Rural livelihoods in eastern India and Bangladesh Anton Immink Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme DFID Institute of Aquaculture University of Stirling

Contents Overview of the region Eastern India –traditional farming system Bangladesh –regional variation –traditional farming system Concluding comments Slide show

Overview of the region

Facts and figures India total land area: 1,269,339 sq miles (10% water) arable land: 54% population: 1,045,845,226 agriculture: 25% of GDP labour force: agriculture 60% rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software West Bengal area: 34,363 sqm pop: 68 million

Key Agricultural Production- India, 2001 Sugar Cane286,000,000 Rice131,900,000 Forage91,000,000 Milk83,970,000 Wheat68,458,000 Vegetables58,000,000 Fruit47,240,000 Potatoes25,000,000 Pulses18,171,000 Bananas (x) 16,000,000 Maize11,836,000 Mangoes (x) 11,500,000 Millet9,505,000 Coconuts9,000,000 Fish5,820,683 Meat4,917,270 Tea855,000 (x) = included in fruit total, but important individually

Facts and figures Bangladesh total land area: 55,598 sq miles (8% water) arable land: 61% population: 133,376,684 agriculture: 30% of GDP labour force: agriculture 63% rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertiliser, light engineering, sugar

Key Agricultural Production- Bangladesh 2001 Rice, Paddy39,112,000 Sugar Cane6,742,000 Potatoes2,933,000 Milk2,112,010 Wheat2,000,000 Fish1,760,772 Vegetables1,456,000 Fruit1,357,000 Jute821,000 Bananas (x) 572,000 Meat427,850 Sweet Potatoes378,000 Pulses349,000 Rapeseed260,000 Pumpkins, Squash (y) 198,000 Mangoes (x) 187,000 Eggs159,000 Tea52,000 (x) = included in fruit total, but important individually (y) = included in vegetables total, but important individually

Eastern area relief map Soils, rivers, floods

Rainfall (and flood) UK (600) per annum

Farming system - eastern India Poor, upland soils in plateau area Small farm area, on average 2 acres No mechanisation, cattle and human power Seasonal reliance on nature Usually just one crop of rice (July- November). Second crop possibly wheat Vegetables close to towns/cities where water permits from tubewells by hand

Livelihood activities

Farming systems - Bangladesh Rich, alluvial, flood plain soils (mostly) Small farm area, on average 2 acres Some mechanisation Highly adapted farming system, integrated Usually two rice crops (July-Nov, Dec-May). Second crop may be irrigated Vegetables close to towns/cities where water permits from tubewells by pump Very high population density (labour, market)

Livelihood activities - by wealth Better-offPoorer

Differences Upland Eastern India Upland, poor, free draining mud, with tiles No mechanisation one crop wheat, vegetables limited (seasonal) forest and fish Bangladesh Floodplain, rich, good water-holding bamboo or tin pumps and cultivators two crops sugar cane, jute, veg widespread, developed fish only (very reliant) land house tools rice crops aquacu -lture wild

Similarities Rice-based farming systems, above all else Fish - significant cultural and dietary importance Arts - Bengalis known to be the most intellectual and artistic culture in the Subcontinent (lifes easy) Poverty - labourers earn less than £1/day Climatic extremes (wettest and driest)

RICE

Farming

Cattle

Transport

Ploughs

TEA

Aquatic animals

Culture

This work was supported by the Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme (DFID/Stirling University). In partnership with: India - Gramin Vikas Trust; Bangladesh - Intermediate Technology Development Group. Thank you for your time.