Doubling Farmers’ Income: Issues and Strategies for Assam Report Doubling Farmers’ Incomes – Issues and Strategies for Assam Submitted to Submitted by 3rd Floor, Surabhi Arcade, Bank Street, Troop Bazar, Koti, Hyderabad-500 001, Telangana, India Tel: + 91 40 6658 5800/01, Fax: +91 40 6658 5802 Website: www.ilrtindia.org Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... i List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... vi Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................ vii Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................................. ix Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. x Chapter I .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Background and Context ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Status of farmers’ income in India and Assam .............................................................................. 1 1.2 Geographical scope ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Scope of the study ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter II ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Review of literature ...................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Universe of Study ........................................................................................................................ 19 2.3 Unit of Observation ..................................................................................................................... 19 2.4 Sampling Procedure and coverage ............................................................................................. 19 2.4.1 Key features of samples covered for study .......................................................................... 19 2.5 Sampling frame ........................................................................................................................... 20 2.5.1 Matrix for selection of blocks in study districts ................................................................... 21 2.6 Use of PRA and other tools in the study ..................................................................................... 23 2.6.1 Focus Group Discussions (FGD) ............................................................................................ 23 2.6.2 Transect Walks ..................................................................................................................... 23 2.6.3 Stakeholders’ interviews ...................................................................................................... 23 2.6.4 Market observation ............................................................................................................. 23 2.6.5 Household level data collection ........................................................................................... 23 2.6.6 Inception Workshop ............................................................................................................. 24 Chapter III .............................................................................................................................................. 26 State and district overview ................................................................................................................... 26 i Table of Contents 3.1 State overview ............................................................................................................................ 26 3.2 Sector/sub-sector/commodities overview ................................................................................. 27 3.3 Trends in Investment in Assam ................................................................................................... 30 The Livelihood Basket ................................................................................................................... 31 3.4 Karbi Anglong .............................................................................................................................. 33 3.4.1 District Overview .................................................................................................................. 33 3.4.2 Sector/sub-sector/commodities overview .......................................................................... 33 3.4.3 Sector/Sub-sector/commodities wise findings .................................................................... 38 3.5 Dhemaji ....................................................................................................................................... 53 3.5.1 District Overview .................................................................................................................. 53 3.5.2 Sector/Sub-sector/Commodities Overview ......................................................................... 54 3.5.3 Sector/Sub-sector/commodities wise findings .................................................................... 56 3.5.4 Social class wise livelihood basket ....................................................................................... 59 3.6 Nagaon ........................................................................................................................................ 67 3.6.1 District Overview .................................................................................................................. 67 3.6.2 Commodities Overview ........................................................................................................ 69 3.6.3 Sector/Sub-sector/Commodities wise findings ................................................................... 71 3.6.4 Social class wise livelihood basket ....................................................................................... 75 3.6.5 Fisheries Case Study: ............................................................................................................ 86 3.6.6 Handloom and Textile Case Study: ....................................................................................... 88 3.7 Bongaigaon ................................................................................................................................. 91 3.7.1 District Overview .................................................................................................................. 91 3.7.2 Commodities Overview ........................................................................................................ 93 3.7.3 Sector/Sub-sector/Commodities wise findings ................................................................... 94 3.7.4 Social class wise livelihood basket ....................................................................................... 97 3.7.5 Bamboo Case Study ............................................................................................................ 103 Chapter IV ............................................................................................................................................ 106 Observation and Analysis .................................................................................................................... 106 4.1 Scope of increasing agriculture and allied productivity ............................................................ 109 4.2 Improvement in total factor productivity ................................................................................. 110 4.3 Diversification towards high value crops .................................................................................. 111 4.4 Increase in crop intensity .......................................................................................................... 111 Table of Contents ii 4.4.1 Crop Insurance in Assam .................................................................................................... 111 4.4.2 Livestock Insurance in Assam ............................................................................................. 113 4.5 District-wise awareness and accessibility of farmers towards insurance .......................... 115 4.6 Increase in farmers income through Producers Collectives ..................................................... 116 4.6.1 Potential value chain interventions