Assessing Sustainable Agricultural Livelihood Security Amid Water Scarcity of a Drought-Prone Rural District in India
摘要
Sustainable agricultural livelihood security index (SALSI) is an effective integrated tool based on classic model of sustainable livelihood security index (SLSI), to identify the strengths and the weaknesses of any particular region in terms of some sub-components, i.e., ecological, economic and agricultural, food productivity, social equity, and infrastructural equity. In order to identify the scopes for agricultural communities, in this study we have investigated agricultural livelihood security of Purulia district which is regarded as one of the backward districts of West Bengal and faced several drought events and dry spells as well. Composite SALSI is implemented using five sub-indices, i.e., ecological security index (ESI), economic and agricultural security index (EASI), food securityFood security index (FSI), social equity index (SEI), and infrastructural equity index (IEI). To bring out the significant indicators in order to get SALSI, we have used principal component analysis (PCA). The study has revealed important spatial variations of the five sub-indices and composite SALSI over the region. Community development (C.D.) block Kashipur has secured highest score of 0.681 and positioned at first rank in SALSI, the block has also positioned at rank one in FSI (0.828), SEI (0.857), and IEI (0.788). On the other hand, Jhalda-II (0.400), Joypur (0.420), Balarampur (0.431), and Baghmundi (0.439) have found to be showing less sustainabilitySustainability and livelihood security. These insights will definitely enlighten the policy makers, stakeholders, and the administrators to frame sustainable and suitable policy frame work.