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CPRs perform various functions in the rural economy - physical supply of products
(fuel, fodder, water, manure, etc.), employment generation (in collection of the
products of CPRs), income generation (from collection of CPR products and from
that portion of animal husbandry which is attributable to grazing on common land)
and asset accumulation (directly, or complementing the private resource based
activities). In addition there are other contributions by CPRs - which are seldom
recognized as they constitute a part of the daily routine of villagers - which are briefly
indicated below (Jodha, 1986):
[1] The demographic pressure on land has led to the per capita land holdings of
Indian farmers being very low. This calls for efficient utilization of the scarce land
holdings. By supplying fodder and grazing space, CPRs help to economize on land
use.
[2] Ground water reservoirs, dry beds of rivers/tanks used for off-season cropping
and rivulets and tanks used to collect irrigation water, are an important
complement to private property based farming systems.
[3] In dry regions the farming system is based on an integrated production strategy
involving crops, livestock, and trees/bushes. The inclusion of the latter component
ensures the viability of the farming system by reducing its sensitivity to variability in
rainfall. Village forests, grazing lands, rivulets, and watershed drainages play a
significant role in this strategy.
[4] During crisis periods (like droughts) CPRs cushion the fall in the standard of
living of the poor farmers by providing physical supplies (food/fibre items, for
instance), and generating employment and income.
[5] The impact of rural inequalities are greatly minimized by CPRs as the poor can
supplement their meager resources free of cost from CPRs.
[6] CPRs also contribute to the quantity and quality of nutrition of the poor by
facilitating his food gathering from forests, ponds, and other sources, thereby
strengthening his self- provisioning system (Rudra, et al, 1991).
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