Natural Resource Endowments, Subsistence Agriculture, and Poverty in the Chhotanagpur Plateau

Banik, Pabitra and Edmonds, Christopher and Fuwa, Nobuhiko and Kam, Suan Pheng and Villano, Lorena and Bagchi, D.K. (2004): Natural Resource Endowments, Subsistence Agriculture, and Poverty in the Chhotanagpur Plateau.

Abstract

The Chhotanagpur Plateau in Eastern India lies on the so-called Tribal belt and is one of the poorest regions of India. Beginning in 1998, the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata and the International Rice Research Institute began research to examine the biophysical and socioeconomic factors constraining agricultural activity and household income in the region. This report provides an initial descriptive and quantitative analysis of the integrated biophysical and socioeconomic database constructed from this research. The report begins with brief overview of the geography and history of the study area, followed by descriptions of the main biophysical characteristics of the study area, such as climate, topography, soil, water availability, and the typology of land types in the area. The main cropping systems associated with each land type are identified. This research highlighted the importance of low scale variations in topography in explaining cropping systems. Part Two of the report reviews socioeconomic characteristics of the villages and of surveyed households. Key characteristics noted include the high incidence of poverty, the diversity of economic activities, and the small share of imputed household income derived from rice cultivation. The report concludes with a brief discussion of policy implications and avenues for future research in the study.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Natural Resource Management; Rural Poverty; Rice Production; Subsistence Farming; Eastern India
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q56 - Environment and Development ; Environment and Trade ; Sustainability ; Environmental Accounts and Accounting ; Environmental Equity ; Population Growth; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O13 - Agriculture ; Natural Resources ; Energy ; Environment ; Other Primary Products

References

Banik, P. 1996. Studies on paddy based cropping system under different agronomical practices in eastern plateau area, Ph.D. thesis submitted to Calcutta University (Unpublished).

Banik, P., Ghosal, P. and Bagchi, D.K. 1993. Production potential, economics and water use effeciency of different crop sequences in Bihar plateau area. Indian Journal of Dryland Agricultural Research & Development,8(2):119 – 124.

Banik, P. and Bagchi, D.K. 1996. Productivity of winter crops after sole rice (Oryza sativa), blackgram (Phaseolus mungo), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and rice + legume intercropping systems on uplands of Bihar plateau. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 66(4) : 208 - 211.

Banik, P., Chakraborty, A. and Bagchi, D.K. 1997. Integrated nutrient management in rice and its effect on water use and moisture depletion pattern of follow up winter crops in rainfed areas. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 67(8) : 289-301.

Banik, P., Sarkar, B., Sasmal, T., Ghosal, P.K., Adhikary, S. and Bagchi, D.K. 1999. Evaluation of rice (Oryza sativa) - based cropping sequences under rainfed medium land situation of Bihar plateau. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 69(5) : 307-310.

Bhattacharya, B.K., Ray, P., Chakraborty, B.R., Sengupta, S., Sen, N.N., Sengupta, K. S., Mukherji, S., Sen, N.N. and Maity, T. (1985). West Bengal District Gazetteers Purulia. Government of West Bengal. Published by Narendra Nath Sen, State Editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers, Calcutta. Pp. 24-25.

Deaton, Angus (2001). “Computing prices and poverty rates in India, 1999-2000.” Draft. Research Program in Development Studies, Princeton University. NJ: Princeton.

Maiti, Ashok Kumar and Bagchi, Dipak Kumar. 1993. Perception, performance and potential development in Usri watershed area of Bihar plateau region; An eco-systemic approach. Project report submitted to ICSSR, India.

Narahari Rao, K., Gadgil, Sulochana, Seshagiri Rao, P.R. and Savithri, K. 1999. Tailoring stragies to rainfall variability I. The choice of sowing window. CAOS Report 99AS8 Submitted by Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.

Pandey, Sushil, B. C. Barah and L. Velasco. (2003) “Patterns of Rice Productivity Growth in eastern India: Implications for Research and Policy.” Unpublished manuscript. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Laguna, Philippines.

Sen, S.R., S.K. Mukharjee, K. Ramamoorthy and Harbans Singh. (1984) Agricultural productivity in Eastern India. Report of the Committee, Reserve Bank of India, New Delhi.