African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development

African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development ISSN 2375-0693 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-010, August, 2019.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of factors affecting livelihood situations in the disadvantaged areas of West Bengal, India

*Kapoor O. Virat, Kareena Dhyan and Manmohan A. Chandra

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal- 73616, India.

Accepted 13 January, 2019

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess economic and social sustainability and their impact on rural livelihood of North East India. Results demonstrate that overall input self sufficiency ratio increased almost two fold (from 0.29 to 0.53). The less the index value is, the higher the cropping diversification will be, and thus, the more relatively sustainable for the farming system. The cropping diversification index (ICD) was enhanced from 36.90 to 18.73%, 40.03 to 19.72%, 34.04 to 19.90% and 43.71 to 22.33% at clusters -I, -II, -III and - IV, respectively. Due to introduction of improved agro-techniques and intensification of crop diversification through National Agricultural Innovation Project in the study areas, overall food deficiency was mitigated by 7.31, 16.97 and 24.05% for 2, 4 and 6 months, respectively, while overall food sufficiency and surplus enhanced‎from‎33.71‎to‎75.73%‎and‎0.38‎to‎8.07%.‎Overall,‎women’s‎participation‎decreased‎by‎40.75%‎in‎the‎ case of simple physical activities, whereas, it significantly increased to 417.93% in the case of knowledge and skill oriented activities, which ultimately assisted in uplifting the sustainability of farming system from low to moderate and high.

Key words: Crop diversification index (ICD), food security, input self sufficiency, sustainability.