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Dynamics and Development Pathways in the Semi-Arid Tropics: Dokur Village Profile. Research Bulletin no. 23

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Research Bulletin no. 23
 
Title Dynamics and Development Pathways in the Semi-Arid Tropics: Dokur Village Profile. Research Bulletin no. 23
 
Creator Rao, G D N
Babu, P A
Bantilan, M C S
 
Subject Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
 
Description This Research Bulletin is a profile of Dokur village in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
It is part of a series of village profiles featuring six villages located in the semi-arid tropics of India
which were studied by ICRISAT in its long-term socio-economic research known as the Village Level
Studies (VLS). This profile chronicles the developments undertaken and pathways of improved
livelihoods in Dokur village from 1975 to the present. It is based on insights from the longitudinal
household panel data which originally studied 40 households in 1975 to 1985 (VLS-1) and systematically
tracked them since then beginning 2001 to the present (VLS-2) using formal surveys of original
households and their split-off households. The survey data were complemented by focus group
meetings (FGM) and personal interviews with key village informants. The profile features significant
changes that have taken place in the overall situation in Dokur village during the last 30 years. The
unique experience of this village during the last three decades is captured by the two generations of
VLS data. The transformation of this village is seen to be significantly influenced by the environmental,
political and socioeconomic changes, particularly during the last two decades. The food security of
households that fall below the poverty line has improved in recent years compared to the past.
However, the persistent drought experienced by farmers of Dokur in the last decade presents evidence
of their vulnerability, their responses to drought and other shocks and corresponding coping
mechanisms. Crop production and cropping patterns shifted from food crops to cash crops or high
value crops, with farmers’ greater concern about income and profitability. Due to persistent drought
and increasing water scarcity in Dokur, the role of agriculture has been declining. Household incomes
were seen to be increasingly derived from migration and non-farm or non-agricultural activities.
Literacy and education levels significantly increased with greater diversification of livelihoods and
substantial income opportunities from migration and the non-farm sector. Credit facilities improved
with accessibility to more formal credit sources, although informal sources (e.g., private moneylenders)
remain dominant. Greater social and household empowerment of women was evident as they
overcame social barriers to participate in government welfare programs, village development activities
and acquired membership in Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Overall, Dokur’s transformation has led to the
significant improvement of the welfare of its population. However, this transformation is driven not
by agriculture but by the opportunities presented by higher education, improved awareness, women
empowerment, and diversification into non-agricultural sources of livelihood, and even migration.
 
Publisher International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
 
Date 2009
 
Type Monograph
NonPeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
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Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/1367/1/552_2008_RB23_Dokur_village.pdf
Rao, G D N and Babu, P A and Bantilan, M C S (2009) Dynamics and Development Pathways in the Semi-Arid Tropics: Dokur Village Profile. Research Bulletin no. 23. Monograph. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.