Baseline Report of NAIP Project on Strategies for Sustainable Management of Degraded Coastal Land and Water for Enhancing Livelihood Security of Farming Communities

Abstract

Key objective of the present project is to address these issues and to promote best management practices suited to the prevailing land and water resources for higher land and water productivity in sustainable manner. • In Sundarbans region agriculture is the primary occupation of the majority of the households (39-56%) across the study clusters followed by daily labourers for non-agricultural activities (5-14%), migration (2-11%) to other places for alternative livelihood, fisheries (4-11%), business (2-9%), others including handicrafts (3-10%) and service (3-7%). Average family income of the households in Sundarbans Cluster is Rs 22000-25000 per/family/year. In A & N Islands, average family income is because some member of most of the families is in Govt. service which is the major occupation of most of the families. Major critical gaps identified are high soil and water salinity, high acidity of soil (acid-sulphate soil), non-scientific nutrient management, scarcity of good quality irrigation water during Rabi/summer season, low crop diversification, low land & water which is unable to sustain livelihood, lack of alternative livelihood option for landless/marginal men and woman farmer, very low level of farm mechanization and high drudgery, low productivity of freshwater fish culture and un-utilization of available Brackishwater.