NRSP R7872: Renewable natural resource-use in livelihoods at the Calcutta peri-urban interface

1. NRSP R7872: Renewable natural resource-use in livelihoods at the Calcutta peri-urban interface Project team: Stuart Bunting, Institute of Aquaculture David Little, Institute of Aquaculture Samantha Punch, Department of Applied Social Science, UoS Nitai Kundu, Institute of Wetland Management and Ecological Design Madhumita Mukherjee, Dept’ of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal Peter Edwards, Asian Institute of Technology Phil Harris, Henry Doubleday Research Association Project overview

2. Project objectives • Situation analysis: to define the nature and extent of major peri-urban (PU) land-water interface farming systems • Livelihoods assessment: to assess the role of PU production systems (and associated benefits) in the livelihoods of poor people • Institutional analysis: to explore the role of policies and processes in regulating access to land, water and waste resources • Market analysis: including supply and distribution networks • Knowledge dissemination: to sensitise target institutions and inform stakeholders and actors

3. 1. Situation analysis • nature and extent of PU farming • distribution and timing related to: processes of urbanisation access to land, water and waste resources availability of inputs market opportunities • wealth ranking of those involved in PU farming • identification of key actors and stakeholder groups

4. General indicators • population in WRR ~62,000* • literacy 31% (68% male, 32% female)* • 76% Scheduled caste* • 7% Scheduled tribe* • 3,800 ha of fisheries employ 8,500 fishermen** • 13,000 t of fish per year to urban markets** • ~9,000 people employed in wastewater irrigated vegetable and rice production** • 150 t of vegetables produced per day** Source (*Census, 1991; **CRG, 1997)

5. 2. Livelihoods analysis • target groups of the poor selected wealth numbers engaged in the activity relative contribution of PU production systems to livelihoods (food security and income) • PRA techniques to assess: role of assets and access in adopting PU farming (and associated activities) extent of competition with other users and alternative livelihoods strategies benefit derived from these activities

6. Table 1. Poor groups present in PU Kolkata

7. Benefits from PU farming • employment and income • household food security • food security for poor communities • community health: sanitation and food • economic benefit to society • resource recovery and environmental protection • functional and non-functional values: flood protection, groundwater recharge, habitat, non-use values

8. Table 2. Benefits of production in PU Kolkata

9. Constraints to PU farming • urbanisation: housing, industry, roads • social problems: poaching, theft, vandalism • contamination: industry, societal, agrochemicals • public health concerns • competition from other producers: market access • uncertain waste supplies • decreasing productivity • labour: migration to higher paid work • changing social and institutional perceptions • limited recognition by planners of PU farming as an important land-use practice

10. Table 3a. Constraints to production in PU Kolkata

11. Table 3b. Constraints to production in PU Kolkata

12. Table 3c. Constraints to production in PU Kolkata

13. 3. Institutional analysis • role of target institutions, planners and key actors in managing activities at the Kolkata peri-urban interface (PUI) • opportunities for initiatives and policies to enhance the benefits derived from PU farming • important component in initiating a productive institutional dialogue, engendering ownership • identification of appropriate communication media and pathways for dissemination

14. 4. Market analysis • seed supply network analysis • assessment of distribution networks and market arrangements • the role of supply and distribution networks and markets in supporting poor livelihoods • the contribution of PU farming to food security in poor households and communities • consumer perceptions • opportunities to add value, safeguard products and improve access by poor communities

15. 5. Dissemination • knowledge on role of PU farming in: livelihoods of poor people food security of poor communities wider benefits to society • opportunities for livelihoods enhancement • researchable constraints • appropriate media for dissemination to target institutions, stakeholders and NRSP Management • institutional dialogue

16. Project Summary • define the nature, extent and timing of farming practices at the Calcutta PUI • investigate the role of PU farming and associated activities in the livelihoods of poor households • study wider benefits to society: the supply of cheap produce to markets, flood protection, sanitation • examine the role of institutions in managing activities at the PUI • disseminate new knowledge to initiate a productive institutional dialogue and highlight opportunities for livelihoods enhancement

17. R7872: Renewable natural resource-use in livelihoods at the Calcutta peri-urban interface Acknowledgement: Project funding from DFID NRSP Contact: Dr Stuart Bunting Institute of Aquaculture University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA Scotland email: s.w.bunting@stir.ac.uk