Publication

Abstract : An assessment of the coastal salinity prevention interventions in the state of Gujarat reveals that the salinity prevention and management interventions by the state have been mostly focused on development of infrastructure for water harvesting and distribution with only limited success in terms of achievement of the targeted activities. While these interventions are important in a context of growing salinity conditions, the coastal regions afflicted by salinity have been grossly lacking in terms of highly proactive and more localized interventions to address the multiple problems caused by salinity. This study was undertaken in order to assess the coastal salinity remediation interventions by the local developmental agencies, such as the AKRSP(I)- CSPC-SRTT combine in the coastal districts of Gujarat. The Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) had launched the scheme, called, Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana (KVY, henceforth) in 2002. The Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana (KVY) Phase III has been implemented by the SRTT over the last 4-5 years spanning October 2011 to September 2015, with a primary focus on agricultural activities. The KVY interventions have been implemented in 66 villages in the coastal Saurashtra region, covering the three districts of Junagadh, Jamnagar and Porbandar. The important objectives of the study were to: (a) undertake a detailed situational analysis of the status of various livelihood enhancement interventions undertaken under the KVY phase III; (b) assess the socio-economic impacts of the various interventions in the areas of natural resource management, promotion of sustainable agriculture and collective action in the study villages; and (c) bring out the major lessons learnt based on the study on the impacts of the various interventions and suggest: (a) plausible measures and activities; and (b) policy and institutional strengthening that could be promoted in the future to sustain and enhance the livelihoods of the coastal communities as well as strengthen the stock of natural resources and the livelihood assets. The study undertook an empirical investigation covering a sample of 508 households spread across 16 villages from the talukas of Mangrol and Maliya, Kalyanpur, and Madhavpur in the districts of Junagadh, Dwarka and Porbandar, respectively. The sample of 508 households/ beneficiaries was drawn based on the spread of various activities in the villages following a purposive sampling approach to identify beneficiaries with specific interventions. Besides the household survey, FGDs were conducted in 9 villages based on the spread of activities under KVY phase III. A structured questionnaire was prepared and field tested and modifications were carried out before the final survey, which was undertaken during March - April 2016. An assessment of the coastal salinity prevention interventions in Gujarat reveals that the salinity prevention and management interventions launched by the state have been mostly focused on development of infrastructure for water harvesting and distribution with only limited success in terms of achievement of the targeted activities. While these interventions are important in a context of growing salinity and water scarcity conditions, the coastal regions afflicted by salinity have been grossly lacking in terms of highly proactive and more localized interventions to address the multiple problems caused by salinity. It is in this backdrop that the interventions by the local developmental agencies assume importance, as such interventions go much beyond the narrow confines of infrastructure development for water harvesting by providing for location-specific salinity prevention and management solutions. The salinity prevention and management interventions, called, Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana (KVY), have been implemented by the SRTT over a five year period from October 2011 to September 2015, with a primary focus on enhancement of rural livelihoods through rejuvenation of agricultural development activities in 66 villages in the coastal Saurashtra region, covering the three districts of Junagadh, Jamnagar and Porbandar in Gujarat. The interventions under the KVY had covered about 8000 farm households (majority being small and marginal farmers), of which, almost half of the households have been directly benefited by the major interventions that included: (a) supply of agricultural inputs; (b) crop demonstration; (c) solar powered wire fencing of farms; (d) sprinkler irrigation; (e) vegetable cultivation; (f) farm ponds; (g) farm bunds; (h) livestock (buffalo) support; (i) training and exposure visits; and (j) bore recharge. The study undertook an empirical investigation covering a sample of 508 households spread across 16 villages from the talukas of Mangrol and Maliya, Kalyanpur, and Madhavpur in the districts of Junagadh, Dwarka and Porbandar, respectively. The study revealed that several of the interventions have the potential and scope for scaling up as best management practices (BMPs) in the context of the coastal regions in India and elsewhere, as these interventions make significant livelihood impacts through: (a) ‘enhancing household income; (b) promoting and initiating collective efforts of farmers for input supply and marketing; (c) initiating efforts for improvement in dairy activities as alternative livelihood option for landless and marginal farmers; (d) improvement of ground water balance through water recharge, harvesting and efficient use in agriculture; and (e) mitigating the ill effects of salinity in severely affected coastal areas’.