL

AN OVERVIEW

POPULATION

LAND USE PATTERN

Figure 5: West Bengal with all district

http://www.indiaat75.in/

13

POPULATION

According to Census of India (2001) the estimated population of West Bengal in year 2001 was 80.17

million and is projected to be 91.00 million in year 2011.

Figure 6: District wise population in West Bengal – 2001.

It is clearly visible that the population in different districts makes four different categories –

1. Low population districts – Darjeeling, Dakshin Dinajpur, Cooch Bihar, Uttar Dinajpur and Purulia.

2. Moderately populated districts – Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Bankura, Birbhum

3. Medium populated districts – West Midnapur, East Midnapur, Nadia, Hooghly, and Howrah.

4. Highly populated districts – Murshidabad, Bardhman, North and South 24 Parganas.

Figure 7: Growth of population in West Bengal over the years (1941 - 2011)

With Fig 4, it is also evident that population in WB has just quadrupled in last 70 years with maximum

increase in highly populated districts (Census of India, 2001) such as Murshidabad, Bardhman, North and

South 24 Parganas. This information is important in terms of AWM intervention possibilities in West

Bengal; maximum industrial development happened in these highly populated districts only. This also

indicates that priority zones (Zones 8, 2 and 12; Fig 43) were almost left behind from development

0100000020000003000000400000050000006000000700000080000009000000

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District wise Population in West Bengal - 2001

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perspectives. Lack of proper road networks, poor electrification, poor agricultural growth, and poverty in

itself are among major issues in priority zones.

LAND USE PATTERN

Figure 8: Available land area in different districts.

Total available land in West Bengal is 8684 ha; out of which > 50% area is available in only 6 districts (Fig 5).

Figure 9: West Bengal and land use pattern.

Land use pattern (Fig 9) shows there are only four broad categories and total land use pattern can be

divided into; net sown area for agriculture purposes, for non-agricultural use, forest area and a little area

as fallow land. It would be interesting to see on how different districts are doing in the light of different

land use pattern.

0.00100.00200.00300.00400.00500.00600.00700.00800.00900.00

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Land area available in West Bengal

1174

1733

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5

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341

5296

Forest Area

Non-agricultural use

Barren & unculturable land

Permanent pastures & other grazing land

Misc. tree groves

Culturable waste land

Fallow land other than current fallow

Current fallow

Net area sown

Area in ha

Land Use pattern in West Bengal

15

Figure 10: Area utilized for agriculture purpose in different districts.

Figure 11: Area not being utilized for any purposes.

All the priority zones (Zone 8, 2 and 12) comply with the current situation of agriculture; fallow area data

from the concerned districts show that there is need to intervene as lot of land is not utilized for any

purpose. It would be nice to look into the profile of two districts viz; Purulia and Bankura that show highest

fallow land area falling under high priority zones.

Purulia; comes first in the priority zones, and is predominantly mono-cropped. About 60 % of the total

cultivated land is upland. Out of the total agricultural holding about 73% belongs to small and marginal

farmers having scattered and fragmented smallholdings. Paddy is the primary crop of the district. 50% of

the total land is under net-cropped area and only 17% of the net cropped area is under multi crop

cultivation. 77% of the net-cropped area is under Aman paddy cultivation. The crops are grown mostly

under rain fed condition, generally with low fertilizer consumption per unit area thus per hectare

production is also low as compared to other district of West Bengal (Anno. 2011).

Bankura; net cultivable area of the District is 4.30 lakh ha and nos. of cultivator is 4.47 lakhs and per

cultivator availability of net shown area comes to 1.02 ha. Due to continuous division and fragmentation of

cultivated land, agriculture is becoming less remunerative. About 46% of the net cropped area is under

Irrigation. The gross cropped area is about 6 lakh ha and cropping intensity is 147%.

Other major purposes land is mainly used for in all the districts, can be divided in to two viz; non-

agricultural and forest area.

0100200300400500600

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Net area sown (Agriculture)

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16

Figure 12: Area utilized for non-agricultural purposes.

Figure 13: Area utilized for growing forests.

0

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100

150

200

250

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Non-agricultural use

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Forest Area

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ZONE 1

OVERVIEW There is only one district that falls in Zone 1 viz;

Darjeeling. With an area of 3149 km2, Darjeeling

is different from all zones and is unique from

environmental Eco-perception. There are

different climatic zones in district Darjeeling

with distinctive attributes and the soils here

have been developed by both fluvial action and

lithological disintegration. Here annual mean

max and min temperature touches range of 14.90C and

8.90C respectively with average annual rain fall of 3092 mm.

Darjeeling is also one amongst most beautiful places in

India and considered as the ‘Queen of the Hills’.

This district has also been bestowed with several rivers such

as Tista, Great Rangit, Mechi, Balason, Mahananda, Lish,

Gish, Chel, Ramman, Murti and Jaldhaka. Considering

several great things, Darjeeling can be said comprised of six

T’s i.e. Tea, Tourism, Teak, Toy train, Tiger Hill, and

Trekkers’ paradise (Desai 2011).

MAJOR LIVELIHOODS7 AND ISSUES8 CONCERNED

Environmental conditions play a major role in conditioning the livelihood and economy of the people in

Darjeeling; subsistence agriculture, livestock, forestry, plantations and allied activities are the major

activity of the rural folks. Physiography in the area has made agricultural conditions extremely diverse.

Agriculture is greatly impacted by altitude and slope aspect. On account of cold no crops are grown above

9500 feet above sea level. Such situation in Darjeeling has made cultivation extremely difficult and needs

considerable input of human labour. Bare rocks and steepness restrict agriculture operations to a great

extent.

Broadly, agricultural crops in the Himalaya can be grouped into two categories – Food crops and cash

crops. Major Food crops include rice, maize, potato, wheat, barley etc. and are explained as TMS (Total

miscellaneous crops) in following figures (Fig 16, 17) while the cash crops are tea, cinchona, ginger etc.

Usually agriculture is practiced on irrigated terraces called Khet or rain fed terraces termed as Bari. Khets

are mostly seen on the lower altitudes (below 1500 meters) and is meant mainly for paddy cultivation.

Livestock serve as the primary and perhaps the most important source of fertilizer.

7 Source: http://beacononline.wordpress.com/

8 Source: Desai, M. (2011). "Identification and Mapping of Hazard Prone areas regarding landslide in the Darjeeling Hill area." Retrieved May 2nd,

2011, from http://www.darjeeling.gov.in/geography.html#land-use.

LIVELIHOOD ZONES

OVERVIEW

MAJOR LIVELIHOODS AND ISSUES

PRODUCTIVITY OF MAJOR FOOD CROPS

PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF RICE

Figure 14: Darjeeling

http://beacononline.wordpress.com/

18

Table 4: Zone 1 covering districts and blocks falling under it

Figure 15: Persons engaged in agriculture in different blocks of Zone 1

Forestry is also an important occupation of the people of Darjeeling. Darjeeling has

about 38.91 % of its area under forest. Many forest-based industries have come up and

there is huge potential for further development. Tea plantation contributes to a great

extent to the livelihoods of people over here.

Major issues in the region –

a) Frequent landslide hazards due to unstable geological structure and tectonic

disturbances.

b) Presence of very thin soil cover and heavy rainfall makes it vulnerable to Soil erosion.

This aspect is important from socio economic development of the hills and its people.

c) The forest cover is in a precarious condition due to the rapid increase in cultivated land (with the

exception of tea gardens), expansion of settlements, and construction of roads. The rapid depletion of

forest cover is noticeable in the tea plantation area. In most of the tea gardens in the hills, any type of

shade tree or trees along the fringe line of the garden for the protection of the soil is more or less

insignificant.

Darjeeling-

Pulbazar

Sukhiapokhri-

Jorebunglow

RangliRangliot

Kalimpong-I

Kalimpong-II

Gorubathan

Kurseong Mirik

Bargadars 2331 27 132 1111 1221 144 212 23

Small farmers 2560 5 510 2030 1240 1160 510 16

Marginal farmers 8005 1285 3780 8510 4475 2730 1580 479

0100020003000400050006000700080009000

Nu

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Zone 1: Persons engaged in agriculture

District under Zone 1 Blocks falling under Zone 1

Darjeeling

Darjeeling Pulbazar

Gorubathan

Kalimpong0I

Kalimpong0II

Kurseong

Mirik

Rangli Rangliot

Sukhiapokhri Jorebunglow

Figure 16: Broken highways

19

d) Rapid expansion of settlements and towns especially along the roads is one of the important causes of

frequent landslide hazards in the hills. Multi storied buildings without proper planning along the roads

and on the steeper slope increase the load on already deteriorated slopes.

e) Demand for fuel is another issue; mining of less spirited coal layers and illegal felling of young trees to

meet the demand of firewood is an unpleasant fact of the hills.

f) Population explosion in the hill areas, especially in the urban areas has been followed by the rapid

increase in number of heavy vehicles; continuous horizontal vibration gradually destabilizes unstable

slopes and geological formations.

g) Water demand at domestic and commercial fronts has increased many folds during recent years.

Apart from this, forest clearance and removal of top layer of soils have resulted in decreasing ground

water level and consequent drying up of the streams during most part of the year.

PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MAJOR FOOD CROPS

Figure 17: Production of major food crops in zone 1

Figure 18: Productivity of major crops in Zone 1

58.7

3.2 30.8

14.4 1.2 8.1

31.4

205.9

0

50

100

150

200

250

Rice Wheat Maize OtherCereals

Pulses Oil Seeds Jute TMC

Zone 1: Production of major crops ('000 tonnes) 2006-07

1866 1428

2116

1207

609 564

12.7

4254

Rice Wheat Maize Other Cereals Pulses Oil Seeds Jute TMC

Zone 1: Productivity of major food crops (Kg/ha) 2006-07

20


Figure 19: Production (thousand tones/ha) and productivity (kg/ha) patterns of rice in different seasons (2006-07).

Aus Aman Boro

Series1 8.9 46.6 3.2

0

10

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30

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50

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Zone 1: Production pattern of rice

Aus Aman Boro

Series1 2040 1824 2071

1700

1750

1800

1850

1900

1950

2000

2050

2100

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Zone 1: Productivity pattern of rice

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ZONE 2

OVERVIEW9 Zone 2 consists of four districts viz; part of Darjeeling, Koch Bihar and Uttar Dinajpur, and Jalpaiguri. As the

zone covers a major portion of district Jalpaiguri so it would be more important to discuss the district

Jalpaiguri in details; rest districts would be given proper explanation in different parts of the report.

Table 5: Zone 2 with its districts and blocks

Districts under Zone 2 Block falling under the Zone 2

DARJILING

Kharibari

Matigara

Naxalbari

Phansidewa

JALPAIGURI

Alipurduar I

Alipurduar II

Dhupguri

Falakata

Jalpaiguri

Kalchini

Kumargram

Madarihat0Birpara

Mal

Maynaguri

Metiali

Nagrakata

Rajganj

KOCHBIHAR Haldibari

Mekhliganj

UTTAR DINAJPUR Chopra

Islampur

Crisscrossed with rivulets, rivers and hills, the district is primarily rural with over 80% of population residing

in rural areas. The district is the gateway to the entire North-Eastern States and Bhutan. Having high

percentage of migrated population different cultural groups (Ranjbanshi, Ravas, Totos, Metch, Santhals,

Madasia and Oraons) has created a unique cultural harmony which is rarely seen in other districts of West

Bengal (NIC-Jalpaiguri 2011).

MAJOR LIVELIHOODS AND ISSUES10 CONCERNED

Apart from agriculture and livestock rearing, tea gardens also contribute to the livelihoods in the region

and Jalpaiguri is the second highest tea producing district it the country. The tea estates define not

just the the economy but also the ethnic composition, employment and livelihood patterns, culture

9 Source: NIC-Jalpaiguri (2011). "Jalpaiguri Online." Retrieved May 2nd, 2011, from http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/index.htm.

10

Source: www.nrega.net

http://www.nrega.net/

22

Table 6: An overview of district Jalpaiguri

Particulars Measures Geographical area 6245 km2

Area under tea garden 1987 km2

Area under forest land 1790 km2

Average annual rainfall 3160 mm

Average maximum temperature 30.90C

Average minimum temperature 10.80C

Relative humidity 82%

Main crops other than tea Rice and Jute

Major rivers Tista, Torsa, Jaldhaka, Raidak, Sankosh.

and economic development perspective of the district. A

good percentage of population belongs to SC/ST and

they form the labor class for working in the tea gardens.

The tribal laborers are not native to this place and were

brought from present day Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand

and were settled here by the British. Their ethnic and

cultural identity and social systems are also maintained

till date (DistrictMagistrate 2010).

Figure 21: Number of persons engaged in agricultue in blocks of Zone 2

Major issues in the region –

1. The tea Industry went through several fundamental changes and a

severe crisis that peaked during the first decade of this

century. This manifested itself in a large number of sick, locked out

and closed tea gardens. After a period of great hardship, a number

of gardens did become operational, though issues of productivity

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kata

Hal

dib

ari

Jalp

aigu

ri

Kal

chin

i

Kh

arib

ari

Ku

mar

gram

Mad

arih

at-…

Mal

May

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Mek

hlig

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Met

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Nag

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ta

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ari

Ph

ansi

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a

Raj

gan

j

Ch

op

ra

Isla

mp

ur

Nu

mb

ers

Blocks in Zone 2


Bargadars

Small farmers

Marginal farmers

Figure 20: Jalpaiguri

Figure 22: Demand for Gorkhaland

23

remained. However, despite all efforts, twelve gardens remained

closed and two lied abandoned at the beginning of 2008 leaving a

great number of laborers on the verge of hunger.

2. As the tea gardens are reviving, farmers are showing interests in

establishing homestead tea gardens; reasons include water scarcity in dry

seasons and less returns on basic inputs. Middlemen also share a part of

this discouraged situation as a big part of the (supposed to be the profit)

income is wasted in by sharing their produce with the middlemen. This is a hard reality and middlemen

over here have a strong syndicate not allowing local farmers selling their produce directly in the

market.

3. Floods – during monsoon season, rivers are full of water – rise and fall and often changing their course

causing massive damage to the forests and agricultural land of villagers (Das 2009).

4. Conflict of intention between Supreme Court and forest communities – Supreme Court of India in year

2000, posed ban on restraining removal of dead, diseased, dying or wind-fallen trees, drift wood and

grasses etc. from any national park or Game Sanctuary. In view of this, rights and concessions cannot

be enjoyed in the Protected Areas (PAs). This was interpreted wrong by banning all activities, including

forest resource use for survival, and livelihood of forest communities. The court had no other intention

apart from stopping destructive actions for the commercial profit in the protected forest areas. It

actually threatened the lives and livelihoods of the forest villagers as well as the ecosystem and

plantation areas especially in reserved areas where frequent and devastating flood occur with the

continuous changing courses of rivers and streams (Das 2009).

5. Political disturbance – the area is highly vulnerable to political disturbances; demands for making

another state within state are always on a high for a long time. The poor is the most affected in these

agitations.


Famous mainly for its tea gardens and sanctuaries, District Jalpaiguri has rice, wheat, maize, a small portion

of pulses and oil seeds, jute and other fibrous crops as among main crops. Potato and tea are covered as

TMC (Total miscellaneous crops) in following figures (Fig 20, 21).

Figure 24: Production of major crops in district Jalpaiguri.

419

33.1 23.1 0.3 2.1 7.8

446.7 449.2

734.3


Pulses Oil seeds Jute Fibres TMC

Zone 2: Production of major crops ('000 tonnes) 2006-07

Figure 23: A protest rally

24

Figure 25: Productivity11 of major crops in zone 2


Figure 26: Production and productivity pattern of rice in different seasons in Zone 2 (2006-07).

As expected the production of rice is higher in the season of Aman; the main Kharif season for it.

Comparing production of rice with other crops such as maize; rice production is much better compared to

maize and wheat but the productivity is still lesser than these two. Production wise jute and other fibers

are also doing well in this district, and as this is a good place for tea gardens so people preference are also

inclined towards tea production. This is noticeable that there has been a trend going on over here when

farmers don’t get enough production/return from their field then they try to shift towards the tea

production which can let them avail a minimum amount of money per month during the top season which

is not possible through conventional agriculture. This is an alarming situation for this zone and proper

efforts need to be done here. Actually, this situation is more or less similar in places where tea is on a

major and plays an important role in the local economy.

Local economy is also influenced with the vegetable production viz; potato and part of the contribution

also comes from the production of chilly.

11

Productivity for TMC is not available for period of 2006-07

1824 2055 1982

860

505 565

10.6 10.5

Rice Wheat Maize Other Cereals Pulses Oil seeds Jute Fibres

Zone 2: Productivity of major crops (kg/ha) 2006-07)

Aus Aman Boro

Production 54 322 43

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Pro

du

ctio

n ('

000

to

nn

es)


Aus Aman Boro

Productivity 1311 1892 2347

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

pro

du

ctiv

ity

(kg/

ha)

Zone 2: Productivity pattern of

rice

25

ZONE 2A

OVERVIEW The Zone 2a consists only of Koch Bihar; with a geographical area of 3387 km2 contributes 3.82% to the

total land mass of the State of West Bengal. Koch Bihar is a district under the Jalpaiguri Division and is

located in the north-eastern part of the state, surrounded by the district of Jalpaiguri in the north, state of

Assam in the east and the international border in the form of Indo-Bangladesh boundary in the south as

well as in the west (NIC-KochBihar 2011).

Table 7: Zone 2a with its districts and blocks

Districts under Zone 2a Blocks falling under the Zone 2a

KOCH BIHAR

Coochbehar I

Coochbehar II

Dinhata I

Dinhata II

Mathabhanga I

Mathabhanga II

Sitai

Sitalkuchi

Tufanganj I

Tufanganj II

Table 8: Overview of district Koch Bihar

Particulars Measures Geographical area 3387 km2

Area under agriculture 2530.63 km2

1. Net Area for cultivation 246,491 ha

2. Cropping intensity 215 %

3. Single cropped area 24,900 ha

4. Double cropped area 1,41,491 ha

5. Triple cropped area 80,100 ha

6. Irrigated area 35%

Area under forest land 56.99 km2

Average annual rainfall 5348.8 mm

Maximum temperature 39.90C

Minimum temperature 3.90C

Relative humidity Highly humid (except Feb to May – 50-70%)

Main crops Rice, vegetables, wheat, tobacco, chili, maize and pulses

Major rivers Tista, Torsa, Jaldhaka, Raidak, Kaljani, Sankosh and Gadadhar systems etc.

Almost 85-90% of the total population depends on agriculture. In spite of poor soil condition, acidity and

lack of irrigation facilities the production and productivity of different crops is able to cope with increasing

demand. Part of the contribution comes from adoption of improved technologies, inclusion of different

26

high yielding and hybrid variety seeds and a series of government schemes like ATMA, NFSM, RKVY etc.

(NIC-KochBihar 2011).

MAJOR LIVELIHOODS AND ISSUES12 CONCERNED

A favorable climate helps rural Cooch Behar make its major livelihood as agriculture farming, and it

supplies the town with fruits and vegetables. Poorer sections of this semi-rural society are also involved in

transport, basic agriculture, animal resource farming, small shops, and as manual labor in construction.

Koch Behar is largely an agricultural place where more than 70% of total available land is used for

cultivation purpose but the very situation is that only 35% of total cultivable area receives irrigation (NIC-

KochBihar 2011). This situation puts the agriculture at risk as the agriculture still remains dependent on

monsoon rainfall and which can’t be said a favorable situation for its development point of view.

Major social and developmental challenges –

1) Lack of irrigation facilities13 - Koch Behar is an irrigation

deficient district. There are no major irrigation schemes

worth mentioning in the district; only about 35% of the

cultivable area is under irrigation. The benefit of the

Teesta irrigation cannels for the district is perhaps

distant possibility due to the topographical reasons. The

district is however blessed with large numbers of

perennial rivers, khals, beels, and water bodies. These

resources are being utilized as a source of surface

irrigation through a number of RLI and Mini RLI schemes in the region. However, most of these RLI

often remain unutilized or underutilization due to yearly flooding, meandering and heavy siltation

of these rivers. But the ground water potential of the district is very high. No doubt pump operated

shallow tube well is the most viable and popular irrigation scheme among the farmers of this

district.

Figure 28: Persons engaged in agriculture in Zone 2a

12

Source: www.voiceofbharat.org 13

Source of text is the official website for the district of Cooch Behar (http://coochbehar.nic.in).

02000400060008000

100001200014000160001800020000

Nu

mb

ers

Blocks in Zone 2a

Zone 2a: Persons engaged in agriculture

Bargadars

Small farmers

Marginal farmers

Figure 27: Koch Bihar

http://www.voiceofbharat.org/

http://coochbehar.nic.in/

27

2) Unemployment – although the government has made several efforts through several schemes such

as SGSY14

and PMRY to overcome the situation of unemployment in the region but the trend to

migrate to cities in search of employment is still increasing.

3) Cross border trafficking and domestic trafficking are one among serious issues.

4) Improper implementation of energy schemes – causing the region failing to fulfill the energy

needs.

5) Gender bias and violence on women – the sex ratio is very less and is only 949 i.e. only 949 women

per 1000 men.

6) Rate of school dropout have increased.

7) Condition of health facilities in the rural areas of the district is very poor.


Figure 29: Production pattern of major food crops in zone 2a

Figure 30: Productivity pattern of major food crops in zone 2a.

14

SGSY: Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yogna, PMRY: Prime Minister Rojgar Yogna.

445.8

25.2 35.2 0.5 4.9 12

762 770.9

304.5



Zone 2a: Production pattern of major food crops ('000 tonnes) 2006-07

1862 1956

5966

734 551 533 10.4 10.4

7016



Zone 2a: Productivity (kg/ha) pattern of major food crops (2006-07)

28

PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY PATTERN OF RICE

Figure 31: Production and productivity pattern of rice in zone 2a in different seasons (2006-07).

Aus Aman Boro

Production 11 351.4 83.4

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Pro

du

ctio

n in

th

ou

san

d to

nn

es

Zone 2a: Production pattern of rice

Aus Aman Boro


0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Pro

du

ctiv

ity

in k

g/h

a

Zone 2a: Productivity pattern of rice

29

ZONE 3

OVERVIEW Zone 3 mainly consists of four districts viz; Dakshin Dinajpur, Maldah, Murshidabad and Uttar Dinajpur.

UTTAR DINAJPUR15

With two sub-divisions viz; Raiganj & Islampur, there are 4 Municipalities, 9 Blocks and 98 Panchayets covering 1516 villages in the district of Uttar Dinajpur. The total population is nearly 2.5 million comprising mainly of rural masses. Bengali is the main language but a sizeable portion of Urdu and Hindi speaking people also live in Islampur Sub-Division. The Climate of this district is characterized by Hot-Summer with High Humidity, abundant Rainfall and cold winter (NIC-UttarDinajpur 2003).

The district forms a part of the basin lying between Rajmahal hills on the East. The older alluvium is estimated to be Pleistocene age. Uttar Dinajpur is bestowed with a very fertile soil. The soil is very rich in nature due to the alluvial deposition which helps to grow Paddy, Jute, Mesta and Sugarcane etc.

Raiganj on the bank of the River Kulik is the District Headquarter where "Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary", the

second largest bird sanctuary in Asia situated.

Table 9: Overview of district Uttar Dinajpur

Particular Measure

Geographical area (ha) 313080

Villages (numbers) 1516

Population (numbers) 2441794

Male: Female (%) 51:49

No. of families depending on agriculture 239500

No. of persons depending on agriculture 1297557

No. of small cultivators 88536

No. of marginal cultivators 135827

Forest area (acres) 1483.75

Uttar Dinajpur is a newly constructed district and was formed in year 1992. The district is preliminarily agricultural in nature. Diverse and surplus production of various crops like Tea, Jute, Potato, Ginger, Spices and Pineapple etc. make the district a strong base for agro based and horticulture- based industry such as –

a) Potato chips from potato. b) Ketch-up, Sauce from Tomato. c) Jelly, Jam from Guava, Mango, Pineapple. d) Packed juices from Orange, Pineapple, Mango, Guava, and Jackfruit. e) Ginger Oil, Ginger finger, slices. f) Pickle from Mango etc. g) Papain from papaya. h) Spices powder from Chili, Turmeric.

15

Source of information: http://uttardinajpur.nic.in/

Figure 32: Uttar Dinajpur

http://uttardinajpur.nic.in/tourism.html

http://uttardinajpur.nic.in/

30


Districts Blocks

DAKSHIN DINAJPUR

Balurghat

Banshihari

Gangarampur

Harirampur

Hili

Kumarganj

Kushmandi

Tapan

MALDAH

Bamongola

Chanchal0I

Chanchal0II

Gazole

Habibpur

Harishchandrapur0I

Harishchandrapur0II

Old Malda

Ratua0I

Ratua0II

MURSHIDABAD

Behrampore

Beldanga0I

Beldanga0II

Bharatpur0I

Bharatpur0II

Burwan

Domkal

Farakka

Hariharpara

Jalangi

Kandi

Khargram

Lalgola

Nabagram

Nowda

Raghunathganj0I

Raghunathganj0II

Sagardighi

Samserganj

Suti0I

Suti0II

UTTAR DINAJPUR

Goalpokhar0I

Goalpokhar0II

Hemtabad

Itahar

Kaliaganj

Karandighi

Raiganj

31

DAKSHIN DINAJPUR

Brief history: West Dinajpur District was created out of the erstwhile Dinajpur district in 1947 at the time

of partition of India. The rest of the Dinajpur district is now in Bangladesh. The West

Dinajpur district was enlarged in 1956 at the time of

reorganization of the State with the addition of some areas of

Bihar. The district was bifurcated into Uttar Dinajpur and

Dakshin Dinajpur on April 1st, 1992. The erstwhile

Balurghat Sub-Division along with Banshihari and

Kushmandi Blocks (which were in Raigunj Sub-Division

prior to the bifurcation) comprise the new district.

The district is drained by a number of North-South flowing

rivers like Atrayee, Punarbhava, Tangon and Brahmani. It is

predominantly an agricultural district with large area of land

being under cultivation.

Dakshin Dinajpur is a "Non-Industry" district having no large scale industry. The first industry in medium

scale sector got off to a start in the district in November, 2003. Transport and Communication facilities are

not very satisfactory. New railway line has been laid between Eklakhi and Balurghat, the district HQ. Train

services have been started only from December 30th, 2004. There is one State Highway with only 3 Km of

National Highway falling within the district. Bengali is the principal language of the district. The principal

communities are Hindus and Muslims and they constitute the major portion of the population. Table 11: Overview of Dakshin Dinajpur

Particular Measure

Geographical area (ha) 2,21,480

Population 15,03,178

Area available for cultivation (ha) 175620

Fallow land (ha) 1.24

Land not available for cultivation (ha) 26513

Cropping intensity 183%

Area under high yielding variety seed (paddy) (ha) 26125

Rivers Atrayee, Tangon, Punarbhava, Ichamati, Brahmani.

Figure 33: Dakshin Dinajpur

32

Figure 34: Persons engaged in agriculture in Zone 3

0

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150000

200000

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Blocks


Bargadars

Small farmers*

Marginal farmers*

33

MALDAH

The gateway of North Bengal, Malda, once was the capital of

Gour-Banga with its 3456 km2 lay. The land can be easily

classified into Tal, Diara, and Barind and is a famous spot for

adventurous activities. People of archeological interest are also

very welcome in its huge potential to be explored (NIC-Malda

2010).

During the 18th century it was a place known for its prosperous

cotton and silk industries. Constituted a municipality in 1867, it

has Rice, jute, legumes, and oilseeds among main crops in the

surrounding area. Mulberry plantations and mango orchards

occupy large areas; mango trade and silk manufacture are the

main economic activities (NaturaBeyond 2011).

Table 12: Overview of District Maldah

Particular Measure

Geographical Area (ha) 373300

No. of Villages 3701

Total Population of the District 3290160

Normal Rainfall 1453 mm

Forest (ha) 1694.3

Current Fallow Land (ha) 52800

Other Fallow land that Current Fallow (ha) 300

Net Area under Cultivation (ha) 22849

Marginal Holding (below 1.0 acre) 343677; Area-157309 ha

Small Holding (1.0-2.0 acre) 74863; Area-112926 ha

Medium Holding (4.0-10.0acre) 7528; Area-41342 ha

Large Holding (10.0 acres and above) 120; Area-1232 ha

Vested land distributed 30332.00 ha

Area Irrigated 120067 ha

Electricity consumption ('000 KWH)

a) Domestic 77560

b) Commercial 13454

c) Industrial 16199

d) Public Lighting 598

e) Agri-irrigation & Dewatering 31627

f) Public water works & Sewerage Pump 4187

Figure 35: Maldah

34

MAJOR LIVELIHOODS AND ISSUES CONCERNED Zone 3 is some ways can be considered as really a challenged zone; more than 50% are small farmers and

12-31% is landless (IRRI 2011). Local economy is dependent on agriculture and small scale industries; poor

market service, poor access to farm mechanization, and increasing population can be considered as main

constraint to the local economy.

Major social and development challenges –

1. Recurring erosion, floods and droughts – The River Ganga in its fury is able to destroy land, lives and

homes on a mass scale in every flood season. Short-term measures like building spurs or attempting to

reduce velocity don’t serve great purpose; the central channel has to be dredged regularly according to

an executive engineer, Irrigation department in Maldah (Chattopadhyay 2003). The damage that

usually occurs due to floods is mainly to

the following –

a) Agricultural crops b) All Kaccha (made by mud) house c) Sources of drinking water d) Poultry and livestock e) Buildings of any type f) All type of communication 2. Floods also help in out breaks of

many diseases like dehydration, dysentery,

influenza, skin disease etc.

3. Scarcity of drinking water and

contamination of water with iron and

fluoride is getting serious problem in certain parts of

district Maldah.

4. Lack of permanent garbage dumping grounds and

drainage systems might lead life in general towards

unhygienic conditions which can’t be said a favorable

situation to either class viz urban or rural (Sarkar 2011).

5. Uttar Dinajpur is placed among least developed districts in

West Bengal as well as in India. With high level of

illiteracy, low health care and livelihood access and

widespread rural poverty makes life over here vulnerable

at all fronts.

6. Rapid population growth – if it is termed as population

explosion then it is not an exaggeration. Rapid population

increase restricts the inclusion of new rural workers in to

farm based employment. At the other hand, low level of

urbanization restrains the growth of non-farm sector.

7. Social and economic development of communities

pertaining to a specific religion is also at stake. This is not

only because of poor implementation of government schemes but also due to lack of awareness within

the community. E.g. the Muslim communities over here in the zone 3 show a tremendous increase in

the population leaving their children on roads for earning a meager wage by working in different places

(VoiceOfBharat 2011).

Figure 29: Eroded embankment due to flood in Ganga.

Figure 36: In its fury Ganga destroys everything that comes in its way.

35

8. Contamination of drinking water with Arsenic and decreasing ground water table is also of great

concern in the zone.


Figure 37: Production pattern of major crops in zone 3.

Figure 38: Productivity patter on major crops

0

500

1000

1500

2000

Rice Wheat Barley Maize OtherCereals

Gram Pulses Oil seeds Jute Mesta TMC

Zone 3: Production pattern of major crops ('000 tonnes) 2006-07

Uttar Dinajpur Dakshin Dinajpur Maldah

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

kg/h

a

Zone 3: Productivity (kg/ha) pattern of major crops

Maldah

Dakshin dinajpur

Uttardinajpur

36


Figure 39: Production pattern of rice in zone 3 in three different seasons (2006-07).

Figure 40: Productivity pattern of rice in zone 3 in three different seasons (2006-07).

Zone 2a and zone 3 are quite similar in a way that the productivity of rice is much higher during the Boro

season than its main one i.e. Aman. Aman extends from July until December end and Boro extends from

January till April. This is remarkable in a way as the water scarcity is much more comparative to its previous

season.

Whole West Bengal is poor in the production of oil seeds which is not a very good situation; oil seeds act

like a cash crop and is attracts less attention compared to tea. This information is important from

awareness point of view. Production of Jute is quite comparable to rice and this trend is similar in all the

livelihood zones. Productivity wise tea and vegetables come on the first place; the situation would need

further in depth analysis on block level as the production of different crops would vary at block level than

at district level. Amidst all, main question arises for the better productivity during the Boro season in all the

zones; in spite of this much good productivity farmers don’t get enough production in the season. Reason

is quite simple – no or very less water available in this season. The need of AWM is most in places where

production of staple food crops is least in Boro-this gives space to back trace all the zones in production

matters. If we can calculate areas where rice production is less in Boro season would let us trace most

vulnerable areas in terms of food production in lean seasons. AWM intervention would be most effective in

3.3

322.5

263.9

18.2

294.4

133.8

10

201.9

258.7

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Aus Aman Boro

'000

to

nn

es

Seasons

Zone 3: Production pattern of Rice

Uttardinajpur

Dakshin dinajpur

Maldah

1323

1960

2957

1748

2224

3163

1497

2525

3825

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Aus Aman Boro

Zone 3: Productivity pattern of Rice

Uttardinajpur

Dakshin dinajpur

Maldah

37

places where water is not available in Boro season; during Aman – it is a season of monsoon as well and

crops can get water no matter if you are able to use ground water or not, they would get enough water for

the crop purpose. Only time when water is really needed is Boro season so investor should take care

regarding the seasons as well; it would be able to reduce high amount of investment money to be put in

these areas unnecessarily.

38

ZONE 4

OVERVIEW Zone 4 consists mainly of district Maldah with only four blocks. Maldah as a district has already been

explained in the zone 3.

Table 13: Zone 4 along with its districts and blocks

Districts under Zone 4 Blocks falling under Zone 4

MALDAH

English Bazar

Kaliachak I

Kaliachak II

Manikchak


PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MAJOR CROPS

Figure 42: Production pattern of major crops in Zone4 (2006-07)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

English Bazar Kaliachak-I Kaliachak-II Manikchak

Nu

mb

ers

Blocks


Bargadars

Small farmers

Marginal farmers

470.6

111.1

1.7 29.5

4.6 22.5 40.7

341.3

5.6

292.1

0

100

200

300

400

500

Rice Wheat Barley Maize Gram Pulses Oil seeds Jute Mesta TMC

Zone 4: Production pattern ('000 tonnes) of major crops 2006-07

39

Figure 43: Productivity pattern of major crops in zone 4


Figure 44: Production and productivity pattern of rice in three different seasons in zone 4.

MAJOR ISSUES

1. The zone consists mainly of low - lying plains, sloping towards the south with undulating areas on

the northeast. Old alluvial and relatively unfertile soil, is commonly known as "Barind" is good for

the Mulburry plantation which in turn helps in the production of raw silk. But as it is low lying, it is

vulnerable to flood during rainy season.

2. In the block of Manik Chak, it is vulnerable to heavy soil erosion due to regular floods in the River

Ganga and can cuase a heavy shock to the silk industry in the zone.

3. Kalia Chak, where goatery is a viable livelihood activity can get severaly affected with the water

contamination in the zone.

4. Since the tribal population of the zone is quite high, it goes without saying that the development of

the zone mainly depends on the development of the tribals who are very much backward from all

perspectives. Lack of awareness on different issues among the tribal communities is also

responsible for the poor management of natural water resources in the zone.

3051 2591 1435 2157 975 861 1009 14.7 9.8

38947

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

Rice Wheat Barley Maize Gram Pulses Oil seeds Jute Mesta TMC

Zone 4: Productivity (kg/ha) pattern of major crops (2006-07)

Aus Aman Boro

Production 10 201.9 258.7

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Pro

du

ctio

n in

th

ou

san

d to

nn

es


Aus Aman Boro


0500

10001500200025003000350040004500

Pro

du

ctiv

ity

in k

g/h

a


40

5. The maximum precipitation in the zone occurs in a short span of time from June to September.

Lack of proper water harvesting structures makes local communites vulnerable to drought

situations during summers.

6. In the "Barind" areas where the ground is high and agriculture is the sole occupation, the tendency

for the people is to remain in small hamlets. This tendency of being remain as individual lead them

to an unorganized society leaving them incapable of performing major economic activities.

41

ZONE 5

OVERVIEW Zone 5 consists of two districts viz; Maldah and Murshidabad. As there is only one block of district Maldah

is falling under this zone and major portion is covered by district Murshidabad; the detailed explanation

would be done for latter.


Districts under Zone 5 Blocks falling under Zone 5 MALDAH Kaliachak III

MURSHIDABAD

Bhagwangola I

Bhagwangola II

Msd Jiaganj

Raninagar I

Raninagar II

MURSHIDABAD16

Like other parts of the West Bengal, there has been inter-racial mixing in the local communities; people

from other parts of India came over here and settled as well.

The River Bhagirathi has divided the triangle shaped district and put

it into two broad geographical regions viz; Rarha area (West of

Bhagirathi) and Bagri area (East of Bhagirathi). Both areas are

almost equal in area and having a striking difference in their

geology, in the agricultural and habitation pattern and even in the

religions of their inhabitants. Looking at the present state of the

region, it seems hard to believe that tigers, rhinoceroses, and wild

buffaloes roamed here until the mid-nineteenth century. Leopards

and wild boars were found even much later. But now the only wild

animals found are perhaps a few jackals. The black-faced monkey is

however found in abundance as well; their herds are a common site

even in Berhampur Town. In the region, although there is no forest

coverage, there are many water bodies like rivers, canals, lakes and ponds and an abundance of trees and

shrubs. Therefore birds of many species including some migratory birds are quite common over here. The

eastern half of the district may be

described as an isosceles triangle. The

Ganga (Padma) and the Bhagirathi

forms the two equal sides; the River

Jalangi forms almost the entire base.

However, the line of drainage is not

along any of these rivers. During flood

two great rivers converges towards

each other, and ultimately makes its

way in a south – eastern direction.

16

Source: http://www.murshidabad.nic.in/

Figure 46: Murshidabad

Figure 45: A typical view at River Bhagirathi

http://www.murshidabad.nic.in/

42

Table 15: Overview of district Murshidabad

Particular Measures

Geographical area 5324 Km2

Population 5863717

a) Rural population 5131374

b) Urban population 732343

Forest area (ha) 771

Agriculture area (ha) 408296

Irrigated area (ha) 116950

Annual mean temperature 270C

Annual rainfall 1600 mm

MAJOR LIVELIHOODS AND ISSUES CONCERNED

Murshidabad has a tropical wet-and-dry climate. Summers are hot and humid with temperatures < 300C

and during dry spells the maximum temperatures often exceed 40 °C during May and June. Winter tends to

last for only about two and a half month; making the place favorable for the production of silk;

extensive mulberry cultivation is carried out in the western Murshidabad. The district is also known for the

quality and diversity of Mango produced, however, Mango is not a major produce of the Murshidabad

district, unlike the adjoining district of Malda.

People mostly are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood; rice, jute, legumes, oilseed, wheat and

barley are among major crops. There are some silk farms and some weaving machines as well, but they are

losing out fast against the modern industries. Murshidabad is famous for the high quality silk produced

here.

Figure 47: Number of persons engaged in agriculture in Zone 5

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

Nu

mb

ers

Blocks


Bargadars

Small farmers

Marginal farmers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulberry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malda_district

43


Figure 48: Production pattern of major crops in zone 5

Figure 49: Productivity pattern of major food crops in zone 5


Figure 50: Production and productivity patterns of rice in three different seasons in zone 5.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Rice Wheat Maize Pulses Oil seeds Jute TMC

Zone 5: Production pattern of major crops ('000 tonnes) 2006-07

Maldah

Murshidabad

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000


Zone 5: Productivity (kg/ha) pattern of major crops 2006-07

Maldah

Murshidabad

62.2

492.8 475.6

10

201.9 258.7

Aus Aman Boro

Zone 5: Production pattern in Rice

Murshidabad Maldah

1908 2189

3464

1497

2525

3825

Aus Aman Boro

Zone 5: Productivity pattern in Rice

Murshidabad Maldah

44

ZONE 6

OVERVIEW Zone 6 typically consists of few blocks from district Bankura, Bardhaman and Birbhum.



BANKURA

Barjora

G. Ghati

Mejia

BARDHAMAN

Andal

Ausgram II

Barabani

Faridpur Durgapur

Galsi I

Jamuria

Kanksa

Pandabeswar

Raniganj

Salanpur

BIRBHUM

Khoyrasole

Md.Bazar

Murarai II

Nalhati I

Rajnagar

Rampurhat I

Suri I

BIRBHUM17

In shape looking like an isosceles triangle, the district covers an area of 4545

km2. The district is well drained by a number of rivers and rivulets with a

slight southward inclination. The climate is generally dry, mild and healthy;

on the western side it is dry and extreme,

but is relatively milder on the eastern

side. The rainfall is higher in the western

areas as compared to the eastern areas.

The eastern portion of the district is a

continuation of the rice plain of West

Bengal, and the vegetation is

characteristics of rice fields in Bengal. Birbhum is primarily an agricultural district

with around 75% of the population being dependent on agriculture. Principal industries of the district

include cotton and silk harvesting and weaving, rice and oilseed milling, lac harvesting, stone mining and

17

Source: http://www.birbhum.nic.in/

Figure 52 Birbhum Figure 51: A common village in Birbhum

http://www.birbhum.nic.in/

45

metal ware and pottery manufacture. Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station is the only heavy industry in the

district.

Table 17: Overview of district Birbhum18

Particular Measure


a) Rural 2,757,002 (91.43%)

b) Urban 258,420 (8.57%)

Forest area 159.3 Km2

Agriculture area 3329.05 Km2

Major crops Rice, legumes, wheat, maize, potatoes and sugar cane.

Irrigated area 2763.9 Km2

Total inhabited villages 2259

a) Villages with safe drinking water 2234

b) Villages with electricity (domestic) 1,605

Rivers Ajay, Mayurakshi (Mor), Kopai, Bakreshwar, Brahmani, Dwarka, Hinglo, Chapala, Bansloi, Pagla.

Figure 53: Persons engaged in agriculture in zone 6

18

Source: www.pacsindia.org/birbhum/

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Sala

npu

r

Au

sgra

m-I

I

Bar

jora

G. G

hati

Gal

si-I

I

Jam

alp

ur

Kal

na-

I

Kan

ksa

Kat

wa-

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Ket

ugr

am-I

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Kh

oyr

aso

le

May

ure

swar

-I

Md

.Baz

ar

Mem

ari-

I

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nga

lko

te

Mu

rara

i-I

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hat

i-I

Nan

oo

r

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rbas

thal

i-I

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na-

I

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naga

r

Ram

pu

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-II

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thia

Suri

-II

Nu

mb

ers

Blocks


Bargadars

Small farmers*

Marginal farmers*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakreshwar_Thermal_Power_Station

http://www.pacsindia.org/birbhum/

46

BARDHAMANN19

A town of tanks; several tanks are scattered here and

there across the town forms the boundary with many

other such Dumka (Jharkhand), Birbhum and

Murshidabad on the North Nadia in the East, Hooghly,

Bankura and Purulia in South and Dhanbad (Jharkhand)

in the West. The river Barakar forms the State boundary

to the west; the Ajay separates Birbhum and Dumka to

the north with exception of a portion of Katwa

subdivision; the Damodar forms a southern boundary

with Purulia and Bankura, while Bhagirathi forms the main eastern boundary with a few exceptions.

The maximum length from east to west is 208 Km while the maximum breadth from north to south is 112

Km. In shape the district resembles a hammer.

Forest: The forest areas of the district are chiefly situated in the lateritic and red soil high lands in the

Aushgram PS of Sadar Subdivision and in the Asansol subdivision. In Aushgram P.S. the forest areas are

interspersed with paddy fields. The Durgapur forests are continued in the Birbhum district beyond the Ajay

while the forest area in the Asansol subdivision forms a part of the forest area of Dumka District of

Jharkhand.

Table 18: Overview of district Bardhhaman

Particular Measure


Population 6895514

a) Rural 63.06%

b) Urban 36.94 %

Rainfall 1442 mm

Temperature 430C (Max) - 50C (Min)

Forest area 22270 ha

Agriculture area 698740 ha

a) Net cropped area 466630 ha

b) New irrigated area 335890 ha

Major rivers Damodar, Bhagirathi, Barakar, Ajay, Dwarakeswar, Nonia

MAJOR LIVELIHOODS AND ISSUES CONCERNED

Birbhum: The region is a dual blend of rolling plateau made up of laterite and Gangetic alluvial plains,

which is highly conducive for cultivation. Hence the economy of the district is entirely based on agriculture

(Indianetzone 2008). Looking at the weather, the dry weather of Birbhum is highly adverse to the

agriculture (except monsoon the dry weather prevails over the year). Apart from this, most of the land is dry

and the rivers are only rain fed, this means the agriculture is supported neither by rain nor by rivers therefore

the Government has decided to undertake some irrigation projects such as Mayurakshi River Project and

Hinglow River Projects in recent years in order to promote the agricultural development in the region.

19

Source: http://bardhaman.nic.in/distataglance.html

Figure 54: Bardhman

http://bardhaman.nic.in/distataglance.html

47

Birbhum is a major center of cottage industries; perhaps the most notable cottage industry here is a non-

profit rural organization named Amar Kutir. Other main industries in Birbhum are agriculture-based

industries, textiles, forestry, arts and crafts. Sriniketan is noted for its dairy industry and as a forestry

center. Some of the notable forms of cottage industries of Birbhum include textile—especially cotton and

locally harvested tussar silk, jute works, batik, kantha stitch, macramé (weaving by knotting threads),

leather, pottery and terracotta, solapith, woodcarving, bamboo and cane craft, metal works and various

tribal crafts. There are 8,883 small and medium scale industries. Principal industries of the district include

cotton and silk harvesting and weaving, rice and oilseed milling, lac harvesting, and metal ware and pottery

manufacture. Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station is the only heavy industry in the district.

Bardhaman20 21:

Bardhaman is the only district in the state of West Bengal that is fortunate both in industry and agriculture.

Several iron and steel companies are situated in the district.

Regarding agriculture, there is on an average about 58

percent of the total population belongs to the agriculture

sector while the non-agricultural sector accounts for the

remaining 42 percent (NIC-Bardhaman 2011). Rice and

oilseed milling and hosiery, cutlery, and tool manufacturing

are the chief industries.

Regarding the district, the eastern part is a low alluvial plain,

densely populated and often waterlogged and swampy. The

western region is one of the busiest industrial tracts in West

Bengal, with rich coal, fireclay, and iron-ore deposits, especially

in the Raniganj coalfield area. The Damodar Valley Corporation provides irrigation, industrial power supply,

and flood control. Rice, corn (maize), legumes, and oilseeds are the chief crops in the east.

Major social and developmental challenges include population growth poor rural development and lack of

proper infrastructure.


Figure 56: Production pattern of major food crops in zone 6.

20

Source: http://www.bardhaman.gov.in 21

Source: http://www.grassoportal.com/district/burdwan.asp

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

Rice Wheat Pulses Oil seeds Jute TMC

Zone 6: Production pattern of major food crops ('000 tonnes) 2006-07

Birbhum

Bardhaman

Figure 55: Population growth in Bardhaman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_industries

http://www.bardhaman.gov.in/

http://www.grassoportal.com/district/burdwan.asp

48

Figure 57: Productivity pattern of major food crops in zone 6.


Figure 58: Production and productivity patter of rice in three different seasons in zone 6.

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

Rice Wheat Pulses Oil seeds Jute TMC

Zone 6: Productivity pattern (kg/ha) of major food crops 2006-07

Birbhum

Bardhaman

43.7

1201.3

722

15.8

960.3

223.3

Aus Aman Boro


Bardhaman Birbhum

3232 2864

3442

2591 3070

3462

Aus Aman Boro


Bardhaman Birbhum

49

ZONE 7

OVERVIEW

Table 19: District 7 with its districts and blocks

Districts under Zone 7 Blocks falling under Zone 7 BANKURA

Bishnupur, Indus, Joypur, Kotulpur, Patrasayer, Sonamukhi

BARDHAMAN

Bhatar, Burdwan I, Burdwan II, Galsi II, Jamalpur, Kalna I, Kalna II, Katwa I, Katwa II, Ketugram II, Khandaghosh, Memari I, Memari II, Monteswar, Purbasthali I, Purbasthali II, Raina I, Raina II

HAORA

Amta I, Amta II, Bagnan I, Bagnan II, Jagatballavpur, Pandhla, Shyampur I, Udaynarayanpur, Uluberia I, Uluberia II

HUGLI

Arambagh, Balagarh, Dhaniakhali, Goghat I, Goghat II, Haripal, Jangipara, Khanakul I, Khanakul II, Pandua, Pursurah, Tarakeswar

NADIA

Chakdaha, Chapra, Hanskhali, Kaliganj, Karimpur I, Karimpur II, Krishnaganj, Krishnanagar I, Krishnanagar II, Nabadwip, Nakashipara, Ranaghat II, Ranaghat I, Santipur, Tehatta I, Tehatta II,

NORTH 24 PARGANAS

Baduria, Bagdah, Bongaon, Gaighata, Habra I, Swarupnagar

PASCHIM MEDINIPUR

Chandrakona I, Chandrakona II, Dantan I, Dantan II, Daspur I, Daspur II, Debra, Garbeta I, Garbeta II, Ghatal, Keshpur, Kharagpur II, Mohanpur, Narayangarh, Pingla, Sabong

PURBA MEDINIPUR

Bhagawanpur I, Bhagwanpur II, Chandipur (Nandigram III), Egra I, Egra II, Kolaghat (Panskura II), Mahishadal, Moyna, Nandakumar, Panskura I, Potashpur I, Potashpur II, Sahid Matangini, Tamluk

SOUTH 24 PARGANAS

Budge Budge I, Budge Budge II, Diamond Harbour II, Falta

NADIA

Table 20: Overview of district Nadia

Particular Measure


Population 4604827

a) Rural 36,25,308

b) Urban 9,79,519

Cultivated agricultural area 272135 ha

Total Forest Area 1249 ha

a) Reserved area for utilization in future 510 ha

b) Reserved Forest Area 302 ha

c) Area under Social Forestry 640 ha

Figure 59: Nadia

50

HOOGHLI

The district is a completely flat land with no more than an elevation of

200 meters anywhere in the area. The River Hooghly and Damodar

are the major rivers in the region. Hooghly is the one of the most

economically developed districts in West Bengal. It is also the

main jute cultivation, jute industry, and jute trade hub in the state

with jute mills located mainly along the river banks of Hooghly. There

are also a number of industrial complexes including one of the largest

car manufacturing plants in India viz; the 'Hindustan Motors'.

The district of Hooghly offers a rich cultural heritage since the

prehistoric times. The region of Hooghly existed even when there was

no separate state called West Bengal. The region, as has been inhabited by several generations for years, it

inherited a diversified cultural heritage.

HOWRAH

Howrah the second largest city of West Bengal lies along the West bank of

Hooghly River and as a district is one of the main administrative districts

of the state. With a population of over 1 million, Howrah draw its

economy chiefly from industries and only ≈ 30% of the total population is

engaged in cultivation.

EAST MEDINIPUR22

With roughly an area of 4060Km2, East Medinipur is one of the 18

administrative districts of West Bengal. The total population of the district

is ≈ 4.5 million and is comprised of four subdivisions viz; Tamluk, Haldia,

Egra and Contai.

The district has an excellent transport and communication network of

national highways and railways. A major existing industrial base at

Haldia and Kolaghat, availability of skilled man power at comparatively

lower rates, abundance of electric power and a business environment

conducive for industrial growth both from the labour and political

fronts are a few plus points for promotion and development of Micro

and Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) in this district. Aquaculture and

shrimp farming has been taken up in a big way in the coastal belt of this

district and floriculture and horticultural activities are concentrated in a

major portion of Tamluk Sub-division. In Haldia a large number of heavy

engineering, chemical, and small-scale clusters are growing. Similarly, in

Contai, Egra, Digha, Tamluk, Mahishadal and Kolaghat a wide number

of Small Scale Industries are spread over. Handloom-weaving is a

traditional industry in this district and a considerable number of people

are engaged in this activity.

22

Source: http://www.indianetzone.com/

Figure 60: Hooghly

Figure 61: Howrah

Figure 62: East Medinipur

http://www.indianetzone.com/

51

WEST MIDNAPUR23

West Medinipur district has been carved out from the

erstwhile district of Midnapore, and it came into existence

on 1st January 2002. It has a total geographical area of

9295.28 Km2 and a population of 5193411 as per census

2001. The district is primarily agricultural in nature, with

cultivation being the chief livelihood of a majority of the

people. Paddy occupies the first place in production. The

district has a suitable agro-climatic condition for cultivation

of mulberry and horticulture crops such as mango, banana,

guava, lemon, orange, papaya, cashew and jackfruit. The

district is well known for the production of mulberry

and tussar silks, and Silk saris from Midnapore are much in

demand. Kharagpur, an important junction of the South-Eastern Railway is located centrally in the district.

It provides connectivity to all parts of the country for passengers as well as goods.

NORTH 24 PARGANAS

North 24 Parganas is West Bengal’s most populous district. It is also the

tenth largest district in the State by area and second most densely

populated district in the country. The district lies within the Ganges-

Brahmaputra delta. The river Ganges flows along the entire west border of

the district. There are many other rivers, which include the Ichhamati,

Jamuna, and Bidyadhari. North 24 Parganas is one of the nine (including

Kolkata) severely arsenic affected district in West Bengal. The climate is

tropical, like the rest of the Gangetic West Bengal; the symbol is the

Monsoon, which lasts from early June to mid-September. The weather

remains dry during the winter (mid-November to mid-February) and humid

during summer. Folk Culture: Folk Culture is one of the main traditions of

West Bengal. The District of North 24-Pgs is proud of his own folk culture viz

Jhumur, Kabigan, Tarjagan, Manasha vasan, Rayani, Austakgan, Banabibir

Pala, Tusu, Patar Bashi Bhatiyali etc. This various forms of folk culture have already reached to the people

of the whole West Bengal as well as all over India.

23


Figure 63: West Medinipur

Figure 64: North 24 Parganas


52

Table 21: Overview of district North 24 Parganas

Description Particulars



Cultivable Area 2,71,845 ha

Net cropped Area 2,64,952 ha

Net area irrigated 1,67,128 ha

Forest Land 4,221 ha

Rainfall 1,579mm(Normal)

Temperature 410C in May (Max) and 100C in January (Min)

Relative Humidity 50% (March) - 90% ( July)

Net Water Area 73,916 ha

Area under Pisciculture 36,322 ha

BANKURA24

An overwhelming agro-economic base and low urbanization and industrialization characterize the

economy of the district of Bankura. The district is broadly divided into two regions: the alluvial plains in the

east and the undulating tract to the west. Within the district and even within these regions, the villages

vary not only in their geographical features but also in their physical forms and composition of their

economic and social life patterns. Agriculture forms the

prime contributor to the economy of the district.

The net cultivable area of the district is 43 million

hectares, and about 46% of the net cropped area is

under irrigation. Mines and minerals play a vital role in

the economy of Bankura district. Mines and minerals

based ventures have already come up on the stretch of

land from Bankura to Saltora. Certain areas in the region

have been setting up agriculture based industries like,

Rice and Oil Mills. Cottage and Small Scale Industries

constitute a major segment of the district`s economy. It

provides maximum employment opportunity next to

agriculture and this account for nearly 9 percent of the district income. The forests in the district produce

various medicinal flora and fauna which are routinely exported to neighboring districts and also outside the

state.

24


Figure 65: Bankura


53

PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY PATTERN OF MAJOR FOOD CROPS

Figure 66: Production pattern of major food crops in zone 7

It is quite evident with Fig 66 that the trend of rice, jute and tea production is more or less similar in all the

livelihood zones of West Bengal. Bardhman and Nadia these are two districts which are quite opposite in

production of rice and tea. Tea here in all the figures is in the form of TMC (Total Miscellaneous Crops

which include production of vegetables as well). The production of rice is equivalent to production of TMC

in Nadia district. This is quite remarkable in the production of tea and other vegetable crops for Nadia as

these crops act like a cash crops. West Midnapur is also good in the production of rice in its main season

i.e. Aman but it lags behind Bardhman regarding the total production of rice in whole year. The availability

of water is very less in Boro season in whole West Bengal and West Midnapur is not an exception in this

regard.

This situation again puts emphasis on the hypothesis that the main season that needs water most is Boro;

this is the season when there is very less or no rain and all the water harvesting structures gets dried by the

end of April first week so literally no water in the water harvesting tanks. All the rivers are already dried by

the March end so it is the most difficult time for a farmer to fetch water for agriculture purposes. Only

method that can provide water during non-rainy season is using ground water; we would discuss the

situation of ground water in detail in the ‘solutions’ chapter in this report and of course, it is needed to be

discussed; AWM relies on use of available ground water for agriculture purposes and several means of

using this water has been proposed in many countries which include low cost pumps and many other

things. But, this needs to be validated whether this kind of intervention would put agriculture at risk in long

term or would allow farmer more output from the same field.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

RiceWheat Maize

PulsesOil

seedsJute

TMC


Bardhaman Bankura Birbhum

West Midnapur East Midnapur Nadia

Hoogly Howrah North 24 Parganas

54


0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

Am

ta-I

Bad

uria

Bag

nan

-II

Bh

agaw

anp

ur-

II

Bu

dge-

Bu

dge

-I

Ch

and

ipu

r (N

and

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m-I

II)

Ch

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Das

pu

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Dh

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Egra

-II

Gar

bet

a-I

Go

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-I

Han

skh

ali

Jaga

tbal

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Kal

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Kes

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Kh

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r-II

Kri

shn

agan

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Mah

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Nab

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Nar

ayan

garh

Pan

sku

ra-I

Po

tash

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-I

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at -

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Sah

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atan

gin

i

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mp

ur-

II

Tam

luk

Teh

atta

-II

Ulu

ber

ia-I

I

Bu

rdw

an-I

I

Kal

na-

I

Kat

wa-

II

Mem

ari-

I

Pur

bas

thal

i-I

Rai

na-

II

Nu

mb

ers

Blocks


Bargadars

Small farmers

Marginal farmers

55

Figure 68: Productivity pattern of major food crops in zones 7

PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY PATTERN OF RICE

Figure 69: Production and productivity pattern of rice in zones 7 and 7a.

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

Zone 7: Prodctivity pattern of major food crops (kg/ha) 2006-07

Rice

Wheat

Maize

Pulses

Oil seeds

Jute

TMC

0200400600800

100012001400

Bar

dh

aman

Ban

kura

Bir

bh

um

Wes

t M

idna

pu

r

East

Mid

nap

ur

Nad

ia

Ho

ogl

y

Ho

wra

h

No

rth

24

…


Aus

Aman

Boro

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

Bar

dh

aman

Ban

kura

Bir

bh

um

Wes

t M

idna

pu

r

East

Mid

nap

ur

Nad

ia

Ho

ogl

y

Ho

wra

h

No

rth

24

…


Aus

Aman

Boro

56

ZONE 7A

OVERVIEW Zone 7a typically consists of few blocks from districts Bardhaman and Birbhum. Major livelihood activities

have already been discussed in Zone 7.

Districts under Zone 7a Blocks falling under Zone 7a

BARDHAMAN

Ausgram I

Ketugram I

Mongalkote

BIRBHUM

Bolpur Sriniketan

Dubrajpur

Illambazar

Labhpur

Mayureswar I

Mayureswar II

Murarai I

Nalhati II

Nanoor

Rampurhat II

Sainthia

Suri II

Figure 70: Persons engaged in agricultuer in Zone 7a

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

Nu

mb

ers

Blocks

Zone 7a: Persons engaged in agriculture

Bargadars

Small farmers

Marginal farmers

57

Zone 7a has following characteristics –

1. This zone is a mix of uneven lateritic territory and allvial flood plains.

2. There has been a regular increase in the occurance of droughts putting the local economy at risk

regardless of its nature.

3. This zone is close to main agriculture land of district Bardhaman which are also called as ‘Rice Bawl’

but amazingly the productivity of rice and other agriculture crops, is much less.

4. Lack of proper water harvesting structures in the zone results in the surface run off which in long

run causing ground water level going down. Lower ground water level doesn’t allow small and

marginal farmers with enough water; there are cases of farmers’ suicide due to corp failures in the

zone.

58

ZONE 8

OVERVIEW This is the zone belong to undulating Lateritic region under the agro-climatic subdivisions of the state West

Bengal and typically consists of Bankura, West Medinipur and Purulia districts.


Districts Blocks falling under Zone 8 Bankura Bankura I, Bankura II, Chhatna, Hirbandh, Indpur, Onda, Saltora, Sarenga, Simlapal,

Taldangra

West Medinipur

BinpurI, Garbeta II, Gopiballavpur I, Gopiballavpur II, Jamboni, Jhargram, Keshiary, Kharagpur I, Medinipur, Nayagram, Salboni, Sankrail

Puruliya Arsha, Balarampur, Bandowan, Hura, Jaypur, Kashipur, Manbazar I, Manbazar II, Neturia, Para, Puncha, Purulia I, Purulia II, Raghunathpur I, Raghunathpur II, Santuri

PURULIA

As per 2001 census total population of the district is 2535516, out of which 89.93% are residing in rural

areas and 10.07% are in urban areas. Cultivation of this district is predominantly mono-cropped. About

60% of the total cultivated land is upland. Out of the total agricultural holding about 73% belongs to small

and marginal farmers having scattered and fragmented smallholding. Paddy is the primary crop of the

district. 50% of the total land is under net-cropped area and

only 17% of the net cropped area is under multi crop

cultivation. 77% of the net-cropped area is under Aman paddy

cultivation. The crops are grown mostly under rain fed

condition; generally with low fertilizer consumption per unit

area Thus per hectare production is also low as compared to

other district of West Bengal.

Fishery is also a viable activity in the district but results are not

encouraging; tanks/ponds are not utilized properly. Total inland

area of the district is 71,255 ha leaving an ample opportunity to

bring more area under efficient Pisciculture.

Forests in Purulia: Total forest coverage in this district including

social forestry and degraded forest as per Satellite Imagery data is 185726 ha which is 29.69 % of the total

land of the district. The management and maintenance of Forest is being done by Joint Forest Protection

Committees under active control of different divisions of Forest Department. At present 702 nos. of Forest

Protection Committees are working in this district. These committees have not only helped to protect the

plantation areas but have also guarded against illegal felling of trees.

The natural forests of the district are mostly of mixed nature and restricted to northwest part of the district

covering Ajodhya Hills and Panchet hills of northeast. As per Remote sensing data the forest cover of this

district is increasing compare to its past status. The extensive farm and social forestry plantation programs

might have contributed in a big way to the increase forest cover.

Figure 71: Purulia

59


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60

POVERTY AND LIVELIHOOD CHALLENGES

Table 23: Percentage of the backward communities

Districts Total Population

ST ST (%) SC SC (%)

Purulia 2536516 463452 18.27 463956 18.29

Bankura 3192695 330783 10.36 997408 31.24

West Midnapur 5193411 772177 14.86 937340 18.04

Total 10922622 1566412 14.34 2398704 21.96

This zone has the maximum population of the Schedule tribe population who are considered as the most

backward class in the state and the country as well. The Purulia district comprises highest ST population

(over 18%) in the zone and the state as well. At the same time the zone also has a significant Scheduled

Caste population who also represents the backward class. This is a complete rural zone comprising of an

average rural population of 90% (approx) having very limited numbers of industries.

Table 24: Work availability in different districts

Work availability Total workers

(TW) Class of Total Workers

District Number P.C. Cultivators Agricultural Labourers

Household Ind. Workers

Other Workers

Number PC to TW

Number PC to TW

Number PC to TW

Number PC to TW

Purulia 1127488 44.45 352712 31.28 406223 36.03 84466 7.49 284087 25.2

Bankura 1427272 44.7 439957 30.82 503214 35.26 83492 5.85 400609 28.07

West Midnapur

2131547 41.04 639201 29.99 748661 35.12 163984 7.69 579701 27.2

As stated in the aforesaid table, over 60% of the employment opportunities in the zone are directly from

the agriculture and agriculture is the main source of livelihoods in the zone. There are occupations like biri

making (an indigenous product used instead of cigarettes) from the tendu leaves (a non timber forest

produce) in a wide zone in Purulia and Bankura and making shaal leaf plates in a range of forest fringe area

of the West Midnapur district. Bothe the sectors are unorganized and operate through a much localized

kind of market value chain mainly dominated by the middlemen; exploitative agents.

Though agriculture is the main source of livelihoods in the zone but the data shows over 90% of the land

holding belong to marginal and small farmers. More critically almost 70% of the landholding belongs to the

marginal farmers as shown in the table below. If we consider the average land holding pattern, it is 1

hectare or less per family.

The increase in the population during the last decade resulted in further marginalisation of assets,

especially land ownership. Of these lands, about 50% would consist of uplands with very low productivity

in fragmented and scattered parcels. Irrigated land in the zone is approximately 15% and most marginal

farmers do not have access to irrigation. The zone experiences poor monsoon once in almost every three

years, which results in total loss of kharif paddy, particularly in the uplands. Such widespread poverty and

the frequent occurrence of natural calamities limit the possibility of any savings and wealth formation,

61

closing out the possibilities of investment to improve resources. Thus most of these marginal and small

farmers are actually living in a precarious condition that deteriorates with every passing year.

Table 25: Land size class in the zone

Districts

S I Z E - C L A S S Average

land holding (ha)

Total land

holdings

(no.)

Marginal

Small Semi-medium

Medium

Large

No.of holdin

gs

% margin

al

No.of holdin

gs

% small

holding

No.of holdings

No.of holdin

gs

No.of holdin

gs

Purulia 213085 70.67168

63750 21.1433

22455 2197 27 0.86 301514

Bankura 239365 65.21461

84960 23.14721

36870 5827 20 1.06 367042

West Midnapur

577469 84.89282

82262 12.09321

19001 1478 23 0.75 680233

To summarise, a little under half of rural zone 8 is below the poverty line as per official estimates. The

entire district is drought prone. Over 70 percent of the population is dependent on marginal agriculture

and allied activities, with low incomes and stagnant productivity. Thus, the challenge is not merely creating

new livelihoods to offset the effects of population growth, but to make existing agricultural-livelihoods

more productive so that persons engaged in agriculture can earn adequate income to meet their basic

needs.

Topographically and agro-ecologically, zone 8 is an extension of the Chhotanagpur plateau, characterized

by an undulating terrain with hilly outcrops and average annual rainfall of 1300 mm. The productivity of

this kind of land under traditional cropping system (a single crop of kharif paddy) is very low as soil fertility

and water holding capacity are low, water control is difficult and soils are shallow. The broad classification

of land is as follows.

Broadly speaking, the land in most of the villages in zone 8 can be classified into:

Valley land (bohal)

Medium lowland (kanali)

Medium up land (baid)

Upland (taand)

Homestead land (Badi)

These are pictorially illustrated in Fig 1. Leaving aside forests and lands under the custody of different

government departments, the use of privately owned land is better understood in the context of

livelihoods. However, as individual holdings are also set in a particular geographical location in the

landscape, it makes sense to look at the general terrain features.

62

Figure 73: A typical village transact

Figure 74: resource ownership pattern of a typical marginal family in the zone

As shown in the Fig 64, a family owns an area of 2.69 acre and divided across four different land categories.

Apart from their own land there is forest lands people use for fuel and other non-timber forest produces

like shal, tendu leaves, mushrooms etc. The table below would explain land categories and their usage:

63

Table 26: Land categories and their usage

Type of land Status Ownership Scope for improvement

Forest lands Green cover, vulnerable to illegal felling.

Forest department.

Long term protection and soil moisture conservation to enhance growth.

Degraded forest lands used as pasture lands by villagers

Protection, new plantation, soil and moisture conservation.

Fallow uplands (taand*)

Mostly wastelands, highly eroded with occasional presence of bushes or stubbles of trees

Almost all families have some share.

With land development for soil moisture conservation or irrigation development, could be brought under orchard

Homestead lands (Badi)

A family may have 500-800 sq. m., usually reserved for extension of houses as families grow/split. Sometimes uplands, used to grow vegetables for home consumption. Some families might have a dug well, used as a source of drinking water and to irrigate vegetable patches if cultivated.

All categories of families have such lands. As usual, poorer have less.

Lands at the back yard could be best productive assets for women provided there is access to irrigation. Several neighbouring families could get together to share a dug well to intensify homestead farming.

Terraced & bunded mid-uplands (baid)

Without irrigation support, people grow only monsoon paddy. Vulnerable to the vagaries of the monsoon..

Poorer families on an average have 0.10-0.15ha of such lands.

Could be converted into double cropped lands with low cost water harvesting and irrigation infrastructure development.

Terraced & bunded mid low lands (kanali) & low lands (bohal)

Used to cultivate longer duration, increasingly HYV, paddy during kharif, these are the most productive and the only secure source of food crops. Sporadic cultivation of pulses or oilseeds in winter.

Poorer families on an average have 0.08 –0.15 ha of such lands.

Could grow three crops by developing water harvesting and irrigation infrastructure and good water management. Farm fisheries possible.

IRRIGATION AND AGRICULTURE

Table 27: The percentage of cultivable land and irrigated area (2006-07)

District Net sown Area(ha) Irrigated area (ha)-considering repetitive irrigation

Irrigated-Rice productivity (kg/ha)

Purulia 310.24 71.13 2092

Bankura 344.66 1157.621 2981

West-Midnapur 555.62 428.12 2874

Irrigation coverage is calculated on the basis of total irrigation provided to an area in different seasons of a

year (say for three crop seasons). The Bankura irrigation coverage with respect to net sown area in 2006-07

is the cumulative coverage figure and is too small indeed for other two districts as stated. Most of the canal

command areas do not receive water when it is needed. A large number of villages have no irrigation

coverage at all. Fluctuation in rain, particularly early withdrawal of monsoon in some years drastically

reduces the command area from all sources. Considering thje cumulative irrigated area coverage it is

64

prominent that there is almost no second crop in Purulia district under irrigated condition and almost the

same in case of West Midnapur. At the same time natural resource husbandry is not a very common

practice that resulted in very poor crop production. The highest rice yield in the zone under irrigation is

even much lesser than the average state’s yield and falling far behind of highest irrigated rice production of

3.6 t/ha. The typical viscious of the zone is as following:

Figure 75: A typical viscious of the zone.

Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy of zone 8 with more than 80% of the population directly

dependent on it. However, modern farming practices are yet to take root and a majority of the farmers

continue to follow traditional practices with low yields. Like other hilly and undulating parts of the country.

Cereal crops like paddy and maize occupy a major portion of the agricultural area in the zone, Other

important crops grown are wheat and oilseeds. Paddy dominates the present cropping pattern. Due to lack

of irrigation facilities, small size of land holdings, lack of extension services with regards to input

management and package of practices and lack of access to institutional credit, yield of these crops is

extremely low. A majority of farmers cultivate only one crop in a year due to lack of irrigation, resulting in

low income.

Livestock in the zone is of poor quality, and primarily an adjunct to subsistence agriculture – cattle of non-

descript quality are kept primarily for draft power and manure. However, due to the practice of free

grazing and non-descript breeds of cattle, their contribution to the economy in general and to agriculture

(by way of manure and draft power) is limited even though the per capita availability of livestock compares

well with the all India average. The practice of rearing livestock is to cope-up with emergency situations

and also for festivals.

65


Figure 76: Production patter of major crops in zone 8.



Figure 78: Production and productivity pattern of rice in three different seasons in zone 8.

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Zone 8: Productivity pattern (kg/ha) of major food crops 2006-07

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946

139 81

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436

Aus Aman Boro



1501

2615 2484 2618 2813 2760

1961 2497

3165

Aus Aman Boro



66

ZONE 9

OVERVIEW The zone 9 typically consists of few blocks from district Bankura, Paschim Medinipur and Puruliya. All three

districts have alrady been explained in zone 8 as well but from livelihood zones’ point of view it is different

from zone 8.

Districts Blocks falling under Zone 9

BANKURA

Khatra

Raipur

Ranibandh

PASCHIM MEDINIPUR Binpur II

PURULIYA

Baghmundi

Barabazar

Jhalda I

Jhalda II


Main characteristics of the zone are as follow –

1. The Purulia portion is actually the forest fringed area of zone 8. The topography here typically

consists of steep granite hillocks. This means there is very less soil dust and thus less green cover.

2. Although this zone can be considered as the recharge zone but as the topography is not suitable –

there is no recharge actually. Steep slopes don’t allow water to percolate down in the soil and

results in the fast surface run off.

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3. Majority of farmers belong to small and marginal category. Livelihoods mainly dependent on either

forests or on the agriculture; forest based livelihoods such as collection of fuel wood, tendu leaves

and mushrooms provide a significant economic value to the farmers.

4. The zone is not completely dependent entirely on agriculture; goatery is also a viable activity which

can give higher returns compared to agriculture. But this is still a coping mechanism as the

economic situations of farmers don’t allow them to purchase their staple food from the market on

higher prices.

5. The zone is rain fed in nature and maximum rain fall occurs during the monsoon season leaving the

local communities vulnerable to drought situations during summers.

6. Agriculture is mainly single cropped during the Kharif season and done for paddy cultivation which

during rainy season is mostly flooded not allowing farmers to receive optimum production from

their fields.

68

ZONE 10

OVERVIEW The zone 10 consists of few blocks from districts Haora, Hugli, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas.



HAORA

Domjur

Sankrail

HUGLI

Chanditala I

Chanditala II

Chinsurah Mogra

Polba Dadpur

Serampur Uttarpara

Singur

NADIA Haringhata

NORTH 24 PARGANAS

Deganga

Habra II

Haroa

SOUTH 24 PARGANAS

Bhangar I

Bhangar II

Bishnupur I

Bishnupur II

Sonarpur

Thakurpukur Maheshtala


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PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MAJOR CROPS

Figure 81: Production pattern of major food crops in zone 10.


Zone 10 is very peculiar as the zone is the combination of sweet and saline water zones as well. There is

high rain fall in the zone with aroung 2300 mm bu amazingly most of the rain happens in the monsoon

season only. This zone contains a lot of rivers as well which are connected to the ocean; Bay of Bengal and

there is always presence of tides in the rivers.

During the rainy season the entire zone is flooded with the water; there is no outlet for the water and it

later results in the water logging. This stagnant water has got the higher salinity as well. The increased

salinity has the direct impant over the local livelihoods; farmers prefer agri-pisciluture due to stagnant

water conditions. In other words this type of agriculture can also be termed as ‘Tide based agriculture’.

During high tides the water comes in the agriculture fields and accumulates over here; farmers then go for

the paddy cultivation and fish farming both in the stagnant water. This zone has got a great potential for

the agriculture water management; poor land where good agriculture is possible only is summers if

somehow can be given proper treatment would be able to provide high return even in the monsoon

season. The situation is such that agriculture over here is possible in flooded conditions only as the salinity

is also an issue in the stagnant water. Flooded water keeps the salinity at low and if somehow the water

level is reduced – it would result in the crop failure as the paddy can’t tolerate high salinity.

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Nadia

Howrah

south 24 Parganas

North 24 Parganas

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Zone 10: Productivity pattern of major food crops (kg/ha) 2006-07

Nadia

Howrah

south 24 Parganas

North 24 Parganas

70

ZONE 11

OVERVIEW The zone 11 contains only five blocks from the district South 24 Parganas.


SOUTH 24 PARGANAS

Diamond Harbour I

Kulpi

Mandirbazar

Mograhat I

Mograhat II


Chief characteristics of the zone are as follow –

1. The zone consists of semi-urban and rural areas and is typically agriculture in nature; only rural

areas contribute to the agricultural production.

2. Similar to zone 10, this zone is also having the problem of water stagnation. The major reason of

this water logged situation is the encroachment of existing ponds and khals that were used to store

the water during rainly season. They now have been occupied in order to make new houses and

other infrastructures. The encroachment has left no space for getting water stored in the zone.

3. In a long course of time, local rivers are also silted increasing the river bed. This means in high tides

and during rainy season, the river crosses the bunds and enter in to the agriculture fields and even

in the main lands.

4. Local people have adopted a coping mechanism in the form of ‘Bund farming’. They grow

vegetables over the bunds – they do vegetable cultivation two times a year along with the rice. The

Bund farming is successful due to less salinity on the bunds as maximum salts get leached into the

soil during the rain.

5. Fresh water fishery is also a major source of livelihood in the zone.

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ZONE 12

OVERVIEW Zone 12 typically consists of some blocks from districts North 24 Parganas, East Medinipur and South 24

Parganas.


NORTH 24 PARGANAS

Basirhat I

Basirhat II

Hasnabad

Minakhan

EAST MEDINIPUR

Contai I

Contai III

Deshapran (Contai II)

Haldia

Khejuri I

Khejuri II

Nandigram I

Nandigram II

Ramnagar I

Ramnagar II

Sutahata

SOUTH 24 PARGANAS

Baruipur

Canning II

Jaynagar I

Jaynagar II

Kakdwip

Mathurapur I

Sagar


1. The zone is agriculture dependent but as this zone is also affected with higher salinity issues so not

very different from zone 11. 2. Tide based agriculture and vegetable cultivation is a major source of livelihood in the zone. 3. Captured fishery is very remunerative to the people of the zone and it acts as a coping mechanism

for less agricultural production. 4. A high rain fall of 2200 mm doesn’t bless the region with plenty of water as the >80% of rain

happens within only <80 rainy days which in absence of proper water harvesting structures causes

only flood.

72


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ZONE 13

OVERVIEW The zone 13 typically consists of North and South 24 Parganas and in a nut shell defines the Sunderban

region.


NORTH 24 PARGANAS

Hingalganj

Sandeshkhali I

Sandeshkhali II

SOUTH 24 PARGANAS

Basanti

Canning I

Gosaba

Kultali

Mathurapur II

Namkhana

Patharpratima


It is, indeed, a complex zone, stretching from the metropolitan Kolkata to remote riverine villages, upto the mouth of Bay of Bengal. The rural area significantly suffers from the lack of transport and communication facilities and weak delivery systems. 84% of the population lives in the rural areas, where development is taken care of by the Panchayat bodies. The scheduled caste comprises 39% of the total population and B.P.L. families constitute 37.21% of the population.

The zone under saline Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forests on earth, is spread over ten development blocks in the district. Due to its peculiar geographical location and the dictates of geography, the means of transport and communication in this region are not well developed, with all the attendant consequences. Lack of irrigation has meant mono-cropped agriculture. Breaches in earthen embankments and cyclonic storms mean loss of life and destruction of crops and property on a regular basis. Any development strategy in this ecologically fragile environment must be carefully designed and implemented.

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Apart from marine fishing, the principal traditional occupation in the entire coastal zone of the State is agriculture. In zone 13 the other occupations are fishing, honey collection and wood cutting although agriculture is the major occupation of the people. Due to hostile geo-physical conditions that entail inaccessibility, communication impediments, low productivity agriculture, constant change in land masses coupled with the prevailing climatic condition, the entire coastal zone -13 is characterised by severe economic backwardness.

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL VARIABLES

The coastal zone of West Bengal experiences a moderate type of climate because of its location at the apex of the Bay of Bengal as well as due to regular tidal flushing in the estuaries. Wave action, micro and macrotidal cycle, long shore currents are recorded in most of the islands of the ecosystem. Coastal processes are very dynamic and are accelerated by tropical cyclone which is locally called Kal Baisakhi (Nor’Wester). Field investigations show that the coastline is changing in the reclaimed areas due to abnormal cliff erosion.

The seasonal climate in coastal West Bengal may be conveniently categorised into pre-monsoon (March-June), monsoon (July-October) and post-monsoon (November- February). Each season has a characteristic feature of its own, which is very distinct and unique. The oscillations of various physical variables in different seasons of the year are discussed briefly.

WAVES AND TIDES

Sea waves in this region rarely become destructive except during cyclonic storm. During Nor’westers, the wind speed rises above 100 Km/hour and is usually accompanied by huge tidal waves. When the cyclonic incidences coincide with the spring-tides, wave height can rise over 5m above the mean sea level

SALINITY

Salinity is an important parameter governing many biological and chemical processes in the coastal zone of West Bengal. This parameter exhibits unique seasonal variation with highest value during pre-monsoon (March-June), minimum during monsoon (July-September) and intermediate during post-monsoon (November-February).A drastic variation of salinity is also observed in different transects of the estuary at the same time (Mitra, 2000).

RAINFALL

70-80% of total precipitation takes place in the period of June to September whereas the minimum rainfall is distributed across October to April in the year.


1. This zone is mainly representing the delta region with lots of streams passing through up to Bay of

Bengal.

2. Regular river bank failure is common feature over here; river banks fail at a frequency of 5 – 6

years causing Hugh damage to the local economy. Blocks particularly Gosaba, Sandesh Khali and

Namkhana are highly vunerable to river bank failures; saline sea water enters villages easily and

thoudands of hectare of the cultivable land people are loosing every year.

3. Agriculture and fishery are the popular livelihood activities and majority of the people fall in the

smallholder categories.

4. Water level in the zone is very high but the percentage of salinity is very high which is not good for

agricultural activities. For sweet water, the level goes as deep as 700 feet; as the zone is having no

75

irrigation facility so the return on the agriculture is also very less. Migration to distant places to

earn cash money is the only coping mechanism.

5. The land-use composition (Fig 86) of the coastal region reveals that maximum land in the coastal

area is under agriculture, followed by residual and homestead land. Uses of land under other

purposes like orchard are negligible. Pasture land in the coastal region is virtually non-existent.

Reclamation of agricultural land for aquaculture which reached its peak beginning the late ’80s up

to 1995 has apparently reached a plateau after imposition of ban on semi-intensive prawn farming

in 1996. 74.68% of the total cultivable land covered under Kharif paddy whereas 8.4% is the

coverage under boro paddy. The area severely suffers from water logging in the kharif and higher

saline concentration and non-availability of sweet water in other seasons made it mono-cropped.

The water stagnation profile of a typical village is shown by resource-mapping on revenue sheets:

Figure 86: Resoruce map of a village in the coastal West Bengal

76

PRIORITY ZONES:

The 2 days’ workshop also explored the 3

priority zones (Fig 41); based on all the

criteria considered by the participants; zone

8 (District Purulia, Bankura, and West

Midnapur) was put 1st in terms of

intervention followed by zone 2 and 12.

Figure 87 Voting was done in order to prioritize zones for AWM interventions

SOLUTIONS AS AN AWM INTERVENTION:

Table 29: Different solutions and their relevance25 explored during the workshop in different zones.

Zones 1 2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Watershed development

1 1 3

1

Water harvest

3

3

3 1 3 1 3 3

3 3

Water and soil conservation 3

2 3 3 3

2

Electrification

1 3 1

1 1 1 3 2

1

Financing

1

1

1 1 1 3 3

1

Drip irrigation

1

1 3

1 3 2 1 1

1

Small scale lift irrigation

3

2

1 1 1 3 3

1

Solar

1

1

1 1 1 1 1

1

Capacity building

3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Participants were facilitated to rank all the solutions as high, moderate and low; it significantly sorted out

most relevant solutions and validated the priority zones suggested by the participants. But this exercise

also throws light on the zones which were not selected by the participants and seems relevant from

intervention point of view; criteria followed by the participants were mostly responsible for prioritizing the

25

Relevance indicators; 3 = High, 2 = Medium and, 1 = Low

0

5

10

15

20Zone 1

Zone 2 and 2a

Zone 3

Zone 4:

Zone 5:

Zone 6:Zone 7 and 7a:Zone 8:

Zone 9:

Zone 10:

Zone 11:

Zone 12:

Zone 13:

Zones' prioritization for AWM intervention

Votes scored

AWM INVESTMENT POTENTAIL

PRIORITY ZONES

SOLUTIONS

77

zones (see workshop report for more details). In further analysis, we would see the solutions explored by

the paticipants along with some necessary comments on their relevance as a favored AWM intervention

method.

A. WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT

Figure 88: Solution in the zones and its relevance

Table 30: Zones showing relevance of intervention with Watershed development

SN ZONES DISTRICTS COVERED Relavance for watershed

intervention

1 6 Birbhum, Bardhmann Low

2 7 Bardhmann, Nadia, Hugli, Haora, East Midnapur

Low

3 7a Birbhum, Bardhmann High

4 12 East Midnapur, South 24 Parganas

Low

Comments:

1. Zone 7a shows highest relevance for intervention with watershed development as per participants’

opinion during the workshop.

2. Fig 43 explains about the rainfall trend (from 2003 – 2007) in the zones; zone 7a (Birbhum and

Bardhmann) is in accordance with the participants’ opinion as the increase in rainfall over the years

is more or less stagnent.

3. In order to dig in this isssue deep, we need to look at the Fig 44; Ground water situation (2007

data). There is a difference between projected amount of ground water need and water

availability.

4. So in first look, the solution suggested for zone 7a appears worthwhile.

1 2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Watershed development 1 1 3 1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Watershed development

78

Figure 89: Rainfall pattern in different districts.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Bardhaman Birbhum Nadia Hoogly Howrah EastMidnapur

WestMidnapur

Bankura North 24Parganas

south 24Parganas

Rai

nfa

ll in

mm

Districts

Rainfall trend in Zones 6, 7, 7a, and 12

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

Year 2007

Normal 2007

79

Figure 90: Ground water situation in Zone 6, 7, 7a, and 12

It is quite evident from Fig 43 and 44 that where there is presence of good rain, net annual availability of ground water is good and vice versa. This information is

important from agriculture point of view. The idea of AWM intervention would be applicable in places where there is low rain availability along with low ground

water table. So this way, Birbhum, Nadia, Howrah, Bankura and South 24 Parganas are more important than our priority zones (Fig 41). But one has to keep in

mind that these districts are also highly populated zones and very much urbanized so idea of intervention in terms of AWM would have to see other perspectives

as well.

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

Ground Water Situation in Zone 6, 7, 7a, and 12

projected demand 25 yrs for domestic and industryuse

Existing draft from all uses

Net Annual availability

Districts

80

B. WATER HARVEST

Figure 91: Water harvest and its relevance in each area.

Table 31: Zones showing relevance of intervention with water harvest

SN ZONES DISTRICTS COVERED Relavance for Water Harvest

1 2 Jalpaiguri High

2 3 Uttar Dinajpur, Dakhin Dinajpur and Maldah

High

3 5 Maldah, Murshidabad High


5 7

Bardhmann, Nadia, Hugli, Haora, East Midnapur, West Midnapur, Bankura, North 24 Parganas

High

6 7a Birbhum, Bardhmann Low

7 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur

High

8 9 Purulia High 9 11 South 24 Parganas High


High

Comments:

1. There are only two zones viz zone 6 and 7a (Birbhum and Bardhmann) which show less relevance

for water harvest during the rainy season. Partly it does’t match with the findings of previous

solution i.e. watershed development; at block level, only eastern Birbhum and western Bardhmann

fall in zone 7a which is why it looks different.

2. Water harvest is needed for small and marginal farmers which are most affected during the Boro

season (from Dec to March). Fig 7 and 8 can help explain as why Birbhum and Bardhmann show

less relevance in terms of intervention with water harvest.

Zone1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Water Harvest 3 3 3 1 3 1 3 3 3 3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

are

a

Water Harvest

81

Figure 92: Area available for production of Boro rice in zones relevant for intervention with water harvest.

Figure 93: Yield in Kg/ha of Boro rice in zones relevant for intervention with water harvest.

0200000400000600000800000

1000000

Area Vs. Production

Production (tonnes) Boro rice

Area (ha) Boro rice

0500

10001500200025003000350040004500

Yield (kg/ha) Boro rice

Yield (kg/ha) Boro rice

82

Figure 94: Rainfall trend in zones relevant for intervention with water harvest.

3. Rainfall pattern doesn’t support participants’ assumption for whether Birbhum and Bardhmann

should be left aside in terms of intervention with water harvest structures.

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

Rai

nfa

ll in

mm

Rainfall trend (Year 2007)

83

C. WATER AND SOIL CONSERVATION

Figure 95: Water and soil conservation and its relevance in each zone.

Table 32: Zones showing relevance of intervention with water and soil conservation


1 1 Darjeeling High

2 7

Bardhmann, Nadia, Hugli, Haora, East Midnapur, West Midnapur, Bankura, North 24 Parganas

Medium

3 7a Birbhum, Bardhmann High

4 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur

High

5 9 Purulia High


Medium

Comments:

1. All the zones show a great requirement of water and soil conservation; Fig 11 puts light into this

issue. Rainfall trend except Darjiling is more or less similar in all the zones, but how much water of

that can be used for the irrigation purpose would be worthwhile to notice (Fig 12). 2. The solution suggested by the participants appears to be realistic at first approach.

Zone1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Water and soil conservation 3 2 3 3 3 2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Water and soil conservation

84

Figure 96: Rainfall trend in zones relevant for interventin with water and soil conservation.

Figure 97: Trend in irrigation in zones relevant for intervention with water and soil conservation.

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

Rai

nfa

ll in

mm

Rainfall trend

050000

100000150000200000250000300000350000400000450000

Are

a in

ha

Trend irrigation (ha) 2007

85

D. ELECTRIFICATION

Figure 98: Electrification and its relevance in each zone.

Table 33: Zones showing relevance of intervention with electrification


1 2 Jalpaiguri Low

2 2a Kooch Bihar High


Low


5 7 Bardhmann, Nadia, Hugli, Haora, East Midnapur, West Midnapur, Bankura, North 24 Parganas

Low


7 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur High

8 9 Purulia Medium 9 12 East Midnapur, South 24 Parganas Low

Comments:

1. Electrification is neede for the irrigation purposes; only two zones viz; zone 2a (Kooch Bihar) and

zone 8 (Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapur) show high relevance for the intervention with

electrification.

2. Fig 14 also confirms the need of electrification in the concerned zones as even the RLIs (River Lift

Irrigation schemes are also not functioning well.

Zone1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Electrification 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 2 1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Electrification

86

Figure 99: River Lift Irrigation schemes owned and run by WRDD.

0

50

100

150

200

250

River Lift Irrigation Schemes by WRDD

NOS.OF RUNNING SCHEMES Diesel

NOS.OF RUNNING SCHEMES Electric

NOS.OF PERMANENTLY DEFUNCT Diesel

NOS.OF PERMANENTLY DEFUNCT Electric

NOS.OF TEMPORARILY BREAK DOWN Diesel

NOS.OF TEMPORARILY BREAK DOWN Electric

87

E. FINANCING

Figure 100: Financing and its relevance in each zone.

Table 34: Zones showing relevance of intervention with financing


1 2 Jalpaiguri Low


Low



Low


6 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur High 7 9 Purulia High

8 12 East Midnapur, South 24 Parganas Low

Zone1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Financing 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 1

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Financing

88

F. DRIP IRRIGATION

Figure 101: Drip irrigation and its relevance in each zone.

Table 35: Zones showing relevance for intervention with drip irrigation


1 2 Jalpaiguri Low 2 3 Uttar Dinajpur, Dakhin Dinajpur and

Maldah Low

3 4 Maldah High



High

6 7a Birbhum, Bardhmann Medium 7 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur Low 8 9 Purulia Low 9 12 East Midnapur, South 24 Parganas Low

Zone1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Drip irrigation 1 1 3 1 3 2 1 1 1

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Drip irrigation

89

G. SMALL SCALE LIFT IRRIGATION

Figure 102: Small scale lift irrigation and its relevance in each zone

Table 36: Zones showing relevance for intervention with small scale lift irrigation


1 2 Jalpaiguri High


Medium

3 6 Birbhum, Bardhmann Low 4 7 Bardhmann, Nadia, Hugli, Haora, East

Midnapur, West Midnapur, Bankura, North 24 Parganas

Low


6 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur High 7 9 Purulia High

8 12 East Midnapur, South 24 Parganas Low

Zone 1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Small scale lift irrigation 3 2 1 1 1 3 3 1

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Small scale lift irrigation

90

H. SOLAR

Figure 103: Solar and its relevance in each zone.

Table 37: Zones showing their relevance for solar intervention


1 2 Jalpaiguri Low 2 3 Uttar Dinajpur, Dakhin Dinajpur and

Maldah Low

3 6 Birbhum, Bardhmann Low 4 7 Bardhmann, Nadia, Hugli, Haora, East

Midnapur, West Midnapur, Bankura, North 24 Parganas

Low

5 7a Birbhum, Bardhmann Low 6 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur Low 7 9 Purulia Low 8 12 East Midnapur, South 24 Parganas Low

Zone1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Solar 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Solar

91

I. CAPACITY BUILDING

Figure 104: Capacity building and its relevance in each zone

Table 38: Zone showing their relevance for intervention with capacity building


1 2 Jalpaiguri High 2 2a Kooch Bihar High


High

4 4 Maldah High 5 5 Maldah, Murshidabad High



High

8 7a Birbhum, Bardhmann High 9 8 Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapur High

10 9 Purulia High

11 10 Kolkata, Nadia, Haora, North and South 24 Parganas

High

12 11 South 24 Parganas High 13 12 East Midnapur, South 24 Parganas High 14 13 South 24 Parganas High

Zone1

2 2a 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13

Capacity building 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Re

leva

nce

in e

ach

zo

ne

Capacity building

92

REFERENCES

Anno. (2011). "District Profile, Purulia." Retrieved April 1st 2011, from http://www.purulia.nic.in/aboutDistrict/district_profile.html.

Chattopadhyay, S. (2003). "Ravaged by a river." Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2020/stories/20031010002209300.htm.

Das, B. K. (2009). "Flood Disasters and Forest Villagers in sub-Himalayan Bengal." Economic & Political Weekly 71.

Desai, M. (2011). "Identification and Mapping of Hazard Prone areas regarding landslide in the Darjeeling Hill area." Retrieved May 2nd, 2011, from http://www.darjeeling.gov.in/geography.html#land-use.

DevelopmentAlternativesGroup (2001). "Sustainable Water Management."

DistrictMagistrate, J. (2010) The Jalpaiguri story: Innovative application for livelihood security 2011,

Guhathakurta, P. and M. Rajeevan (2008). "Trends in the rainfall pattern over India." International Journal of Climatology 28(11): 1453-1469.

IMRBInternational (2010). To understand the investment potential in the state of West Bengal. B. I. R. Division, Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi: 1-284.

Indianetzone (2008). "Birbhum District, West Bengal." Retrieved May 12, 2011, from http://www.indianetzone.com/14/birbhum_west_bengal.htm.

IRRI (2011). "Resource conserving technologies and livelihoods in West Bengal." Retrieved May 11, 2011, from http://irri.org/partnerships/networks/ifad-facility-grant/subprograms/resource-conserving-technologies-and-livelihoods-in-west-bengal.

IWMI (2010). West Benal Situation Analysis: 1-4.

Meinzen-Dick, R., K. V. Raju, et al. (2002). "What Affects Organization and Collective Action for Managing Resources? Evidence from Canal Irrigation Systems in India." World Development 30(4): 649-666.

MInistry of water resources, I. (2002). "National Water Policy." 10.

NaturaBeyond (2011). "Malda." Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www.north-bengal.com/places/malda/.

http://www.purulia.nic.in/aboutDistrict/district_profile.html

http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2020/stories/20031010002209300.htm

http://www.darjeeling.gov.in/geography.html#land-use

http://www.indianetzone.com/14/birbhum_west_bengal.htm

http://irri.org/partnerships/networks/ifad-facility-grant/subprograms/resource-conserving-technologies-and-livelihoods-in-west-bengal

http://irri.org/partnerships/networks/ifad-facility-grant/subprograms/resource-conserving-technologies-and-livelihoods-in-west-bengal

http://www.north-bengal.com/places/malda/

http://www.north-bengal.com/places/malda/

93

NIC-Bardhaman (2011, May 11, 2011). "Bardhamann." Retrieved May 11, 2011, from http://bardhaman.nic.in/distataglance.html.

NIC-Jalpaiguri (2011). "Jalpaiguri Online." Retrieved May 2nd, 2011, from http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/index.htm.

NIC-KochBihar (2011). "Cooch Behar." Retrieved May 4th, 2011, from http://coochbehar.nic.in/Htmfiles/index.html#.

NIC-Malda (2010). "Malda District." Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://malda.nic.in/.

NIC-UttarDinajpur (2003). "Uttar Dinajpur ". Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://uttardinajpur.nic.in/.

Phadhke, R. (2002). THE DREAMS OF A WATER WARRIOR, GOOGLE: 507-513.

Prahalad, P. C. K. (2010) West Bengal Vision @ 2022 1-31

Sarkar, S. (2011). "X FACTOR - ENGLISH BAZAAR Municipal Problems to Influence Result in English Bazaar." Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://soumyadesarkar.blogspot.com/2011/04/x-factor-english-bazaar-municipal.html.

VoiceOfBharat (2011). "South Dinajpur District

Social, Developmental, Environmental and Economic Canvas." Retrieved May 11, 2011, from http://www.voiceofbharat.org/districts/coochbehar.asp.

http://bardhaman.nic.in/distataglance.html

http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/index.htm

http://coochbehar.nic.in/Htmfiles/index.html

http://malda.nic.in/

http://uttardinajpur.nic.in/

http://soumyadesarkar.blogspot.com/2011/04/x-factor-english-bazaar-municipal.html

http://soumyadesarkar.blogspot.com/2011/04/x-factor-english-bazaar-municipal.html

http://www.voiceofbharat.org/districts/coochbehar.asp

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ANNEXURE I

Table 39: Production details of different crops (‘000 tonnes) in different districts (2006-07)

SN District Rice Aus Aman Boro Wheat Maize Total Pulses

Total Oil seeds

Jute Total Miscellaneous crops

1 Darjiling 58.7 8.9 46.6 3.2 3.2 30.8 1.2 8.1 31.4 205.9

2 Jalpaiguri 419.0 54.0 322.0 43.0 33.1 23.1 2.1 7.8 446.7 734.3

3 Coachbihar 445.8 11.0 351.4 83.4 25.2 35.2 4.9 12.0 762.0 304.5

4 Uttardinajpur 589.7 3.3 322.5 263.9 86.3 60.2 2.7 20.7 650.0 116.0

5 Dakshin dinajpur 446.4 18.2 294.4 133.8 21.9 4.1 0.3 13.5 204.6 44.8

6 Murshidabad 1030.6 62.2 492.8 475.6 270.3 34.4 36.1 86.2 1972.0 454.8

7 Maldah 470.6 10.0 201.9 258.7 111.1 29.5 22.5 40.7 341.3 292.1

8 Bardhaman 1967.0 43.7 1201.3 722.0 5.8 0.8 1.4 46.7 229.6 1076.7

9 Purulia 731.4 3.0 725.1 3.3 3.7 19.3 6.2 4.7 29.3

10 Bankura 1138.0 53.2 945.6 139.2 12.8 2.1 0.2 26.5 0.6 459.3

11 Birbhum 1199.4 15.8 960.3 223.3 83.8 0.4 16.0 38.7 6.3 245.4

12 West Midnapur 1798.8 81.3 1281.1 436.4 15.3 1.8 3.4 99.5 70.8 1056.7

13 East Midnapur 1045.3 33.6 540.4 471.3 1.2 13.0 36.7 26.5 66.0

14 Nadia 677.7 93.4 232.2 352.1 102.6 10.4 28.3 102.6 1887.0 204.0

15 Hoogly 846.8 18.1 529.9 298.8 2.7 0.7 1.2 39.9 585.8 1069.0

16 Howrah 243.6 1.3 131.6 110.7 0.7 0.1 0.6 9.3 70.2 79.3

17 south 24 Parganas 911.1 18.2 662.9 230.0 3.3 0.5 6.5 15.2 7.8 68.2

18 North 24 Parganas 726.0 46.3 407.8 271.9 16.9 7.8 44.6 1118.8 150.1

95

ANNEXURE II

Table 40: Productivity details of different crops (kg/ha) in different districts (2006-07)

SN District Rice Aus Aman Boro Wheat Maize Total Pulses

Total Oil seeds

Jute Total Miscellaneous crops

1 Darjiling 1866 2040 1824 2071 1428 2116 609 564 12.7 4254

2 Jalpaiguri 1824 1311 1892 2347 2055 1982 505 565 10.6

3 Coachbihar 1862 886 1784 2775 1956 5966 551 533 10.4 7016

4 Uttardinajpur 2301 1323 1960 2957 2448 5018 571 547 12.2 9063

5 Dakshin dinajpur 2412 1748 2224 3163 2476 2671 402 557 11.6 7724

6 Murshidabad 2609 1908 2189 3464 2154 4615 693 934 14.6 22185

7 Maldah 3051 1497 2525 3825 2591 2157 861 1009 14.7 38947

8 Bardhaman 3060 3232 2864 3442 2278 2555 396 827 16.6 16590

9 Purulia 2607 1501 2615 2484 2047 1687 437 519 10464

10 Bankura 2797 2618 2813 2760 2151 2710 551 627 17.8 12281

11 Birbhum 3128 2591 3070 3462 2643 1619 773 1011 17.8 12916

12 West Midnapur 2598 1961 2497 3165 2143 2284 577 1031 13.7 11833

13 East Midnapur 2429 2197 2021 3195 2323 1205 1733 17.8 7021

14 Nadia 2707 2255 2154 3483 2188 2326 724 958 14.5 15573

15 Hoogly 2830 2547 2706 3104 2149 2607 701 1132 18.5 10930

16 Howrah 2084 1506 1716 2816 1551 1151 548 1380 18.5 8620

17 south 24 Parganas

2195 2271 2009 2988 2051 2084 641 1251 12.4 11965

18 North 24 Parganas

2611 2612 2390 3031 2397 576 949 18.5 14160

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