Vulnerability assessment of the Pakur
District of Jharkhand State in relation to climate change and its relevance to
livelihood of the community and families.
By
Dr. Nitish
Priyadarshi
Geologist.
 |
Agriculture production has reduced due to less or erratic rainfall.
Introduction:
Climate change is a major challenge for agriculture, food
security and rural livelihoods for billions of people including the poor.
Agriculture is the sector most vulnerable to climate change due to its high
dependence on climate and weather and because people involved in agriculture
tend to be poorer compared with urban residents.
The climate change is already making impact on the lives of
the population particularly the poor. It is already evident in number of ways.
Consistent warming trends and more frequent and intense extreme weather events
such as droughts, cyclones, floods, and hailstorms have been observed across India. The
lives of the poor are punctuated by the risks and vulnerabilities that come
with an uncertain climate.
Many believe agriculture is the most susceptible sector to
climate change. This is attributed to the fact that climate change affects the
two most important direct agricultural production inputs, precipitation and
temperature. Climate change also indirectly affects agriculture by influencing
emergence and distribution of crop pests and livestock diseases, exacerbating
the frequency and distribution of adverse weather conditions, reducing water
supplies and irrigation; and enhancing severity of soil erosion.
This study aims to answer questions: what is the trend of
climate change in Pankur district, what is the impact on livelihood, who is
vulnerable to the impact and why.
Background:
Pakur, famous for stone and Beedi (Biri) making industry, is
one of the important revenue-earning districts of newly created Jharkhand State. Its black stone chips have got
Asiatic fame in constructional qualities.
This district, once known for its thick & extensive
forests, is now bereft of much of its jungle wealth. The medicinal plants such
as Sarpgandha, Raigami or Dhami, Kazwa, Chiryaita etc. are now almost extinct.
There has been large-scale destruction of forests in the past few years. So the
Subsistent agro based economy, which was earlier supplemented by forest and
forest produce, has been badly affected.
The survey was carried out in the seven villages of the
Pankur district of Jharkhand State. They are Darajmath, Sangrampur, Pachaibera,
Majdiha, Kalhajhur Sijua and Balidih.
The villages are surrounded by agricultural land, small
hillocks which come under forest area. The agricultural land is badly eroded,
unproductive red soil.
There are few small rivers and nalas running across these
villages. They are the only source of irrigation for the field and are only
supply water for the domestic needs such as washing, bathing and watering
animals. Some of the villages do have a small village forest, which supply fuel
and fodder and other forest produce to
the villagers.
General situation in this area is very difficult. Means of
communication are very rare, roads are in poor condition. In rainy season
people walk on foot for miles to reach market for purchasing article required
for the family daily needs. 86% of the population is Santals and Paharias, and 12%
are schedule caste, and other backward classes. There are some families who
belong to business community commonly known as Mahajan and they are the one who
more or less controls the economy of the area.
The Santals live in maculated villages surrounded by their
fragmental holdings. The land and other properties are inherited by the male
offspring. They live in thatch roofed mud house in symmetric rows lined on the
both sides of the village main streets.
Traditionally, occupations are more or less divided among
the men and women. Men plough the fields, thatch the root, while women gather
firewood, cook, clean house, and raise the children.
Collection of Primary data:
Primary data on impact and vulnerability were collected by
using group interviews in the villages from April 4 to 6, 2013. The interview
was conducted in all seven villages. Early morning time was found to be an
appropriate time. Discussion was also done by the animators.
Field observation:
Field observation was conducted in all the villages and
photograph was taken regarding water level status.
Secondary data:
Relevant and available data were gathered from the office of
a NGO Theodori Rural Development Project, Chandrapura, district Pakur.
Results and Analysis:
The climate change is already making impact on the lives of
the population of the area. It is already evident in number of ways. The
frequently experienced climatic shocks are prolonged drought and delay in the
onset of rainy season, erratic and low precipitation, and heavy and unseasonal
rainfalls. The interviewed villagers perceived the overall increasing
temperature and downward trend of precipitation.
Drought or delay in the onset of rain land becomes dry and
difficult to plough. Lack of precipitation hinders seed cultivation and
germination of cultivated seeds. According to the villagers of Sijua
agriculture has been worst affected from last five years due to decreasing and
erratic trend of rainfall. Many Sal trees died due to extensive heat.
Agriculture practice is stopped from February to June due to water scarcity.
Remaining water is left for the use of livestock only. During this period
villagers are forced to migrate to neighbouring state West
Bengal as a lobourers for their earnings. They also carry their
children which affects their study.
Accuracy in crop production has reduced. Profit from
agriculture has also reduced, said villagers of Balidih. Villagers blame mass
deforestation for climate change in the area.
Size of the wheat grain has reduced and also matures earlier.
Size of the Papaya has also reduced. Earlier size use to be bigger, said
villagers of Pachaibera.
In the month of November 2012 when grains were ready for
cutting heavy precipitation killed all the standing grains in the village of Majdiha.
A major source of income through Mahua ( Madhuca longifolia)
tree has also reduced due to less production this year (2013). Mahua is
considered sacred among the tribal people of the area because of the tree’s
medicinal values. The flowers of the tree, which have a unique fragrance, are
used to produce alcohol and provide livelihood to thousands of people.
Villagers of Kalhajhur complained that insects and less rainfall are more
destroying the plants. Previous years it was not so common.
Villagers of Darajmath complained that due to lack of
sufficient rainfall and heat stroke, agricultural production has reduced
drastically. To increase the production villagers have increased the use of
fertilizers, which is also now affecting the quality of the soil.
Decline in agriculture has meant decline of agriculture
work. There is little employment in the region outside of agriculture other
than mining of Multani Soil (fuller's
earth) in Sangrampur village or picking up waste coals from the road
side which falls from the trucks carrying coals from coalmines to Pakur town.
Drought and delay in the onset of rain led to poor grass
regeneration/ forage deficit, water shortage and heat stress on livestock, and
consequently increased the mortality of livestock. Due to lack of food and
water and decreasing grazing lands villagers either sold their livestock or
they died. Situation was never worse like today, said many villagers.
With the available agricultural production data suggests climatic
change has been frequently imposing challenge on their livelihood and
consequently affecting the society’s socio-economic activity.
Soil erosion has also increased in the area visited due to
erratic rainfall and increase runoff and less green cover.
All the interviewees reported the existence of repeated
serious impacts on the society. They reported food deficits, educational
hurdles (especially children), increased susceptibility to diseases and failure
to fulfill financial requirements, and lack of agricultural input.
Few villagers suggested that women are more vulnerable to
climate change. The vulnerability of women was explained from their confinement
at home caring for children and family members, worry about feeding the family
members and long distance travel to collect water and waiting long queues. In
addition children are the other more vulnerable to the event. Vulnerability of
children to climate crisis is apparent from long absence from school, prone to
different diseases etc. Long distance travel to collect water with their mother
is the main cause of delay or low class attendance.
Effect on Water:
Many people from the region say that the rains are coming
over a shorter period and the duration of precipitation is becoming erratic. If
there used to be monsoon over 90 days
earlier, now it is raining fewer days, but in much sharper, more powerful
bursts and with increasingly unpredictable patterns. As a consequence, water
run–off increases and is highly varied in its availability. Less is stored and
seeps into the ground, impacting underground aquifers adversely. Most of the
wells and handpumps remain dry for four months (March to June). It affects the
amount of water that rivers, ponds and streams receive in post-monsoon months.
Villagers of the Kalhajhur said that the average water level has depleted from
20 to 25 feet. Handpumps work only in rainy season and dug wells are the only
source but only for time beings. Dug wells are not working properly, complained
the villagers of Majdiha and Balidih. They also said that from last few years
they are facing erratic and less rainfall which has reduced their agricultural
production.
In village Balidih earlier one rivulet use to fed water to
the whole village but this year flow of water in this rivulet has decreased.
Since it is mostly women who do domestic work and get water,
the water crisis has meant that women need to walk much longer distances to
bring water. Even those handpumps that have water take much more time to bring
up water during summer, because the pressure needed is higher, so they could be
pumping for an hour before the first drop of water appears out of a pump.
Government and NGO’s sponsored digging of small ponds has happened but they are
mostly dry from February to May.
Impact on health:
There are indications that in recent years the dengue and
malaria (brain malaria) fever has risen. Earlier in summer season mosquitoes were
less but now the trend has changed. Jaundice was not reported earlier but now
the cases have increased. It may be due to depletion of fresh water and
drinking contaminated water. Typhoid, Kalajar, Dysentery, loose motion is also
rampant among the villagers. Mumps has also increased. Wisdom teeth are coming
in earlier age among the children. Villagers complain that longevity has also
reduced. According to villagers of the Sijiua main cause of the early death is
due to poverty and poor quality of food. One villager said in sarcastic way
that many few people grows old here because they die in early age.
Conclusion:
This study shows that the increasing trend of climate change
and its impact on livelihood is exacerbating the vulnerability to different
socio-economic activities of the villagers. The water deficit is more likely to
continue to constrain livelihood activities, and consequently exacerbate
societal vulnerability. On the other hand, the frequent rain delay, erratic
precipitation, drought and unseasonal rainfall are also grave concern for the
villagers in the study area.
Acknowledgement:
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