Diversified-INTEGRATED FARMINGadaptation strategy for small and marginal farmers in coastal lowlands of Sundarbans
[How & Why]
Ardhendu S Chatterjee&
Anshuman DasDevelopment Research Communication and Services Centre
West BengalIndia
The SettingSunderbans, world’s largest delta, formed by 3 major
riversand more than 300 tributaries & distributaries
Mudflats,mangroves,saltwater swamps spreading over 2
countries,along 250 Km coastline.
basic data
• latitude 21.31to 22.40 N
• longitude 88.05to 89.06E
• Av Rainfall 1800 mm/yr
• Av Temp 30C in Smr,20C winter
• Pre monsoon [Mar-May] Thunderstorms
• Monsoon[85%Rainfall ,June-Sept]
• post Monsoon [Oct-Nov] Cyclones
Changes
• mangrove forest loss livelihoods lost
• rising salinity levels loss in Diversity and Productivity of Soil and Water.
• Rivers Silted, whole islands Disappearing Climate refugees
other changes
• Rising number of man-tiger conflicts• Forest Lands diverted for water and energy
intensive farming, shrimp culture, Rubber plantation etc.
• Falling Groundwater levels,salinity intrusion reducing farm productivity
• Farmlands converted to townships, resorts, industrial units Increased Pollution. Reduced water productivity.
Rising No of Disastersafter Aila
Courtsey: Outlook magazine
Some problems, intensified in last 2~3 year- increased rainfall/occurrence of lightning, storm intensity and
frequency- rains in the monsoon season tend to be more intense and persist for
6-7 days before they break rather than the 1-2 days that characterised past seasons
- winters and summers have become warmer in the last 3-4 years- intermediary seasons have changed – spring/autumn has now
disappeared- summer rainfall that had the benefit of reducing temperatures,
supplying moisture to the soil, has declined- freshwater flooding from the adjacent Hugli River- gradual infiltration of saline water into the soil. - water logging, water does not flow quickly out of the cultivation area.
Resulting into reduced rice yields crop growth delayed, increasing susceptibility to pests and diseases erratic flowering of fruit trees loss of cash crops e.g. chillies
Intervention Objectives
• Extend growing season through Enhance d Diversity at Spc,Var & Ecosystem Levels
• Build Reserves of Water,Fodder,Firewood etc. and Increase System Resilience through Integration of Semi Perennial & perennials, animals,aquatic organisms etc
• Reduce the need for External Inputs through Multi step recycling ,Use of Biol & other Renewable Resources
multi step use of organic manure
other strategies• Reduce Inputs and Labour required through
close integration[chicken tractor, duck aerator and weeder etc.]
• Eliminate the need for Bio-cides through mixed and rotational cropping, use of resilient indigenous varieties, trap crops etc
• Design of Multi-purpose & Multifunctional elements, such as Live Fences, hedgerows, multi step ponds,multi level Climbing Frames.
Ducks supply manure, add oxygen to water, reduce weeds, control pests and convert them to meat/egg.
multi step,multi utility pond
multi level climbing frame
diversifed Vegetable garden
Paddy field bunds used
Space above pond utilised
Duck-house above pondmade using local materials
Collaborative Trials on Farmers fields as Extn Strategy
• Farmers Describe their resources,Assess Farm Productivity over Seasons, Define their Econ,Soc-Cultrl,Ecol Objectives in short and medium term, Design models in 2 or 3D,and assess progress periodically in neighbourhood groups ,often with external resource persons present.
• farmer to farmer exchange visits are facilitated
• Profiles and databases are created for lesser known plants,birds animals.
Let’s take specific case of 3 farmers
Banamali Das Sukomal Mandal Gobardhan Patra
Total Land 0.6 acre 1.1 acre 0.4 acre
Cropping pattern Vegetables during winter and rainy season, Rice in winter
Rice in Kharif, some vegetable during winter
Rice in kharif, some vegetable during winter, Vegetable during rainy season
Other Assets Home + Homestead Garden + pond = 0.25 acre.
Pond + home=0.2 acre
0.05 acre pond
Family Member 7 Adult + 4 Children
2 Adult + 2 Children 10 Adult + 10 Children
* all of them having low lands, during rains/flood takes 3~4 months to recede – making the land uncultivable
Common Problem-Very small amount of land- Low land, which becomes uncultivable due to long and unpredictable water logging condition- Unpredictability of climate (rainfall/temperature/fog/storm) effecting germination and yield- Pest attack increased- Can’t manage to feed their family
Interventions tested so far
1. Ditch/pond/canal in the low land to drain excess water to make the low land cultivable
2. Raised beds and bunds, Levelling of Paddyfield3. Change from mono-cropping system to mixed cropping –
reducing dependency on single crop/animal etc4. Integrating field crop Subsystem ,with Home
garden,Orchard, Fish Pond,Cattle subsystems to reduce risks of total crop failure.
5. Using each and every vertical & horizontal space for production[Multi storey arrangements]
6. introducing bio gas ,azolla,Vermicompost to recycle all waste,reduce pollution,increase C Seq potential of soils.
Water logged
Farmer1: Before intervention
Water logged
Farmer1: After intervention
1 Canal around the area
3 MPT in bund
4 Vegetable over canal6 Cowshed
8 Biogas
9 raised bed
7 Hen coupe over pond
5 Net over pond
2 Small pond
1Canal
2 net over the canal
3 MPT
4 Rain water hvst
5 Raised Bed
6 Small Pond
Farmer 2
1 Net over the canal
2 Paddy (SRI)
3 MTP 4 Cow
5 Vermi
6 Canal
9 Pond
7 Hen
8 raised bed
10 water logging tolerant aurum
Farmer 3
Intra system dependency: Rice-fish-duck-azolla
Banamali Das Sukomal Mandal Gobardhan Patra
Crop Winter – 12 types
Summer – 8 types
Rainy Season – 17 types + Paddy-fish-duck-azolla
Winter – 25 types + Paddy (SRI)
Summer – 13 types
Rainy Season – 22 types
Winter – 10 types Summer – 5 types
Rainy Season – 10 types + Paddy-fish-azolla
Perennial Tree
5 types of fodder/wood/biomass generating + 7 types of fruit
5 types of fruit 6 types of fruit
Animal/ Poultry/Fish
5 Cows
8 ducks, 18 hens
Fish
2 cows, 6 goats
24 hens, 2 ducks
Fish
2 cows, 2 bull
24 hens
Fish
Bioinput Compost, vermicompost, fish/poultry/fodder from his own plot, bio-pestrepellents, biogas slurry
Compost, vermicompost, fish/poultry/fodder from his own plot, bio-pestrepellents
Compost, vermicompost, fish/poultry/fodder from his own plot, bio-pestrepellents
Others Seed preservation, Biogas
Seed preservation Rain water harvesting, seed preservation
Intervention
Impact: diversified output/income
Summary: Land shaping cost 5000 INR as loan. Total input 12235.5 INR (9497.75 INR is internally generated), Total output 28222 INR + own consumption 13000 INR
48
25
24
25
23
40
5 10
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2006-07 2007-08
Enterprise
Livestock
Aqua
Agr
Impact: reducing livelihood dependency on single enterprise
Impact: energy/input cost/calorie/biomass recycling within the system – making the system more stable
Before Biogas plant:Fuel consumption: 25 dung cakes (300 g per dung cake) & 10 kg of firewood per day.After Constructing Biogas plant:Fuel consumption: Biogas at the rate of 1.5 hours per day and 10 Kg of firewood per week.+ biogas slurry for making vermicompost
No fossil fuel dependency, no mechanized tillage – no irrigation/chemical fertiliser/pesticide
Impact: Clean Energy
Impact: Faming season extended, more days of work, more cash in hand, no migration
Impact: More resilient shock proof system, can manage water logging, longer summer
Upscaling Initiatives• Advocacy through DST and presenting data
to academic researchers,state institutions and PRIs.
• Negotiations with NABARD
• Lobbying with unions of farmers and State Extension Dept Workers,as well as NGO forums,state level Disaster Working Group etc.
• Close Integration at farm and household level can enhance food security, and make farms less disaster prone
• Productivity of smallholders can be significantly enhanced without using groundwater ,non renewable energy,and synthetic agro-chemicals .
• Farm households need capital loan support in the initial conversion phase, which can be provided as revolving fund.or the earthworks can be supported through MGNREGS
Summary
Limits/Challenges• Farm level adaptation need to be supplemented with
Watershed level interventions , such as Mangrove Protection and regeneration, embankment strengthening, Canalbank planting,Grass – land regeneration as well as desilting rivers and removing encroachments on drainage channels.
• State support is never/ or seldom available for Indigenous plants and animals .The specialised cows,ducks,fishes,pigs etc that are promoted, perform poorly in integrated system.Focus needs to shift to whole farm productivity
• Focus needs to shift from Extension to Dialogue. ‘Experts’ need to work in multi disciplinary teams
Thanks