Venkata Rama Mohan Ramachandrula,Venkata Rama Mohan Ramachandrula, Centre for World Solidarity (CWS), Sustainable Livelihoods, rvrm2@yahoo.com
Abstract
North Bihar in India is a flood-prone area with recurring floods in Kosi, Gandak, Bagmathi and Mahananda river systems affecting millions of people every year. Foods not only displace people, damage their habitations but also affect their livelihoods. Water logging in agricultural lands is a serious problem in north Bihar, seriously affecting the agricultural activity and livelihoods. Increase in bed levels of rivers and blockage of free flow of surface drainage into river by artificial embankments, is resulting in prolonged water logging every year. Improving the drainage from these water logged areas by digging drainage channels and renovating drainage networks has been demonstrated successfully in few pilot areas. Sustainable agricultural practices, such as introduction of improved varieties of seeds, promotion of crop intensification methods in Paddy, Wheat and Mustard and promotion of household level vermi-compost units resulted in enhanced production and income levels of small and marginal farmers. This paper highlights the processes and impact of these interventions by CWS and its local partner organizations over last five years period. Need for replication of such works by the State and National Government through a systematic river basin approach has been highlighted.
Key words: agriculture in water logged areas, drainage channels, flood management