Agriculture And A Changing Environment In Northeastern India

This book is about the agricultural changes taking place in northeastern India, and the ways in which these changes are affecting the environment and the livelihoods of the people who live there. It is divided into three parts, each of which discusses a different aspect of the changes taking place. Part I looks at the impact of government policies on the environment and the economy, Part II looks at the role of women in agriculture, and Part III looks at some alternative farming practices and strategies that are being used to try to improve the livelihoods of the people in northeastern India.

India's northeastern region, forged by a unique geological history and peopled by several waves of migration, is extraordinarily complex. Farming systems in the hills and the riverine plains are embedded in a heterogeneous environment, comprising forests, wetlands and fields, shaped over centuries by nature and people. Today, the environment and economy are undergoing rapid transformation, affecting peoples' lives, livelihoods and methods of food production. The essays in this volume bring a multi-disciplinary perspective to critical aspects of the process of agricultural change, examine the gender dimensions of agriculture, and explore initiatives for sustainable livelihood and ecological conservation. Part I analyses the impact of policies and people's own aspirations on the closely-intertwined ecology and economy of the region. Part II discusses the gender dynamics of farming, forestry and biodiversity in a socio-cultural context where women are primarily responsible for food production. Part III highlights some alternative farming interventions and community-based efforts for environmental conservation, sustainable resource management and improved livelihoods. This book will be useful to scholars and students of agriculture, economics, development, environment and gender studies, and to those involved in policy analysis, natural resource management and community organisation, as also general readers interested in India's northeastern region.