Sustain Livelihood and Food Security Among Migrant Workers and Small/Marginalised Farmers in Bihar

Migrant labourers are the backbone of India’s informal sector and micro, small and medium enterprises. The Indian Census 2011, puts the total number of internal migrants in the country at 139 million, majority of which are men. The out migration of women for employment often gets masked in categories like marriage and family data. A rough estimate is that women migrant workers account to 20-30%. The states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the biggest source of rural migration. The prominent destination points are metro cities like Delhi, and Maharashtra.

The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has not only created a full-blown health emergency but has also severely impacted the lives and livelihoods of millions of internal migrant workers. The economic crisis for these huge number of migrant workers, is a manifestation of the social and ecological crisis which pushes rural communities to move towards the cities in search of dignified lives and livelihoods for themselves. The prolonged lockdown in India to contain the spread of the pandemic sparked a mass exodus of internal migrant workers returning to their homes. Central and state governments have announced several relief measures to the people affected however implementing these on the ground remain a challenge for various reasons. The returning home migrants after the lockdown, brings them back to deal with the environmental stressors they left behind - degradation of land; depleting water bodies, inconsistency in yield, over exploitation of natural resources etc., are just some small examples.

Based on our direct interactions with the communities in Bihar and taking cognisance of the ground realities our key actions would be to revive/ rebuild livelihoods with a focus on food and income security. The proposed activities will include:

1.    Formation of women farmer's co-operatives

It is proposed to strengthen the formation of women’s co- operatives through regular meetings and impart trainings on the structural causes for the discrimination of women, understanding of sub-altern feminism and why women need to be acknowledged as farmers despite the fact that over two-thirds of agriculture is actually done by them. Exclusive women farmer producer groups would be facilitated in the process and this would also involve trainings on sustainable farming, gender sensitisation, development of producer group with seed capital for agriculture and other related activities, development of and agriculture tool bank for women to have small, sustainable practices. Awareness, IEC materials on women, gender and agriculture will be developed. This intervention will not just strengthens livelihoods, but it also bring about a structural transformation in the current power relations based on gender, caste and class.                                                                                                            

2.    Revival of Traditional water harvesting structures                 

The women farmers’ co-operatives would work towards rekindling of the traditional water harvesting structures through eco-friendly ways and traditional knowledge of water conservation, as the area is drought prone. For this, it is proposed to rekindle the traditional structure ‘aharpyne’, deepening and de-silting of ponds, construction of new ponds and new wells as well. Activities are also proposed towards farm bunding since the women farmers would not just be farming on their land but also engage in collective farming on common lands.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

3.    Promoting zero budget natural farming (ZBNF)                       

Given the pandemic and the loss of crops, it is proposed to encourage natural farming involving very low cost and environment friendly techniques/bio-fertilisers. For this, there would be efforts towards trainings on ZBNF, development of vermicompost pits at the collective level and also natural method of cold storage (ZECC). Together, this, along with the eco-friendly tools and techniques would initiate and promote climate friendly, low cost and sustainable form of agriculture.                                                                                                       

4.    Agriculture Extension                                                                

This intervention would be the common thread between the production and marketing processes. In what is envisaged as the link between the backward and forward linkages of agriculture, it is training for primary processing of the grains and a basic understanding of how value addition leads to profits. Further, efforts would be made towards the revival of women’s roles as traditional conservers of seeds through promotion of seed replacement, selection of best seeds and seed banks at collective level which can be used both as grains in times of need for the most vulnerable families as well as seeds for the next crop.                                                                                                             

5.    Forward Linkages on Exclusive Women led Markets             

The forward linkages would entail development of exclusive women led ‘Aadhat’ to ensure that they not just producers but can also very well market their produce and also create markets for other small farmers from marginalised communities (who have been severely impacted because of the pandemic). This would involve training on markets (adhat as they are called locally) and training on collectivisation and marketing of produce after value addition. Additionally, meetings and trainings are also proposed with government and other stakeholders to showcase women’s roles amidst the pandemic not just in livelihood reconstruction but as models of sustainable development. Further, some resources for specific women’s Adhats are also earmarked and tools for measurement and other similar implements. Through this, it is also proposed to host a Kisan Mela to bring forth and showcase women led agriculture and celebrate their role as farmers and exemplary in terms of challenging discriminatory and gendered mainstream norms.                                                                                                                        

6.    Krushi Mitra:                                                                             

For this model of sustainable development, it is proposed to support a woman Krushi Mitra, working part time, in every village. Some resources need to be earmarked for her travel and support. She would be the point person in every village to ensure the proper implementation of the entire series of activities and also be the resource person for others who would wish to undertake similar intervention.

The following impact is envisaged:

• 30 women’s collectives will be formed in two blocks (Giriyak and Pawapuri) of Nalanda district in Bihar.
• Total 500 women farmers trained and practising collective sustainable farming.
• Total 2500 individuals will directly benefit as a result of the proposed interventions of having sustained livelihood and food security
• Indirect Beneficiaries: 15000 across 30 villages assuming there are 150 families in each village