NRSP R7872: Renewable natural resource-use in livelihoods at the ...

NRSP R7872: Renewable natural resource-use
in livelihoods at the Calcutta peri-urban
interface
Project overview
Project team:
Stuart Bunting, Institute of Aquaculture
David Little, Institute of Aquaculture
Samantha Punch, Department of Applied Social Science, UoS
Nitai Kundu, Institute of Wetland Management and Ecological Design
Madhumita Mukherjee, Dept’ of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal
Peter Edwards, Asian Institute of Technology
Phil Harris, Henry Doubleday Research Association

5. Knowledge dissemination: to sensitise target
institutions and inform stakeholders and actors
Project objectives
1. Situation analysis: to define the nature and
extent of major peri-urban (PU) land-water
interface farming systems
2. Livelihoods assessment: to assess the role of PU
production systems (and associated benefits) in
the livelihoods of poor people
3. Institutional analysis: to explore the role of
policies and processes in regulating access to
land, water and waste resources
4. Market analysis: including supply and distribution
networks

1. Situation analysis
• nature and extent of PU farming
• distribution and timing related to:
processes of urbanisation
access to land, water and waste resources
availability of inputs
market opportunities
• wealth ranking of those involved in PU farming
• identification of key actors and stakeholder
groups

General indicators
• population in WRR ~62,000*
• literacy 31% (68% male, 32% female)*
• 76% Scheduled caste*
• 7% Scheduled tribe*
• 3,800 ha of fisheries employ 8,500 fishermen**
• 13,000 t of fish per year to urban markets**
• ~9,000 people employed in wastewater irrigated
vegetable and rice production**
• 150 t of vegetables produced per day**
Source (*Census, 1991; **CRG, 1997)

2. Livelihoods analysis
• target groups of the poor selected
wealth
numbers engaged in the activity
relative contribution of PU production systems to
livelihoods (food security and income)
• PRA techniques to assess:
role of assets and access in adopting PU farming
(and associated activities)
extent of competition with other users and
alternative livelihoods strategies
benefit derived from these activities

Table 1. Poor groups present in PU Kolkata
Poor group
Poverty
rank
Casual workers with no regular income
Rag pickers
Scavengers – cleaners
Fisherman's wives
Landless labourers
Sex workers
Transport workers (rickshaw pullers)
Vegetable venders
Agricultural workers
Fishery workers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7.5
7.5
9
10

Benefits from PU farming
• employment and income
• household food security
• food security for poor communities
• community health: sanitation and food
• economic benefit to society
• resource recovery and environmental protection
• functional and non-functional values: flood
protection, groundwater recharge, habitat, nonuse
values

Table 2. Benefits of production in PU Kolkata
Benefit
Ordinal
rank
Fish and vegetable production
Control of water and air pollution from Kolkata, waste recycling
Groundwater recharge and flood control
Employment
Preservation of biodiversity
Income for dependable workers
Improved irrigation and agricultural production
Oxygen generation and ecological balance in Kolkata
Better living standards of local residents
Opportunities for eco-tourism
1
2.5
2.5
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Constraints to PU farming
• urbanisation: housing, industry, roads
• social problems: poaching, theft, vandalism
• contamination: industry, societal, agrochemicals
• public health concerns
• competition from other producers: market access
• uncertain waste supplies
• decreasing productivity
• labour: migration to higher paid work
• changing social and institutional perceptions
• limited recognition by planners of PU farming as an
important land-use practice

Table 3a. Constraints to production in PU Kolkata
Constraint
Ordinal
rank
Silting up of water bodies and canals
Encroachment of water bodies leading to reduced employment
Social, economic, environmental and political setting
Delineation of wetland not clear
Lack of infrastructure for aquaculture
Lack of development project assessment (EIA/socio-economic)
Absence of clear policy or legislation for preserving system
Lack of awareness amongst non-users and planners of benefits
1
3
3
3
5.5
5.5
7.5
7.5

Table 3b. Constraints to production in PU Kolkata
Constraint
Ordinal
rank
Lack funds for fisheries and waste-reuse system maintenance
Poor communities have limited ability to fight encroachment
Unclear land ownership and absence of fishermen's rights
Insufficient sewerage supply - seasonal
Law and order problems and inaccessibility to general public
Unscientific farming and harvesting due to union intervention
Weakness of fishermen's co-operative
Lack of work culture
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
14
14
14
16

Table 3c. Constraints to production in PU Kolkata
Constraint
Ordinal
rank
Irregular and insufficient water supply
Lack of integrated aquatic resource utilisation
Coordination amongst government, NGOs and locals lacking
Lack of recognition of fisheries as industry
Mixing of domestic and tannery effluent
Lack of health and hygiene practices and education
Lack of groundwater mapping
18
18
18
21.5
21.5
21.5
21.5

3. Institutional analysis
• role of target institutions, planners and key actors
in managing activities at the Kolkata peri-urban
interface (PUI)
• opportunities for initiatives and policies to
enhance the benefits derived from PU farming
• important component in initiating a productive
institutional dialogue, engendering ownership
• identification of appropriate communication media
and pathways for dissemination

4. Market analysis
• seed supply network analysis
• assessment of distribution networks and market
arrangements
• the role of supply and distribution networks and
markets in supporting poor livelihoods
• the contribution of PU farming to food security in
poor households and communities
• consumer perceptions
• opportunities to add value, safeguard products and
improve access by poor communities

5. Dissemination
• knowledge on role of PU farming in:
livelihoods of poor people
food security of poor communities
wider benefits to society
• opportunities for livelihoods enhancement
• researchable constraints
• appropriate media for dissemination to target
institutions, stakeholders and NRSP Management
• institutional dialogue

Project Summary
• define the nature, extent and timing of farming
practices at the Calcutta PUI
• investigate the role of PU farming and associated
activities in the livelihoods of poor households
• study wider benefits to society: the supply of
cheap produce to markets, flood protection,
sanitation
• examine the role of institutions in managing
activities at the PUI
• disseminate new knowledge to initiate a productive
institutional dialogue and highlight opportunities
for livelihoods enhancement

R7872: Renewable natural resource-use in livelihoods
at the Calcutta peri-urban interface
Acknowledgement: Project funding from DFID NRSP
Contact:
Dr Stuart Bunting
Institute of Aquaculture
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
Scotland
email: s.w.bunting@stir.ac.uk