Agrarian Transformation Among Tribals

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Agrarian Transformation Among Tribals

• From Migrants to Farmer Irrigators

Aditi Mukherji Shilp Verma Prabhat Rath
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Background...

• AKRSP promoted PIM in Canal Irrigation Systems of
  Surat and Bharuch
• Rare Occasion when Tribals have access to Canal
  Irrigation
• Irrigation Systems Managed by Tribals

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Key Questions...

• How significant is the demand for irrigation
  among the tribals in South Gujarat region?
• What are the avenues through which irrigation
  affects tribal livelihoods?
• How do tribal farmers benefit from irrigated
  agriculture vis-à-vis non-tribals and what can
  explain disparities, if any?

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Is there a lack of Demand?

• Tribals are a heterogeneous group
• Bhils of South Gujarat far more progressive
• Third generation Farmers
• Access to Irrigation even before Canals
• Demand Creation not really an Issue in this area
• Reservoir Capacity not enough to meet the demand

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Impact of Irrigation...

• Cropping Pattern, Intensity and Yield
• Comparable to Patidars
• With Right Set of Inputs and Incentives, they are
  as good as anybody else
• Increase in Wage Rates
• Distress Migration
• Fodder Availability
• Appreciation in Land Prices

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Key Success Factors...

• AKRSP (I)s Support
• Capacity Building
• Governance Structure responsive to peoples needs
• Water Plus Activities
• Demonstration Effect
• Pingot RBMC
• Scale of Intervention
• Previous Exposure
• Cost of Irrigation and Infrastructure

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Challenges Faced...

• Effort, Time and Resource Intensity
• Irrigation Bureaucracy
• Who bears the RM Costs of Irrigation
  Infrastructure?

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Learnings for CInI

• Rich farmers in villages are often considered as
  potential threat to targeted-at-the-poorest-of-th
  e-poor interventions but they can play a
  significant role by creating Demonstrations of
  Success

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Thank You