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The understanding behind the collective action for drought
mitigation in Bolangir (CADMB) programme was that, “ Drought in Bolangir is a
multi-dimensional issue and it is not simply a natural calamity.In
other words, the network started believing that drought in Bolangir can also be
man made one.
In most of the dictionaries “Drought” is seen as a prolonged period
of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water due to which crop
loss occurs and, as an impact makes the livelihood of the farmer and the
farming community more vulnerable. CADMB is absolutely agreed with this type of
drought and the incidence thereof to the farming community.
But, in the context of Bolangir, CADMB believes “Drought” as
manmade one which occurs due to the failure on the part of governance system. CADMB
analysed the livelihood resources and found out that there are 15 percent of
big farmers, 25 percent of small farmers, 40 percent of marginal farmers and 20
percent of landless people who own 50%, 30%, 20% and 0% of land respectively. The
benefits from agriculture to some extend contribute to the livelihood of big
farmers where as small and marginal farmers opt for other livelihood
opportunities like migration, labour work in agricultural field and other
sectors. The land less who are popular as “Sukhbasi” depend on availability of
labour work in other’s field in agricultural season and migrate to other states
in search of work in lean periods. The small and marginal farmers who cultivate
in their small piece of land are not included in the subsidies, loan and other
benefits provided by government from time to time. Most of them even don’t have
land records in their name. |
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