Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study

The research and development community faces the challenge of sustaining crop productivity gains, improving rural livelihoods and securing environmental sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. This calls for a better understanding of farming systems and of rural livelihoods, particularly with th...

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Main Authors: Erenstein, Olaf, Varma, A., Thorpe, W.R., Singh, J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2010
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/1342
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author Erenstein, Olaf
Varma, A.
Thorpe, W.R.
Singh, J.
author_browse Erenstein, Olaf
Singh, J.
Thorpe, W.R.
Varma, A.
author_facet Erenstein, Olaf
Varma, A.
Thorpe, W.R.
Singh, J.
author_sort Erenstein, Olaf
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The research and development community faces the challenge of sustaining crop productivity gains, improving rural livelihoods and securing environmental sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. This calls for a better understanding of farming systems and of rural livelihoods, particularly with the advent of, and strong advocacy for, conservation agriculture and resource-conserving technologies. The paper summarizes the findings from a scoping study to assess crop-livestock interactions and rural livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, drawing from a village survey in three districts (Malda, Nadia and W Medinipur) and secondary data. The rice-cattle based rural livelihoods are in stark contrast with those in the western Indo-Gangetic Plains, whereas the state’s high human and livestock pressure and high poverty pose particular challenges to sustainable intensification and poverty reducing agricultural growth – particularly in the more remote districts. Strengthening the client orientation and productivity of the agricultural R&D community will be central to improving livelihoods and more sustainably using natural resources – and research on crop-livestock interaction serves as a good entry point for that process.
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spelling CGSpace13422025-11-06T13:05:59Z Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study Erenstein, Olaf Varma, A. Thorpe, W.R. Singh, J. The research and development community faces the challenge of sustaining crop productivity gains, improving rural livelihoods and securing environmental sustainability in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. This calls for a better understanding of farming systems and of rural livelihoods, particularly with the advent of, and strong advocacy for, conservation agriculture and resource-conserving technologies. The paper summarizes the findings from a scoping study to assess crop-livestock interactions and rural livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, drawing from a village survey in three districts (Malda, Nadia and W Medinipur) and secondary data. The rice-cattle based rural livelihoods are in stark contrast with those in the western Indo-Gangetic Plains, whereas the state’s high human and livestock pressure and high poverty pose particular challenges to sustainable intensification and poverty reducing agricultural growth – particularly in the more remote districts. Strengthening the client orientation and productivity of the agricultural R&D community will be central to improving livelihoods and more sustainably using natural resources – and research on crop-livestock interaction serves as a good entry point for that process. 2010-04 2010-04-28T08:40:26Z 2010-04-28T08:40:26Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/1342 en Open Access application/pdf Erenstein, O.; Varma, A.; Thorpe, W.; Singh, J. 2010. Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study. SATSA Mukhapatra Annual Technical Issue (14): 45-60
spellingShingle Erenstein, Olaf
Varma, A.
Thorpe, W.R.
Singh, J.
Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study
title Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study
title_full Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study
title_fullStr Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study
title_full_unstemmed Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study
title_short Crop-livestock interactions and livelihoods in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India: findings from a scoping study
title_sort crop livestock interactions and livelihoods in the gangetic plains of west bengal india findings from a scoping study
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/1342
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