Journal of Environmental Biology

Optimal utilisation of natural resources for nutritional security in rainfed tropical islands of Andaman, India

B.K. Nanda¹*, N. Sahoo² and B. Panigrahi² 

¹Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-KVK, Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair-744 101, India

²Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar-751 003, India

*Corresponding Author Email : er_bijaya@yahoo.co.in

Received: 13.06.2020                                                                   Revised: 15.11.2020                                                    Accepted: 15.12.2020

Abstract

Aim: To assess the available land and water resources with the objective of minimization of soil loss, maximization of net return and minimization of labour requirement in order to have a sustainable cropping system to meet the nutritional requirement for the year 2021 for the district South Andaman, one of the tropical rainfed islands of India. 

Methodology: The climatic data for 40 years from 1978 to 2017 of the rainfed tropical islands of South Andaman district of Andaman and Nicobar group of islands (India) was analyzed to find out the monthly climatic index from the calculated values of effective rainfall and evapotranspiration. Suitable cropping period and crop sequences based on the 70% dependable monthly climatic index and crop coefficient for the study area were proposed. The extent of labour requirement, net return and soil loss from agriculture were estimated for the suggested cropping patterns. A mathematical model was formulated for optimal allocation of area to different crop sequences with different objectives viz. minimization of soil loss, maximization of net return and minimization of labour requirement from agriculture and was solved using linear goal programming technique.

Results: The model suggested to take up food crops in an area of 30,041.23 ha and perennial grass cover in 1,000 ha with a cropping intensity of 198% resulting in a net return of `40,163.11 lakhs with labour requirement of `19,724.60 lakhs sustaining soil loss to a tune of 1,029.15 thousand tonnes per year. The model was found to be favourable in respect of higher net return of `49,438.29 per ha with lesser labour requirement of ` 37,727.99 per ha and lesser soil loss of 25.14 tons ha^-1 than the corresponding present values.      

Interpretation: To meet the nutritional requirement of the South Andaman district for the year 2021, 13 cropping systems covering an area of 30,041.23 ha are to be adopted. The deficit cultivable area of 19.62 thousand ha has to be explored inside and outside of the district for cultivation. Runoff yield from 150.42 thousand ha of forest land is to be harvested to meet the water requirement for the crops. Under proposed cropping pattern, the rate of soil loss was decreased by 42.32%, rate of net return was increased by 58.68% and rate of labour cost was reduced by 36.49% as compared to the existing cropping pattern. Among cereals, pulses, oil seeds, vegetables and tubers, the production of maize, arhar and green gram or black gram, ground nut and sweet potato are preferred respectively in case of requirement of higher production of individual food group.       

Key words: Agricultural sustainability, Crop land, Tropical islands, water resources

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