From Agriculture To Occupational Diversification: The Impact Of Declining Agricultural Productivity On Livelihood Transformation In Bankura District, West Bengal
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Abstract
Agriculture is usually considered to be the main occupation of the rural households in India. Nevertheless, reduced agricultural productivity in the country has posed challenges in sustaining agriculture and has brought about changes in the rural livelihoods. The current research seeks to examine the impact of reduced agricultural productivity on the diversification of occupations and livelihood change in Bankura district, West Bengal. The research adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design based on primary data collected through a structured questionnaire among rural households, supplemented by secondary data obtained from government documents and literature. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Geographic Information System-based spatial analysis. It was found out that climatic changes, low irrigation, high cost of cultivation and reduced soil fertility have made it difficult for agricultural practices to sustain themselves, leading people to engage in non-agricultural occupations. Therefore, the research suggests that occupation diversification has become an essential approach towards building household resilience in face of reduced agricultural productivity.
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