Economic Impact Assessment of Rehabilitation Schemes of Tsunami Affected Farmers of Bay Islands in India

Abstract

The giant tsunami of December 2004 not only damaged the physical infrastructure of the islands but devastated the agriculture and allied sectors along with the associated livelihood opportunities. An investigation was carried out to assess the damage caused by tsunami to the farming community of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the impact of the schemes implemented by the A&N Administration. Totally 136 respondents from selected eight villages were interviewed for the study, which revealed that agriculture land affected (which remains dry) per family was to the extent of 0.1-.53ha. The land affected from high tides varies between 0.37and 0.19 ha per family and the inundated land per family from 0.74 to 0.49 ha, during 2005-08. The agriculture crop loss per family was estimated to be Rs. 50,472. Agriculture inputs and farm implement losses were Rs. 15,775. The loss following damage of livestock inputs and assets was also very high with the loss of poultry alone contributing to about Rs. 19,242 per family. To revive the agriculture and allied sector of Tsunami affected families, Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Programme (RGRP) has been implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Administrations with total outlay of Rs. 821.88 crores. The study shows that the project has benefited the farming community of these islands by improving their income and through employment generation. The project has also led to the increase in cropping intensity to the extent of 155%. Overall impact of the programme was estimated to be 68%, which is considered as very good.