Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the gangetic plains of West Bengal, India: Findings from a scoping study
Material type:
ArticlePublication details: 2010Subject(s):
In:
SATSA Mukhapatra Annual Technical Issue v. 14, p. 45-60Summary: The research and development (R & D) community faces the challenge of sustaining crop productivity gains, improving rural livelihoods and securing environmental sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This calls for a better understanding of farming systems and of rural livelihoods, particularly with the advent of, and strong advocacy for, conservation agriculture and resource-conserving technologies. The paper summarizes the findings from a scoping study to assess crop-livestock interactions and rural livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, drawing from a village survey in three districts (Malda, Nadia and Paschim Medinipur) and secondary data. The rice-cattle based rural livelihoods are in stark contrast with those in the western IGP, whereas the state's high human and livestock pressure and high poverty pose particular challenges to sustainable intensification and poverty reducing agricultural growth; particularly in the more remote districts. Strengthening the client orientation and productivity of the agricultural R&D community will be central to improving livelihoods and more sustainably using natural resources; and research on crop-livestock interaction serves as a good entry point for that process.
| Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contribution to periodical | CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library | CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection | CIS-5974 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available |
Browsing CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library shelves, Collection: CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection Close shelf browser (Hides shelf browser)
The research and development (R & D) community faces the challenge of sustaining crop productivity gains, improving rural livelihoods and securing environmental sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This calls for a better understanding of farming systems and of rural livelihoods, particularly with the advent of, and strong advocacy for, conservation agriculture and resource-conserving technologies. The paper summarizes the findings from a scoping study to assess crop-livestock interactions and rural livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, drawing from a village survey in three districts (Malda, Nadia and Paschim Medinipur) and secondary data. The rice-cattle based rural livelihoods are in stark contrast with those in the western IGP, whereas the state's high human and livestock pressure and high poverty pose particular challenges to sustainable intensification and poverty reducing agricultural growth; particularly in the more remote districts. Strengthening the client orientation and productivity of the agricultural R&D community will be central to improving livelihoods and more sustainably using natural resources; and research on crop-livestock interaction serves as a good entry point for that process.
Socioeconomics Program
English
INT2677