This document summarizes a project aimed at enhancing productivity of degraded land and water resources in coastal regions through integrated approaches. Key activities included land shaping, pond excavation, crop diversification, integrated nutrient management, and farmer training. Baseline surveys assessed initial soil and water quality across 3 villages. Monitoring found that land shaping and pond excavation reduced soil salinity and improved drainage. Crop diversification increased household incomes, employment, and nutritional levels. Training programs empowered over 800 farmers in topics such as vermicomposting, livestock health, and fish cultivation. The project developed environmental and social frameworks to maximize benefits and mitigate negative impacts.

1. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya,
Mohanpur, Nadia, 741252
West Bengal, India
Biswapati Mandal
and
Pabitra Kr. Mani

3. Sustainable enhancement of the productivity of
degraded land and water resources of the coastal
region through integrated approaches.
Enhancement of livelihood security and employment
generation for the poor farming communities of the
coastal region.
Empowerment through capacity building and skill
development of stakeholders including man and
women farmers.

4. Enhancing productivity of degraded land and water
resources through integrated approaches
Activities
Target Achievement
Baseline survey 3 vills. 3 vills.
Monitoring soil / water quality 150 sample 225 sample
Land shaping 9 ha 8.75 ha
Paddy-cum fish 6 ha 5.68 ha
Diversification of crops 29 ha 33.5 ha
Crop Nutrient Management
25 ha 28 ha
Vermi-compost
16 Units 16 units
Live stock Health Management 120 farmers 120 farmers

5. Activities Target Total
Farmers’ training 14 14
Rural Technology Center 1 -
Empowerment through capacity building and skill
development of farmers
I. Simple methods of vermi-compost preparation and its utility in coastal areas
(216 farmers). (3 times)
II. Crop diversification and its management in coastal sunderbans (141 farmers).
(3 times)
III. Vegetables production in coastal ecosystem (128 farmers). (2 times)
IV. On field training of composting and vermi-composting (95 farmers). (2 times)
V. Training on livestock health management (178 farmers) (2 times)
VI.Training on easy techniques for fish cultivation in paddy cum fish culture (163
Farmers) (2 times)

6. Crop
Area
(ha)
Household
involved
Net income (Rs.)/
household
Employment generation/
household
Before
intervention
After
intervention
Before
intervention
After
intervention
Kharif rice 12.0 135.0 1064.0 1283.0 32.0 41.0
Winter veg. 13.0 112.0 1565.0 3180.0 45.0 56.0
Summer
veg. (pre-
kharif)
5.0 62.0 1467.0 2872.5 28.0 32.0
Kharif
veg. 3.5 32.0 1237.5 2475.5 22.0 30.0
Total 33.5 341.0 5333.5 9811.0 127.0 159.0
Crop Diversification Programme

7. Success Story
Location : Korakati, Sandeshkhali Block- II, 24 Parganas(N)
Implementing Centre : Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Name of the farmer : Amal Mondal
Crop
Before Project After Project
Area
(bigha)
Total
input
(Rs.)
Total
output
(q)
Gross
return
(Rs.)
Net
return
(Rs.)
Area
(bigha)
Total
input
(Rs.)
Total
output
(q)
Gross
return
(Rs.)
Net
return
(Rs.)
Kharif
Rice
1.0 1050 3.4 5100 4050 - - - - -
Kharif
Vegetables
- - - - - 0.7 1675 3.3 5940 4265
Winter
vegetables
- - - - - 0.7 1220 4.25 6375 5155
Fish - - - - - 0.2 1200 0.4 10000 8800
Trees - - - - - 0.1 - - - -
Total 1.0 1050 3.4 5100 4050 - 4095 7.95 22315 18220

8. Produced winter vegetables Fish from the pond ready to market
Adopted Vermicomposting technology Poultry farming

9. Publication
Folders (3)
i) Simple methods of vermi-compost
preparation and its utility in coastal areas;
ii) Livestock health management;
iii)Easy techniques for fish cultivation
Booklets (2)
i) Crop diversification and its management in
coastal sunderbans; and
ii) Vegetable cultivation in coastal saline
areas;
Leaflet (1)
i) Vegetables production in coastal
ecosystem

11. Aspects
Environmental Social
Positive benefits
Negative
effects
Efforts to
minimize
negative
effects
Positive benefits
Negative
effects
Efforts to
minimize
negative
effects
 Land shaping &
pond Excavation,
Paddy-cum fish
cultivation,
Integrated nutrient
management ,
 promotion of
green manure,
FYM,Vermicompost
etc,
Multiple training
programme
Harvest fresh rain
water
Reduced soil erosion
Reduced soil
degradation i.e. soil
and salinity, acidity
Restore soil health
Improve water quality
Developed multi
cropping system
Promote forestry
Net
cultivated
area is
reducing
Proper
land use
planning
should be
developed
 Build up skill
& knowledge
about methods
of scientific
crop
cultivation
Generate
higher income
level
Improved
living standard
Enhanced
livelihood
security,
Build up
capacity
E&S framework developed and implemented?

12. Parameter Without Intervention
(Baseline value)
With Intervention (increased /
decreased with value or no-change)
a) Name of the intervention introduction of rice based cropping system through medium land created by land shaping, water harvesting
through pond excavation. Farmer name: Bimal Mridha, village- Tushkhali, Sandeshkhali-II.
Without intervention: cross checked with same intervention,without land shaping in low land in the adjacent field. Farmer name:
Ranjit Mridha, village- Tushkhali, Sandeshkhali-II
Parameter: Without land shaping With land shaping
Soil Salinity 1.49 dS/m 0.75 dS/m
Soil pH 7.87 7.40
Water salinity 2.75 dS/m
( existing adjacent older pond
1.14 dS/m
(Excavated pond with fresh rain water)
Water pH 7.98 7.73
Soil Organic carbon 4.5 g/kg 9.3 g/kg
Soil Organic matter 0.77% 1.5%
Nitrogen (kg/ha) 55 154
Phosphorus (kg/ha) 34.5 47.4
Potash (kg/ha) 465.3 580.8
Fe (mg/kg) 48.74 40.64
Mn (mg/kg) 9.7 13.46
Zn (mg/kg) 0.764 1.308
Cu (mg/kg) 4.6 7.1
S (mg/kg) 106.2 140.2
Drainage Very poor Good
•Socio-economic Baseline Survey, PRA etc and Monitoring of initial soil /water quality
(150 soil and water samples covering 3 villages and analysed soil

13. Slightly acidic
to
moderately
acidic
Mediums
alinity

14. O.C status
Medium-high
Sulphur:
High

15. Iron status:
High
Mn status:
High

16. Zn status:
Low to Medium

17. Fig. 1: Correlation
between EC and Organic
Carbon of soils
collected from 3 villages
 Organic carbon content of soil decreased by increasing salinity
(r = -0.59) in soils of 3 villages

18. EC and TDS of Surface and Ground
water collected from 3 villages of
Sandeshkhali block-II

20. Pie diagram on distribution
and classification of
surface water (pond water)
under different villages at
Sandeshkhali block-II

21. Linkages with NGOs (YDC, Atapur Youngs’ Corner
Club)
Linkages with local Panchayets,
 local governments (BDO) and
various
line departments i.e.
Agriculture,
Fishery, and
Veterinary.
NBSSLUP, Kolkata
NABARD
 Linkages with other Institutions

22. Aspects
Environmental Social
Positive benefits
Negative
effects
Efforts to
minimize
negative
effects
Positive benefits
Negative
effects
Efforts to
minimize
negative
effects
Land shaping &
pond Excavation,
Paddy-cum fish
cultivation,
Integrated
nutrient
management ,
promotion of
green manure,
FYM,
Vermicompost
etc,
Multiple training
programme
Harvest fresh rain
water
Reduced soil
erosion
Reduced soil
degradation i.e.
soil and salinity,
acidity
Restore soil health
Improve water
quality
Developed multi
cropping system
Promote forestry
Net
cultivated
area is
reducing
Proper
land use
planning
should be
developed
 Build up skill &
knowledge
about methods
of scientific
crop cultivation
Generate higher
income level
Improved living
standard
Enhanced
livelihood
security,
Build up
capacity
E&S framework developed and implemented?

23. Environmental framework developed and implemented
Positive benefits Negative effects Mitigation measures
Reduction of land for
crop cultivation due to
land shaping
Harvested rain water helped alternate
use of land for pisciculture and
brought additional area under
cultivation and improve quality of
degraded soil and water.
Improved water
quality due to
rainwater harvesting
Displacement of
fertile top soil
The top soil reinstated by keeping it
aside while making the land shaping;
suitable management practices
undertaken to improve fertility of top
soil.

24. Environmental framework developed and implementd
Positive
benefits
Negative
effects
Mitigation
measures
Affecting soil health for
introducing HYVs, crop
diversification
Use of INM and IPM
practices.
Stress on water due to
change in cropping
patterns
Rain water harvesting
ensures additional good
quality irrigation water for
minimizing stress
Less animal diseases for good
health care and improved
feed

25. Social framework developed and implemented
Positive
benefits
Negative
effects
Mitigation
measures
Improving productivity through land shaping,
creating WHSs, proper land management etc.
High cost involved
in land shaping and
also loss of arable
land into low lying
area.
The profitability of
growing crops to cover
the cost including initial
investment would be
ensured through
selection of high value
and low water requiring
crops.
Enhancement of income through
introduction of HYV, crop diversification,
fish farming (fresh & brackish water), paddy
cum fish culture, improvement of health care
and feed of livestock

26. Dr. R Samanta Ray visited Korakati village to monitor the
progress of the Work BCKV (2010)

27. Dr. A.K.Bandyopadhyay (Chairman, CAC) and Dr. D.Burman (CPI) visited
Project sites (plot of Bimal Mridha on 29.11.12)

28. Discuss with Panchayet Pradhan for RTC

29. Pond excavation
Land shaping
Land shaping

30. Crop Diversification

31. Livestock health management

32. Paddy cum fish cultivation

33. Training

34. Inputs distribution