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

This 2012 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute provides a baseline assessment of livelihood strategies in the Jaldhaka watershed of West Bengal, India. Based on community fieldwork in five villages and expert meetings, the report identifies three primary livelihood strategies: agriculture, off-farm employment, and independent tea production. It details the cropping patterns, water management challenges, and financial security mechanisms used by smallholders in the region.

• The Jaldhaka watershed is characterized by 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. Participants identified those dependent solely on agriculture as the most vulnerable group, followed by tea growers, with those relying on off-farm income being the least vulnerable.
• Agricultural production is dominated by a cropping pattern of jute, rainfed rice, and winter crops such as vegetables, potatoes, or tobacco. While rice is primarily for consumption, 'boro' rice (off-season rice) is grown as a cash crop by those with irrigation access. Cropping intensity is high, reaching 163 per cent in Maynaguri District and 192 per cent in Cooch Behar District.
• Water access is a critical constraint for smallholders, who predominantly rely on groundwater. Approximately 30 to 35 per cent of the watershed is irrigated, with higher accessibility in downstream areas. Many farmers rely on rented diesel pumps, which are costly and often unavailable during peak demand, leading to reduced yields. Water quality is frequently poor due to high iron concentrations.
• Off-farm income is a significant livelihood component for 35-40 per cent of the population, contributing between 10-70 per cent of their total income. Common activities include factory work (plywood, jute, dairy, saw mills, and brick manufacturing), tea plantation labour (paying Rs. 65 daily), and government employment through the National Rural Employment Government Scheme (NREGS).
• Independent tea production is a lucrative but restricted strategy, limited to farmers with high-lying land. Growers use varieties '25:26' (more common due to ease of growth) and '22'. Many independent growers join Self Help Groups (SHGs) with around 500 members each to secure buyers and avoid transport costs, though they struggle to compete with the marketing of large tea companies.
• Financial security for smallholders is primarily tied to livestock and natural assets. Cows are the most critical asset, providing milk, labour, and dung, and are sold during crises (e.g., drought or health emergencies). Bamboo stands also serve as a form of financial security. Formal credit is accessed via banks, including the Krishak Credit Card (KCC) which provides a minimum of Rs. 40,000 annually using land as collateral.

APA

-1, 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

-1, Annemarieke de Bruin, 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=-1 |last2=de Bruin |first2=Annemarieke |last3=Mikhail |first3=Monique |last4=Brahmachari |first4=Aniruddha |last5=Barron |first5=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{12012baseline, author = {-1 and 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} }