International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET) Volume 11, Issue 10, October 2020, pp. 1503-1514, Article ID: IJARET_11_10_144 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=11&Issue=10 ISSN Print: 0976-6480 and ISSN Online: 0976-6499 DOI: 10.34218/IJARET.11.10.2020.144

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STATUS OF VEGETABLE FARMING AND ITS CHALLENGES IN CENTRAL BRAHMAPUTRA FLOODPLAIN ENVIRONMENT OF ,

Mukut Sarma* Department of Geography, Mangaldai College, Assam,

Chinmoy Raj Saikia Department of Geography, Mangaldai College, Assam, India *Corresponding Author

ABSTRACT Sustainability of agriculture is the primary concern of the global community. There is always a concern about the food requirement for the ever increasing population. This situation become more worrisome with the present day’s world reeling under several pandemics and crisis. Vegetable farming is suppose to provide assistance to maintain sustainability in agriculture as it can be incorporated with home garden and urban agriculture environment quite efficiently. In this regard an assessment for identifying the current status of vegetable farming and its challenges in Dalgaon-Sialmari Block is carried out in this paper. Being located in the central Brahmaputra Valley this region has enormous potentialities for vegetable farming and its marketing. Several parameters like socio-economic status of farmers, overall educational status, healthy and wellbeing of farmers, land-use statistics, local market is taken into consideration for the study. The study is a synthesis of previous literarture, reports and the data collected from 22 sampled villages. This investigation is intended to provide a future rationale for vegetable farming in Dalgaon-Sialmari Block by pointing out its potentialities. Key words: Vegetable farming, Home Garden, Sustainable Agriculture, Local Markets. Cite this Article: Mukut Sarma and Chinmoy Raj Saikia, Status of Vegetable Farming and its Challenges in Central Brahmaputra Floodplain Environment of Darrang District, Assam, International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology, 11(10), 2020, pp. 1503-1514. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=11&Issue=10

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1. INTRODUCTION A well-planned vegetable productivity is not only very lucrative but can also alleviate poverty (Ngegba et al., 2016). In this regard India plays a fundamental role being the second largest producer of vegetables in the world followed by China (AL-Razaq, 2019). India being one of the nations flooded with destitute population bears a more prominent role for the assessment of prospects and challenges in its agro-vegetable sector. The value of vegetables as an important source of daily human diet has come to be recognized all over the world in recent years (Ngegba et al., 2016; Sharma et al., 1976). Because of this there is an incredible breadth for trading quality vegetables everywhere on the world; this possibility isn't completely investigated in the nation like India. Additionally, with the expanding emergency like COVID-19 and environmental change calamities is squeezing global food security, Home- garden and Urban-agriculture can address the prerequisite of food during such exceptional circumstances. In this regard, cultivation of vegetable is the most appropriate choice that can be incorporated with systematic Home-garden and Urban-agriculture framework. Interestingly, twice the amount of food production is required to feed the ever-expanding population which is suppose to reach 9.5 billion by 2050 (Patel et al., 2020). Already a few analysts have expressed that expanding the production of vegetables is useful for taking care of the food crisis issue (Sharma et al., 1976) Previous studies have encountered that there is a marked shift in the area under vegetables, spices and fruits in Assam (Goyari, 2005). In addition, it has emerged as one of the dominant producer of vegetables within the country. Dalgaon–Sialmari block of Darrang District has a significant contribution of vegetable farming and occupies a place of respect in the economy of the state, Assam. The region grows a diverse array of vegetables like potato, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkin, brinjal, carrot, green leaves and many more from both Rabi and Kharif season. The region is situated in the focal point of compost, pesticide and machinery shop which is beneficial for vegetable cultivating as it makes everything easy to access. Ghansimuli- Balugaon vegetable market of Kharupetia is one of the outstanding market centers of north-east India which is having prodigious potentiality for exporting vegetables. After the local needs are fulfilled, the vegetable is exposed for business purpose. A bulk amount of vegetables are exported through different market centers like Balugaon, Tangni, Bechimari, Koupati etc. Exported produced goes to different places including Guwahati, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Silchar, etc. and out of the state Itanagar, Agartala, Dimapur, Mizoram, Tripura, Kohima etc. A small amount of vegetables are exported to Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Subsequently, the urban center including Kharupetia, Mangaldai, Guwahati, Nagaon, Dalgaon etc. import various essential commodities needed for vegetable farming. It is noteworthy to mention that a tremendous territory of Dalgaon-Sialmari Block is committed to cultivation of vegetables. Land is the basic resource that forms the basis of different agricultural produce. Land use represents a complex pattern of land resources. The complexity in the pattern of land use is the result of centuries of human occupation of land retraction of physical, historical, social and economic factors (Das, 1984). A scientific study relating to vegetable farming is essential to understand the present status and future prospect of vegetable farming and its challenges.

2. OBJECTIVE The primary focus of the study is to identify the current status of vegetable farming in Dalgaon-Sialmari Block while pointing out the challenges experienced by the sector.

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Furthermore, the study aims at providing a future rationale for the policy makers and the vegetable farmers of the region.

3. DATABASE AND METHODOLOGY The current examination is mostly based on primary and secondary data. In this investigation, data is gathered from 28 nos. of villages of the block. Further, 22 variety of vegetables from both Rabi and Kharif season are chosen for the assessment. Then a schedule cum questionnaire has been prepared covering various aspects like land-use statistics, land area under vegetable cultivation, socio-economic status etc. of the vegetable grower of the block. The secondary data relating to land-use pattern is collected from Department of Agriculture and Statistics, Darrang District 2015-2016. Finally data has been processed and arrived at findings.

Methodology

Problem Analysis

Developing a Secondary Sources Questionnaire

Google Scholar

Primary Data Collection (Sample Government Reports Survey)

Data Collected from Agriculture Statistics Assessment of Quantitative data for Department Visualization

Synthesis of Primary and Secondary Data

Results and Conclusion Figure 1 Flow chart showing methodological framework of the study

4. STUDY AREA The Dalgaon-Sialmari Block being situated in central Brahmaputra Floodplain is located between 26⁰27/ N and 26⁰42/ N latitude and 92o 5/ and 92o20/E longitude. The block occupies an area of 33061ha with 1,77,467 total populations (2011 census), where 90,439 are male and 87,028 are female. The region has been playing a significant role in producing and marketing a large variety of vegetable commodities. Excess of these are not only transported to different parts of the nation but some other neighboring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc.

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The fig 1 reveals the location of Dalgaon-Sialmari block in Darrang district and state of Assam. Dalgaon-Sialmai block of Darrang District, Assam, is lying on the north bank of the mighty Brahmaputra River and formed by new alluvial soils of its extensive flood plain.

Figure 2 Locational Map of Dalgaon-Sialmari Development Block

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The present study focuses mainly the pattern of vegetable in Dalgaon-Sialmari block emphasizing the problems faced by the vegetable growers in the areas. To understand more precisely about the status of vegetable farming sector 22 nos. of vegetables are selected from both the season from priority basis. The study reveals different challenges faced by the marginal farmers related to land use change in the block.

4.1. Status of Vegetable Crops and Size of Land in Dalgaon-Sialmari Block The study area, Dalgaon-Sialmari block is highly suitable for varieties of vegetable in both Ravi and Kharif season. A huge amount of vegetable are produced in every year in both the seasons from commercial point of view. For convenience of study some selected crops of winter season are taken during field survey. Here, 20 nos. of vegetable from both the season are selected on the basis of farmers demand and market value. These are Ash Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Bean (French/Indian), Brinjal, Cabbage, Carrot, Couliflower, Cucumber, Green-Chilly, Knol-Khol, Ladies finger, Potato, Pointed Gourd, Raddish, Tomato etc.

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Table 1 Vegetable Crops and size of Land Type of Vegetable Size of Land Crop Below 1Bigha 1-3Bigha 3-7 Bigha Above 7Bigha Ash Gourd(K) 2% 12% 3% - Bitter Gourd(K) 1% 10% - - Bottle Gourd (K) - 12% 2% Bean (French/Indian) (R+K) - 5% - - Brinjal (R+K) 2% 2% 5% 1% Cabbage (R) 1% 25% 12% - Carrot (R) - 12% 4% - Couliflower (R) - 22% 4% - Cucumber (R+K) - 9% 2% - Green-chilly (R+K) 1% 25% 5% 1% Green-Pea (R) - 11% 3% - Knol-khol (R) - 13% 2% - Ladies finger (K) - 7% 2 - Potato (R) -- 35% 25% 5% Pointed Gourd (K) 1% 9% 2% - Raddish (R) 2% 13% 1% - Ridge Gourd, Sponge Gourdand 2% 6% 2% - Snake Gourd (K) Tomato (R) 2% 15% 10% - Source: Primary data collected from field study, 2016 (R=Ravi and K= Kharif)

In respect of agricultural land use, Dalgaon-Sialmari block is predominantly controlled by four categories of land utilization. These categories are Paddy field, Jute and Oilseeds area and Vegetable ground. From the field it is found that majority of the farmers are interested in vegetable farming

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Figure 3: Diversified Range of Vegetables produced in the Dalgaon-Sialmari Block Source: Primary Survey 2015-16

4.2. Agricultural Land use of the Block Agriculture land use means the land used for agricultural purposes and practices. In Dalgaon- Sialmari block, the agricultural land is heavily used for vegetable cultivation. Besides vegetables, paddy, jute, oil seeds are also done in large scale for commercial purpose.Due to tremendous pressure of increasing population, share of agricultural land has gradually increasing in recent times. The tendency of increasing vegetable farm is a common practice among the marginal farmers. Majority of them are not interested in rice farming. It is done by them on subsistence level. Similarly they think the fisheries and orchard land as non economic land. Under such circumstances large area of barren and uncultivated land, permanent pasture and grazing lands, miscellaneous tree crops and groves, water and fallow land have also been reclaimed and gradually converted to agricultural land. Most of the lands of Dalgaon-Sialmari block with enough natural fertility are suitable for green vegetable cultivation. In the study area along with vegetable crops, a number of other crops are practiced for both commercial and local consumption. Major crops include paddy, jute, oil seeds and vegetable.

Table 2 Agricultural Land-use and size of Land-holding (Dalgaon-Sialmari Block) Size of Land Type of Crops Below 1 Bigha 1-5 Bigha 5-10 Bigha Above 10 Bigha Paddy (Rice, - 45% 25% 10% Wheat) Jute - 53% 4% 2% Oilseeds 1% 6% - - Vegetable 24% 42% 18% 12% Source: Primary data collected from field study, 2016.

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The study reveal (Table: 2) that vegetable crops occupy a significant area of the block, where 96% of farmer engaged in vegetable cultivation. In the study area it is found that 80% of farmer cultivate paddy both in summer and winter season. Among the land category vegetable is predominant in 1 to 5 bigha category. Similarly, paddy is also practiced heavily in the same group, 1 to 5 bigha. Another important crop in the area is jute, which occupy 59% of land holding. Oil seed‟s area is very insignificant. Only 7% people are found under oil seeds cultivation.

4.3. Agricultural Land Use in Darrang and Dalgaon-Sialmari Block It is found from that in Darrang district more than 75% of vegetable comes from Dalgaon– Sialmari block. It is interesting to note that a very negligible number of farmers are farming other crops where area for other crop is also insignificant. It is significant that the block occupy a sizeable land (2500 ha.) for vegetable cultivation which is 33.55% of the district.

Comparison between Agrarian land-use of Darrang district and Dalgaon-Sialmari Block 90000

80000

70000

60000 e

r Darrang District a t c e

h 50000

Dalgaon-Sialmari Block

n i

40000 Area 30000

20000

10000

0 paddy Pulse Oil Seed Potato Vegetables Major agricultural crops

Figure 4 Comparison between Agrarian land-use of Darrang district and Dalgaon-Sialmari Block, Source: District Agricultural Officer, Darrang, 2015 It is found from the fig. 4 that a sizeable amount of land of Dalgaon-Sialmari block is occupied by vegetable. The proportion of land under vegetable cultivation in Dalgaon- Sialmari Block is quite significant as compared to whole of Darrang District. Darrang district occupies an area of 7450 ha where as Dalgaon-Sialmari Block alone occupies an area of 2500 ha. Furthermore, in case of paddy cultivation, the district occupies 84326ha whereas the block

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET 1509 [email protected] Status of Vegetable Farming and its Challenges in Central Brahmaputra Floodplain Environment of Darrang District, Assam occupies only 16253 ha. It reveals that the fact that farmers are more oriented towards vegetable cultivation.

4.5. Health and Well Being In respect of health and family planning Dalgaon-Sialmari block is much more backward than the rest block of Darrang district. Malaria, fever, stomach pain are the most common diseases for the farm community. Suffering from fever was more prominent among them, where malaria found to be more common. Pregnancy related complication is found to be more in the marginal farm community.

Percentage of Common Diseases reported in Dalgaon- Sialmari Block

6% 13.33% 7.80%

Malaria 10.90% Fever Stomach Pain Cold & Cough 15.15% 34.54% Pregnancy Related Jaundice Dysentry 12.12%

Figure 5 Common Diseases reported in Dalgaon-Sialmari Block Source: Primary Data Collection, 2016 It is found from the primary data that 34.54 % of marginal farmers are suffering from fever. Besides, cold & cough, stomach pain, are some common diseases of the vegetable grower. Apart from this people of the region is ignorant about their health and wellbeing; they often refuse to visit during a time of medical emergency. Sustainability in vegetable farming will only be ensured if the health and wellbeing of the farmers is looked into.

Table 3 Health Institutions of Dalgaon-Sialmari Block S D MPHC NPHC CHC Riverine PHC Sub-Center 2 1 5 2 2 45 Source: NRHM, Darrang, 2015 SD- State Dispensary MPHC- Mini Public Health Center NPHC-New Public Health Center CHC- Community Health Center It is found from the Table 5 that though the area is covered by a number of different health institutions but practically health service is very poor within the area. Except a few, majority of these centers are deprived from regular visit of doctors and other staff. As a result the vegetable grower of the area has to suffer various chronicle dieses.

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4.6. Agro-ecological Environment and Socio-economic Setup Recurring flood and prolonged drought are two common problems for the agro-ecological environment of the block. Vegetable is a water-loving crop yet access of it will hurt its production. So adjusted watering is profoundly required for its better production which can be assisted by proper management of flood water and a cannel irrigation system.It is found from the data collected from sampled villages that 34% of vegetable cultivators have confronted several natural calamities like extraordinary flood and dry spell. Aside from the general harm done by floods to the standing crops, one of the conspicuous unfavorable impacts is the soil erosion in the riverine areas of Brahmaputra Valley (Goyari, 2005). It is found that as the majority of agricultural land of this area is converted into vegetable farming in an irrational manner which might upset agro-ecological situation in near future. Furthermore, excessive use of fertilizer for faster and higher production of vegetables is common throughout the block. It is found that irrational use of fertilizer in a unprecedented manner in the region will made the region a barren land very soon. So as to curb this kind of problem there is a urgent need for government to make some intervention and made the people of the region aware about the adversities of higher fertilizer use. From the study it is found that the quality of soil is gradually declining due to use of heavy amount of chemical fertilizer. At present, self-help groups (SHGs) are found to have a more prominent function in assisting agriculture of a specific locale of India as they provide micro-financial assistance to the agricultural and allied activities (Kareemulla et al., 2017). Further, 3nos SHGs (Ganjyoti self-help group, Chantara self-help group, Fahim self-help group) are identified in the sampled villages of Dalgaon-Sialmari Block, which imply that farmers of the region are not aware of any such micro-financial assistance. Active participation of such SHGs will boost the agro-vegetable landscape of the region. SHGs can be helpful in operating collective vegetable farming and it can manage the exports of vegetable production while eliminating the greedy middleman in between. Moreover, several training programs and surveys are also carried out by the District Agricultural Department in the region, these initiatives runs with the collaboration of SHGs. Thus, there is a requirement for more number of SHGs in the block.

Figure 6 Training program for the farmers by the District Agricultural Officers Source: Department of Agriculture, Darrang District Universally, a home garden attached to each and every homestead of the region. Farmers produce their own vegetable from these home garden, they doesn‟t rely on the farm produce for their own kitchen. This acts as an added benefit for the farmers as this will guarantee availability of their own food during the hour of emergency. However, farmers tend to use excessive amount of fertilizer in their farms contrary to this they use organic compost in their home garden. Because of this reality, there is a negative mindset in the psyches of consumer for the vegetables produced by the farmers in the region. Further this will reduce the demand

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET 1511 [email protected] Status of Vegetable Farming and its Challenges in Central Brahmaputra Floodplain Environment of Darrang District, Assam of vegetables produced in the region. If farmers of the region opt for organic farming then it will ensure sustainability of soil fertility and productivity within the region. The educational status of the block is much poor than other blocks of the district. The primary survey reveals that only 41% of the farmers are literate and 5% out of them have completed their graduation. This hampers the agro-farming landscape of the region, it was found that most of the times farmers are not aware of the assistance provided by the government. Moreover, they even struggle to understand any kind of information related to agriculture broadcasted in television, radio or newspaper.

5. CONCLUSION It is discovered that the Dalgaon-Sialmari Block is profoundly devoted to agricultural activities and all the more especially for vegetable farming. The poor marginal farmers are of the opinion that forestry, plantation agriculture, pisciculture, and so forth are not profitable when contrasted with vegetable cultivating. Additionally, they are likewise not intrigued for poultry, piggery, collective and integrated farming. For such a mentality they are depended to different parts of the district for getting organic raw material for compost, bamboo for vegetable shed and so forth. It is intriguing to take note of that the block has steadily declined its plantation land, field and agrarian land.

Table 4 SWOT (Strength, weakness, Opportunity, Threats) analysis of Vegetable Farming in Dalgaon-Sialmari Block Strength Weakness Opportunity Threats Large area devoted to Escalating the rate of Proper framework for Unprecedented population production of vegetables fragmentation of land integration marginal growth of native Muslim holding farmers to practice community farmers collective farming Resiliency of farmers to Low wage rate and over Proper wage allotment will Farmer‟s suicide cases may work in all kind of situation dependency on middleman further increase the capacity arise due to increasing for selling their products of marginal cultivators to market competition, have proper cultivation population growth and infrastructure annual reoccurrence of flood Practice of multiple and Use of excessive fertilizers Cheaper government owned Excessive use of fertilizer vertical cropping for faster growth and better cold storage godown has ruined the reputation of productivity (warehouse) is required to vegetables sourced from the minimize the influence of region. third party business man and wastage of perishable vegetables Large fertile Riverine Reoccurrence of flood Water linkage can be Vulnerable agro-ecological charland areas, suitable for every year, establish among nearby conditions, disturbances diverse range of vegetable districts like Sonitpur, from wild animals of Orang cultivation Nagaon, Morigaon, and National Park Kamrup Metro for better profitability Well known market places Lack of adequate food Greater scope for Less attention from that can be systematically processing industries that Establishment of pickle concerned authorities for managed for global exports, utilizes vegetables as raw industries within and in the the infrastructural as it is situated at proximity materials proximity of the region development in the region to international countries like Bhutan Nepal, Bangladesh Availability of large mass Poor irrigation Better scope of canal Inadequate road human resources for infrastructure irrigation from nearby infrastructure in the region

http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET 1512 [email protected] Mukut Sarma and Chinmoy Raj Saikia agriculture and allied rivers, it will further for better transportation of activities enhance the profitability agricultural produce Centrally located in the Lack of Raw Material of Scope for production of Educational backwardness Northeast Indian region. organic manure; absence of organic manure and of the farmers and their poultry, piggery etc develop a proper strategy to desire for higher rate of market those manure for production local needs Due to ignorance of harmful impact of chemical fertilizer and pesticides the soil fertility is also getting deteriorated day by day. Under such circumstances an imbalance ecological and environmental situation also arose in the block. It is due to high emphasized on vegetable farming which leads an unsustainable land utilization of the entire block. The above SWOT analysis is going to provide a proper rationale for the farmers of the region. There is a greater need to enhance the market potentialities for the farmers. In this era of crisis and pandemics government should focus more on agro-vegetable sector of the country; this will act as the new key for sustainable agriculture. One thing to note here is that vegetable farming can easily be incorporated with urban agriculture and home garden, which will satisfy the food demand and increasing unemployment crisis. Apart from this, there is a possibility to make Darrang district as an agro-vegetable hub of North-east India. Sustainability of agriculture will be ensured only when the weakness becomes strengths and policies are framed based on the opportunities. Dalgaon-Sialmari Block of Darrang district can be the next „veg bowl‟ for the North-east Indian region.

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