Increasing Small-holder Farmers’ Income through Alternate Land use Options in Coastal Salt-affected Areas of West Bengal

Abstract

Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) of Planning Commission, Govt. of India has one of the key focuses to develop agriculture and allied activities through promotion of integrated farming system having direct positive impact on livelihoods of the disadvantaged groups of people. Lack of good quality irrigation water and salinity in dry season; waterlogged condition during wet season restricts the crop choices, are the major impediments to enhance the agricultural productivities, hence low agricultural income in the region. Alternative land use options through better land and water management through integrated farming systems can provide fairly better income and livelihoods to the farmers in the region. The paper has analyzed effectiveness of some of these land management options coupled with better soil fertility management, particularly in the disadvantaged island ecosystem in coastal West Bengal. Such interventions have increased cropping intensity from 128 to 288 % and per hectare return from Rs. 73623 to Rs. 158730 as compared to the prevailing practices. Besides, soil quality in terms of pH, ECe (salinity) and organic carbon content has improved significantly after the interventions. Investment on the alternative land use options have been encouraging with positive internal rate of return (34 %), net present value (Rs.100343), benefit cost ratio (1.17) and pay-back period (1.26 years). Finally, key constraints for large-scale out-scaling of these interventions in other areas have also been highlighted.