Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
Raised homesteads – Other communities, such as in Diversification from farm to non-farm livelihoods
Majgaon and Bahpora, live in houses with foundations
elevated 0.5-1.2 m (2-4 ft) above the ground as a
To cope with the breakdown in traditional agriculture,
response to the floods. They are reluctant to live in stilt
farmers are diversifying to new sources of livelihood.
houses due to cultural biases associating this type of
However, they do not always successfully reduce their
dwelling with ethnic groups such as the Mishings.
vulnerability.
The height of the earthen or brick-and-concrete foundation
Fishing – The subsistence activity of fishing is developing
of raised homesteads varies depending on the economic
into a viable alternative livelihood despite the cultural
situation of the households and their decision on how
norms of certain communities that discourage it. The
much to invest in raising the homestead – higher
villagers themselves, or fish traders, process and
platforms mean greater investment costs because more
sell dried fish in the dry fish market of neighbouring
materials are used. The platforms are also used to shelter
Morigaon district. This profitable small enterprise has
livestock. During floods, the households will take shelter
the involvement of cooperatives and well-established
temporarily by a roadside or in the nearest available
production and marketing channels. The proven benefits
concrete public building, such as a school.
are motivating more and more people to engage in this
enterprise.
Responses in agriculture Processing and sale of homemade traditional liquor
– Traditional winemaking for domestic or home
Mixed rice cultivation in Majgaon – Due to damage
consumption is an age-old practice, but now some
by floodwaters, the Majgaons no longer cultivate sali
communities process and sell both traditional wine and
(wet season rice); instead, they plant bao (deep-water
the cheaper country liquors for income.
rice), which is adapted to water and resistant to floods.
Farmers now mix indigenous varieties of summer rice
Employment in service and other jobs – The source of
(ahu) and deep-water rice to provide options in case the
income most immediately available for people is menial
crop of one variety fails and to optimise the use of land.
labour in construction or agriculture in nearby areas and
In a ‘normal’ year, when the floods are not so prolonged
towns. The ongoing construction of the new embankment
and virulent, both rice varieties survive. However, early
and installation of erosion protection structures in
flooding in April or May might damage the summer rice
Matmora are providing temporary employment.
while the better-adapted bao will survive and ensure
food security for these communities. Indigenous varieties
Young men migrate to other districts for service jobs and
of bao show considerable tolerance to flood waters.
employment in the informal transport sector. Others get
jobs in neighbouring states like Kerala and Nagaland.
Experiments in boro paddy – Boro (winter season rice)
Most migrant youth do not settle permanently in these
is a viable alternative variety suitable for perennially
places of employment. The remittances they send help
flooded areas. A group of farmers in Bahpora village
keep their families from poverty during the floods.
(Matmora) are cultivating boro paddy in waterlogged
areas with technical guidance from the district agriculture
Indigenous crafts – Many women in these communities
department. In the absence of irrigation facilities,
have traditional weaving skills to make mats for
investment in a pump set is necessary for off-season rice
household use. The women are now earning a steady
cultivation.
income from their woven products. They are improving
their weaving quality and design by paying more
Agriculture on a river levee – In an effort to identify
attention to the requirements of the market for quality,
new land for cultivation in safer, higher elevation areas,
good design, and quantity. The Mishing women are
villagers are starting to occupy land with grassy forests
doing well in this activity.
located on the river levee in the western part of the
village. These areas used to be marshlands but bedrock
Resale of agro and dairy products – Another livelihood
displacement, triggering the 1950 earthquake, elevated
activity with less risk is buying and reselling for a profit
them on both sides of the Na-Nadi River. Villagers
agricultural and dairy products, like rice, milk, curd,
flattened some of these areas to make fields for winter
and gud (condensed sugar). This is giving rise to a new
crops, such as mustard, black gram, lentil, cereal,
class of middlemen traders who were once primarily
cabbage, and even wet season rice.
producers or farmers.
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