The document summarizes an integrated farming adaptation strategy for small farmers in the Sundarbans coastal region of India. The strategy involves diversifying crops and livestock, constructing water management structures like ponds and canals, and closely integrating different subsystems like aquaculture, orchards, and cattle to make the farms more resilient to environmental stresses. Case studies show this approach has helped extend growing seasons, increase incomes, recycle nutrients, and reduce farmers' dependence on single crops or external inputs. However, watershed-level interventions and government support are also needed to address challenges like salinity intrusion and protect indigenous species.

1. Diversified-INTEGRATED FARMING adaptation strategy for small and marginal farmers in coastal lowlands of Sundarbans [How & Why] Ardhendu S Chatterjee & Anshuman Das Development Research Communication and Services Centre West Bengal India

2. The Setting Sunderbans, world’s largest delta, formed by 3 major rivers and more than 300 tributaries & distributaries Mudflats,mangroves,saltwater swamps spreading over 2 countries,along 250 Km coastline .

6. Rising No of Disasters after Aila Courtsey: Outlook magazine

9. multi step use of organic manure

11. Ducks supply manure, add oxygen to water, reduce weeds, control pests and convert them to meat/egg.

12. multi step,multi utility pond

13. multi level climbing frame

14. diversifed Vegetable garden

15. Paddy field bunds used

16. Space above pond utilised

17. Duck-house above pond made using local materials

23. Let’s take specific case of 3 farmers * all of them having low lands, during rains/flood takes 3~4 months to recede – making the land uncultivable Banamali Das Sukomal Mandal Gobardhan Patra Total Land 0.6 acre 1.1 acre 0.4 acre Cropping pattern Vegetables during winter and rainy season, Rice in winter Rice in Kharif, some vegetable during winter Rice in kharif, some vegetable during winter, Vegetable during rainy season Other Assets Home + Homestead Garden + pond = 0.25 acre. Pond + home=0.2 acre 0.05 acre pond Family Member 7 Adult + 4 Children 2 Adult + 2 Children 10 Adult + 10 Children

26. Water logged Farmer1: Before intervention

27. Water logged Farmer1: After intervention 1 Canal around the area 3 MPT in bund 4 Vegetable over canal 6 Cowshed 8 Biogas 9 raised bed 7 Hen coupe over pond 5 Net over pond 2 Small pond

29. 1Canal 2 net over the canal 3 MPT 4 Rain water hvst 5 Raised Bed 6 Small Pond Farmer 2

30. 1 Net over the canal 2 Paddy (SRI) 3 MTP 4 Cow 5 Vermi 6 Canal 9 Pond 7 Hen 8 raised bed 10 water logging tolerant aurum Farmer 3

31. Intra system dependency: Rice-fish-duck-azolla

32. Intervention Banamali Das Sukomal Mandal Gobardhan Patra Crop Winter – 12 types Summer – 8 types Rainy Season – 17 types + Paddy-fish-duck-azolla Winter – 25 types + Paddy (SRI) Summer – 13 types Rainy Season – 22 types Winter – 10 types Summer – 5 types Rainy Season – 10 types + Paddy-fish-azolla Perennial Tree 5 types of fodder/wood/biomass generating + 7 types of fruit 5 types of fruit 6 types of fruit Animal/ Poultry/Fish 5 Cows 8 ducks, 18 hens Fish 2 cows, 6 goats 24 hens, 2 ducks Fish 2 cows, 2 bull 24 hens Fish Bioinput Compost, vermicompost, fish/poultry/fodder from his own plot, bio-pestrepellents, biogas slurry Compost, vermicompost, fish/poultry/fodder from his own plot, bio-pestrepellents Compost, vermicompost, fish/poultry/fodder from his own plot, bio-pestrepellents Others Seed preservation, Biogas Seed preservation Rain water harvesting, seed preservation

38. Impact: diversified output/income Summary: Land shaping cost 5000 INR as loan. Total input 12235.5 INR (9497.75 INR is internally generated), Total output 28222 INR + own consumption 13000 INR

39. Impact: reducing livelihood dependency on single enterprise

40. Impact: energy/input cost/calorie/biomass recycling within the system – making the system more stable

41. Before Biogas plant: Fuel consumption : 25 dung cakes (300 g per dung cake) & 10 kg of firewood per day. After Constructing Biogas plant: Fuel consumption : Biogas at the rate of 1.5 hours per day and 10 Kg of firewood per week. + biogas slurry for making vermicompost No fossil fuel dependency, no mechanized tillage – no irrigation/chemical fertiliser/pesticide Impact: Clean Energy Impact: Faming season extended, more days of work, more cash in hand, no migration Impact: More resilient shock proof system, can manage water logging, longer summer

45. Thanks