Sustainable Livelihoods Through Tuber Crop
July - 2012Odisha ReviewSustainable Livelihoods Through Tuber CropSushanta Kumar Jata, Dr. M.Nedunchezhiyan,Tapas Ranjan Sahoo, Antaryami LenkaRural people partake in a number of strategies,including agricultural intensification, migration andlivelihood diversification, which enable them toattain a sustainable livelihood. SustainableLivelihood approaches provide a framework foraddressing poverty and vulnerability in bothdevelopment and humanitarian contexts. Theyhave emerged from the growing realization of theneed to put the poor and all aspects of their livesand means of living at the centre of developmentand humanitarian work, while maintaining thesustainability of natural resources for present andfuture generations. The rate of social, economic,and technological change in the agriculture sectorwill gradually transform the setting in which climatechange is likely to interact with sensitive featuresof the food system. The current state of the sectorand important trends that would transform itprovide a baseline to examine the potentialconsequences of climate change. Hence there isthe need to evaluate the state and trends in rootcrop production in India.Current state and trends of root cropproductionNational and Regional Root and Tuberyield values was assembled and their naturalvariability was assessed using different computersoftware. The current state of the crop within therural peoples was assessed using a rapid ruralappraisal method. A district within the regionsidentified was selected and using a checklistobtained information pertaining to the state of thecrops within their community and their perceptionof climate change and how vulnerable they are tochanges in production levels. For the period 1980to 2012, root crop production has significantlyincreased as a result of increase in area underproduction, improved planting materials andtechnologies among others. Acreage underproduction was increasingly higher for cassavaproduction when compared with yam andcocoyam. This makes cassava a major root cropin India. Every household within the identifieddistricts has Yam in the backyard and colocasiafield justifying its importance as a food and cashcrop and Cassava yields range from 25 35 t/hawithin the Forest and Transitional zones butimproved varieties are capable of giving 30 45t/ha at Kerla and Tamilnadu. The annual domesticrate of consumption is estimated to be 155 kg/capita which are 4 times as great as cereals whichrange between 4 to14 kg/capita. Traditionallycassava varieties in Kerla cover a wide range ofmaturation periods and many are flexible withregard to the length of time. They are left in theground after maturation without deteriorating83
July - 2012Odisha Reviewsignificantly. Therefore different local varieties andso many improved varieties are grown perhousehold within India. Cassava was said to begrown mostly for food and excess for sale. 60%of cassava produced India is for Industrialpurpose and 30% for human consumption, 10%for animal feed. Both communities have their mainsource of income from farming and petty tradingwhich is normally practiced by females.Production and consumption patterns in India tendto fluctuate for the past years with bumper harvestreducing prices as indicated by farmers within thestudy area. The excess production could bechanneled into industrial use as flour for bakeryor starch for the plywood, paper and textileindustries. Under the Ministry of Food andAgriculture (MOFA), the Food and AgricultureDevelopment Policy has a main goal of creating asustainable environment for the sector that willensure food and raw materials security, higheremployment and income for farmers, reducepoverty and create wealth and contribute to theGDP through increased foreign exchange earningsand government revenues. Cassava policies thatexist to help achieve the goals stated andconfirmed by the Ministry of Food andAgriculture s Directorate include the following:v Planting material multiplication anddistribution to make available to farmersimproved planting materials for good cropyields.v Training ofAgricultural Extension Agents andfarmer groups in value addition to the crop.This improves the shelf life of cassava andtherefore guarantees a more stable price.v Facilitation of loan for farmers from banks.v Assistance in the form of loan from VillageInfrastructure Project (VIP) to purchaseequipments for processing cassava.84v Technical assistance from Ministry of Foodand Agriculture s Directorate in the form ofappropriate technology for high productivitywas stressed by farmers.The farmers claim no marketing policythat guarantees fixed price and ready marketsexist. The need for such intervention to reducepoverty levels was stressed.YAM PRODUCTION IN INDIAYam yields range between 4 to 7.5 t/haand it is confined to the wetter forest zonesbecause of its high moisture requirements forgrowth. It is produced mainly for cash and foodbecause of the high stable price that exists for thecommodity. The annual domestic rate ofconsumption is estimated to be 56 kg/capita andthis has not changed for the last 20 years.Production for the past years have been increasingin acreage but not per unit area. Poor soils,decreasing rain days and total rainfall have beenidentified as the cause of reduction in cocoyamproduction. In Ghana, trends in its production anddemand for its consumption are similar to yamand cassava production in Ghana (Fig. 3.2).Increasing demand results in increase inproduction with slight surpluses when comparedwith cassava. Demand was in short supply in
July - 20121995. No policies exist for its production ormarketing. Two types of cocoyam, the white andred types were being cultivated in the differentarea. Planting materials are purchased from otherfarmers. Corm setts or suckers that sprout afterland is cleared for farming are the main source ofplanting materials used for its establishment. It isnormally harvested between 12 to 18 months afterfield establishment. Prices of produce are morestable and they will normally harvest crop whenthere are buyers. Cocoyam stores better in thesoil and prices are more stable, this makes it afood security crop. Most farmers crop need forits leaves or roots on subsistence level while afew crop it mainly for cash. It is mainly croppedintercropped with plantains or bananas andsometimes with other food crops such as maizeand cassava.YAM PRODUCTION IN INDIAYam yields are relatively high (17 35 t/ha) and it is an expensive crop to cultivate, requiressoils with high fertility status and a much lesseramount of rainfall. They are therefore being grownmostly in the south and south east zones. Somevarieties do well in the Forest ecological zones.Yam is grown in all regions except Upper Eastand central region. The annual domestic rate ofOdisha Reviewconsumption is estimated to be 42.3 kg/capita.This has also not changed but there has been asteady increase in amount exported. Yamproduction and consumption or demand trendsare similar to other root crops. With the exceptionof 1985 where demand exceeded production,surpluses increase with increase in demand andproduction. Although it is an important exportcrop, yam prices were found to fluctuate with thetime of season and the type or variety ofpreference. Six types of yams white, water,Asobayere, yellow, Chinese and potato yams aregrown in the community in addition to other typesof food crops produced. Their main food crop iscassava. Yam grown for cash is mostly solecropped whilst subsistence yam cropping isintercropped.LINKAGES WITH OTHER SECTORS OFTHE ECONOMYThe economy of India has been describedas agrarian, employing over 70% of thepopulation and generating about 2/3rds of theexport earnings. The government of India alsoidentifies root crops as a possible vehicle fornational economic growth and food security. Somestate government policy to alleviate rural poverty,improve household food security and thenutritional status of individuals can be achievedby improving the overall food availability andincrease income earning opportunities in farming.Root crops also contribute about 40% of thecountry s Gross Domestic Product. Climateimpact is a possibility of reducing food productionand therefore making all these policies unrealistic.This section identifies and analyzes linkages thatexist with some aspects of the economy anddescribes adaptation strategies available formitigation.85
Odisha ReviewWHOLESALE PRICES OF ROOT ANDTUBER CROPSWholesale prices of root and tuber cropsin Ghana were sourced from the Statistical sectionof the Ministry of Food and Agriculture anddocumented. The economic production valueswhich is the amount available for consumption wasfound to be positively correlated with thewholesale prices; giving high positive coefficientvalues of 0.5 for cassava, 0.75 for cocoyam and0.90 for yam. Years that had higher productionhad higher wholesale prices per unit sale.Cassava, yam and cocoyam had increased thewholesale price with time. Yam had the highestunit price, followed by cocoyam and then cassava.Prices for yam are more stable in India thancassava, because of the highly perishable natureof cassava. Processing the root crops would givea higher purchase price for the farmer as suggestedby farmers involved in the participatoryassessment. Further since most of the increasesin production is mostly due to increase in croppedarea as against productivity, a climate changewould definitely affect yield.ADAPTATION STRATEGIESAgriculture production has shown anability to adapt to changing conditions like naturalresource availability, technologies or economies.Most crops may adjust unnoticed especially whenclimate changes are gradual. Farmers on their owndo have options that help them bear and shareloses or modifies t hreats. Appropriatetechnologies and improved varieties also exist toprevent or help share losses that may occur whenclimate changes. The PRA conducted during thestudy identified the following as adaptation optionsfor climate change.Improved Farming technologies or practicesThese are normally referred to as on farmadaptation options and they include planting more86July - 2012than varieties with different maturity periods and/ or introducing drought resistant varieties in farmfields. Farmers in the study area already cropdifferent varieties of a commodity to ensure foodmaturation (food security) even in the event of anunpredicted harsh weather. Integrated nutrientmanagement under the various crops which is notbeing practiced could be introduced. Under thisdifferent soil amendments in the form of organicor inorganic or including leguminous crop in thecropping system could be applied to the degradedsoils. This would increase the nitrogen to take fulladvantage of the CO2 effects, while some mayprotect the soil structure and therefore increasesoil moisture availability. Afforestation /reforestation which involve the planting of treeswithin the degraded forest lands will beencouraged. Farmers perceived this to be thecause of the irregular rains and the degraded soils.Some communities are already pursuing thisoption while others think it is not theirresponsibility. This point raises the issue ofextensive education on tree planting. Alternatecropping could be encouraged. This practiceallows farmers to change cropping systems. Forinstance farmers in the Akumadan areas ofAshantiRegion who use to grow cocoyam now growvegetables which are short duration crops andcereals like maize. Members of Boekrom(Western Region) also grow more of cassava thancocoyam and yam because of lack of good soils.To achieve the above mentioned strategies thefollowing researchable topics need to be studied;v Drought tolerant and early maturing rootcrops need to be identified and made availableto farmers.v Tree planting as part of the root cropsproduction systems yam and cocoyam needto be introduced.
July - 2012v Identification of fast growing trees that copewith root crops production.The vulnerable groups most likely tobenefit from this adaptation strategies are thefarmers and rural folks, fisher folks, women andthe urban poor in a decreasing order of severity.For farmers and rural folks, the adoption of thesetechnologies will increase productivity /production should there be a change in climate.This will make them secure and guarantee incomefor them. The fisher folks are mainly subsistencein their activities and therefore depend on rootcrops as their main staple food. Being assured offood at a constant price is making them foodsecure. Women are important actors in root cropsproduction. Their invo lvement in t heimplementation of this option is critical and animprovement in production will definitely give thema plus. They act as middlemen in the marketing ofthe commodities and are mostly responsible forthe cultivation of cocoyam. Since they providefood for the household a reduction in theavailability of root crops which is a staple inalmost all diet will be disastrous. For the urbanpoor, since they are migrants from the ruralcommunities, a stable production system wouldprevent their migration and encourage them tocrop the land. Key persons that can promote orundermine these adaptation strategies areresearchers, extension agents, non-governmentalagencies and community members.Post harvest technologiesThis adaptation option provides insuranceagainst local supply changes through storage whichtends to store the crop for a longer period andalso guarantees a good price for the commodity.This option requires the identification ofprocessing techniques that will preserve rootOdisha Reviewcrops and provide an alternate use of the crop.Some processing techniques already exist, theneed to source for them and adapt to ourconditions is very important. Training on these postharvest technologies and the establishment ofcottage industries for processing root crops cannot be overemphasized. To achieve the abovementioned strategies the following researchabletopics need to be studied;The main actors to support this optionare the researchers and extension agents who willidentify, modify and disseminate the technologies.The Government and NGO (Non GovernmentalOrganizations) that provide support for trainingand logistics. The community memberspreparedness to accept technology will supportthe implementation of this option. Non availabilityof logistics to fund the study and support trainingand dissemination would undermine the project.Vulnerable groups are likely to benefit from thisoption are as follows;Farmers and rural folks - The adoption of thesetechnologies will create the market condition foran increase in productivity / production shouldthe change in climate bring about a glut. This willalso guarantee income and make them feelsecured should there be a shortage.Women - Women are important actors in rootcrops production and processing. Theirinvolvement in the implementation of this optionis critical and an improvement in processing andproduction will definitely give the project thesupport it needs.Fisher folks - Root crops in its fresh andprocessed state are their main staple food. Beingassured of food is making them food secure.87
July - 2012Odisha ReviewUrban poor - This will preserve excess rootcrops for lean periods or eventualities; resultingin food security and stable price for the urbanpoor who feed on root crops. This will furtherprevent out migration which is a major cause forincrease in urban poor population. Job createdfor the rural poor in their environs prevents outmigration.Alternate livelihoodAlternate livelihood developmentespecially those that give fast income wasidentified as a household or village adaptationoption. Communities will be trained onoccupations other than root crop production;these are bee keeping, poultry production,piggery, snail rearing, mushroom cultivation etc.This will involve the provision of startup capitalsor some sort of loans for project establishmentand training in the prescribed trade. A detailedhousehold studies to identify an alternatelivelihood which is more feasible and acceptableby the populace will support the option. Farmersand rural folks will have an added income for theirhousehold if climate change reduce or destroysfarm produce. But for the fisher folk, since rootcrops are their staple food an alternate crop orlivelihood which will prevent the production ofroot crops will render them food in secure. Pricesmay also go up and in effect reduce theirpurchasing power. Women will gain extra incomefor their household budget. And since the urbanpoor are persons who migrate from the rural areasbecause of lack of jobs the presence of jobs willreduce their population in the urban areas.Alternate jobs will be created in the villages forthem. These programmes are ongoing in certainlocalities and should therefore be given full supportby the government.88Marketing policiesMarketing channels exist for the sale ofmost root crops. These are normally throughmiddlemen or women who price the commodityanyhow resulting in unstable low prices within theharvest season especially with cassava. Policiesto address such issues and create market avenuesfor these root crops are necessary. Identificationand implementation of policies that addressmarketing issues in relation to root cropproduction need to be done. The followingpersons are involved in the implementation of thisstrategic project; Policy makers, Researchers,Processors and Community members. Womenand the urban poor are vulnerable groups fullyintegrated in marketing root crops a stable priceas a result of the marketing policies will mean astable income as against a fluctuating root croppricing. Farmers, fisher folks and rural folks areanother group who will be affected by thisadaptation option. This option will ensure a readymarket for possible increases in root crop yieldand guarantees a stable market price and incomefor them.
July - 2012Irrigation under root crops productionSmall scale irrigation schemes assupplementary water source for crop growthwould be established in farm fields. The need toidentify and design the appropriate irrigationsystem for root crop production is crucial. Fundsfor its establishment will require the presence ofpolicies that allow the acquisition of suchimplements at affordable price. Actors that cansupport or undermine the proposed adaptationactivity are the Policy makers, Researchers andCommunity members. The provision of irrigationas supplementary water for root crop productionwill increase soil moisture and finally yield. Priceswill be stable as a result of increased productivityfor the fisher folk, urban poor and women whoare part of root crops production and its utilization.CONCLUSIONAgricultural production and marketingpolicies have been found to affect food availabilityand food security. There is a widespread tendencyfor us to cry for policies that effectively subsidizeagricultural production or policies that tax ordiscourage agricultural production in certain areas,or pursue policies that promotes food selfsufficiency. Although all of these policies tend toreduce the efficiency of agricultural resourceutilization in low- and high-income countries, theyhave not changed trends in food supply anddemand. Relatively few studies have attemptedto predict likely paths for food demand and supplybeyond 2020. There are reasons for optimismthat growth in food supply is likely to continueapace with demand beyond 2020. For example,population growth rates are projected to declineinto the 21st century and multiple lines of evidencesuggest that agricultural productivity potential islikely to continue to increase. However, scientistsOdisha Reviewprojected that current and future expected yieldswill remain below theoretical maximums for theforeseeable future, implying opportunities forproductivity growth increases in food demand aremostly due to increase in population and suppliesare due to increase in acreage under productionand not productivity. These
the need to evaluate the state and trends in root crop production in India. Current state and trends of root crop production National and Regional Root and Tuber yield values was assembled and their natural variability was assessed using different computer Sustainable Livelihoods Through Tuber Crop Sushanta Kumar Jata, Dr. M.Nedunchezhiyan,
Hot spots of Biodiversity of Tuber Crops in India: Exploration and Collection 26 4.1. The Western Ghats 31-32 4.2. The Eastern Ghats 33 4.3. The interior plains 34 4.4. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands 35 5. National Regeneration Centre for Root and Tuber Crops 35 6. Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) on Tuber Crops in India 36-43 6.1. Tuber .
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The root and tuber crop farming system is a complex system found in humid and sub-humid areas of west and central Africa; it has mixed root and tuber crops (notably cassava and yam), some tree crops (e.g. oil palm, cocoa, rubber, cashew and mangoes) and cereals (e.g. rice, maize, sorghum and millet) but few livestock because of disease.
stressed the importance of tropical root and tuber as non-conventional food in the diet, especially of lower income groups in developing countries. Those parts of the World where tropical tuber crops are important in diet, are precisily. The parts where population growth is highest. These root and tuber crops include: Casssava and Sweet Potato
CGIAR's research on root and tuber crops, and make greater use of complementarities among the three centres concerned. TAC supports the panel's recommendation that an informal Inter-Centre Committee on Root and Tuber Crops Research be formed provided that the centres remain convinced that it adds value to root and tuber crops research in the
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as monthly crop water requirement at different growing stages of maize crop. The crop water requirement and irrigation requirement for maize crop 238.6 mm and 212.6 mm. Considering the above findings it was suggested to use the Cropwat 8.0 model to predict the crop water requirements for different crops.
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