Baseline Assessment of Current Livelihood Strategies in the Jaldhaka Watershed, West Bengal, India

The report identifies three primary livelihood strategies in the Jaldhaka watershed: agriculture, off-farm employment, and independent tea production. Smallholders predominantly grow rainfed rice for consumption, with cash crops including jute, tobacco, and potatoes. Irrigation is heavily dependent on groundwater, often via rented diesel pumps, which creates financial constraints and vulnerability. Off-farm income, ranging from 10-70% of total income, serves as a critical buffer against crop failure. Independent tea growing is an emerging, lucrative strategy for those with high-lying land, supported by Self Help Groups (SHGs) for marketing. The most vulnerable group is identified as those solely dependent on agriculture, while those with off-farm income are the least vulnerable. Key challenges include a lack of electricity, unpredictable rainfall, and market price fluctuations for cash crops.

• The Jaldhaka watershed's population utilizes three main livelihood strategies: agriculture, off-farm employment (often combined with some agriculture), and tea production. All three groups typically produce rainfed rice for home consumption.
• Agricultural vulnerability varies by strategy, with those dependent solely on agriculture considered the most vulnerable, followed by tea growers, while those with off-farm income are the least vulnerable.
• Smallholders rely heavily on groundwater for irrigation, with 30-35% of the watershed area irrigated. Access is constrained by the depth of the water table, which is deeper in upstream areas, and the high cost of renting diesel pumps.
• Off-farm income accounts for 10-70% of total income for a significant portion of the population (35-40%). This income is vital for purchasing staple foods when rice harvests fail.
• Independent tea production is a lucrative alternative for farmers with high-lying land, offering higher income than traditional rice and jute cropping. These growers often use Self Help Groups (SHGs) to secure buyers and reduce transport costs.
• Financial security for agricultural households is primarily tied to livestock (cows) and bamboo, which are sold during crises such as droughts or for healthcare and education expenses.
• Farmers face significant challenges regarding infrastructure and market stability, specifically a lack of electricity for cheaper irrigation and extreme price fluctuations for crops like potatoes.

APA

de Bruin, A., Mikhail, M., Brahmachari, A., & Barron, J. (2012). Baseline Assessment of Current Livelihood Strategies in the Jaldhaka Watershed, West Bengal, India. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/baseline-assessment.pdf

Chicago

de Bruin, Annemarieke, Monique Mikhail, Aniruddha Brahmachari, and Jennie Barron. Baseline Assessment of Current Livelihood Strategies in the Jaldhaka Watershed, West Bengal, India. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2012. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/baseline-assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=de Bruin |first1=Annemarieke |last2=Mikhail |first2=Monique |last3=Brahmachari |first3=Aniruddha |last4=Barron |first4=Jennie |title=Baseline Assessment of Current Livelihood Strategies in the Jaldhaka Watershed, West Bengal, India |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2012 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/baseline-assessment.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{debruin2012baseline, author = {de Bruin, Annemarieke and Mikhail, Monique and Brahmachari, Aniruddha and Barron, Jennie}, title = {{Baseline Assessment of Current Livelihood Strategies in the Jaldhaka Watershed, West Bengal, India}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2012}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/baseline-assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }