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Spatial variation in livelihood security among livestock-based agricultural farming systems in climatically vulnerable Indian Sundarbans

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Abstract

Farm households in the UNESCO World Heritage site Sundarbans face serious problems, including increased soil salinity, frequent extreme weather events, seawater intrusion and flood damage, all of which cause distress to the livelihoods of the farm families. Policymakers commonly acknowledge livestock as a crucial resource for mitigating economic losses caused by crop failures due to extreme weather events. Despite Sundarbans’ vulnerability to extreme weather events, smallholder farmers’ livelihoods vary across the region. Identifying spatial livelihood variations aids in targeted strategies to address climate extremes. We chose the highest cow- and buffalo-populated blocks among the 19 blocks in the Sundarbans to assess variations in livelihood dimensions, including nutritional, economic, social and infrastructural security. We used dummy variable regression models to examine the differences in livelihood security dimensions among households living in different locations. The study found that Namkhana had the highest livelihood security score among the blocks studied, while Gosaba had the lowest score because it’s in a remote area with limited infrastructure. The study found a significant difference in the overall livelihood security score among the blocks we examined, indicating the need for a location-specific, cluster-based approach for the overall development of the Sundarbans. The study can shape a policy framework for socio-economic development in the Indian Sundarbans through its findings on location-specific livelihood security. For securing smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in the vulnerable Sundarbans region, policymakers must give priority to improving infrastructure, viz., roads, marketing facilities and animal healthcare centers.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during the study are not available in public domain to protect the interests of the farmers involved in the study. The data may be shared by the corresponding author on logical request.

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Funding

The data for the study were collected through the financial assistance of the Indian Council of Social Science Research and the Ministry of Education, Government of India-funded project. Data analysis and interpretation were made possible through the NAHEP project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.

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  1. ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, ERS, Kalyani, India

    Asif Mohammad, Tapas Kumar Dutta, Champak Bhakat & Anupam Chatterjee

  2. College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, India

    Sheikh Mohammad Feroze

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The data were analyzed by Asif Mohammad, Champak Bhakat, Tapas Kumar Dutta and Anupam Chatterjee. The main manuscript was written by Asif Mohammad and Sheikh Mohammad Feroze. The paper was examined by each author.

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Correspondence to Asif Mohammad.

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Mohammad, A., Feroze, S.M., Dutta, T.K. et al. Spatial variation in livelihood security among livestock-based agricultural farming systems in climatically vulnerable Indian Sundarbans. Trop Anim Health Prod 55, 372 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03792-0

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