NIRD

Centre for Agrarian Studies and Disaster Mitigation (CAS & DM)
Email: bkt@nird.gov.in
FOCUS
Land and agrarian relations have been the major focus of discussion and policy ever since the colonial days in India . Land has been subject to multiple ownership patterns and due to its finite supply, this ownership pattern has been constantly varying leading to agrarian tensions and also perpetuating poverty in India . The focus of the Centre for Agrarian Studies (CAS) is, therefore on the agrarian relations, reforms and agricultural systems in the changing global scenario. The policy shifts brought about in the wake of liberalization and globalization now showing their impact on the nature of tenancy, cropping patterns and input usages, affecting the very sustainability of agriculture production systems. On the other hand the democratic decentralization has shifted the responsibility of land management on the local governments which calls for capacity building of the PRIs to manage the land resources. This is coupled with the issue of the rehabilitation/ revitalization of rural livelihoods and displaced population caused by various development projects initiated since independence. Moreover the importance of some of the traditional but eco-adaptive managerial systems governing irrigation and land have declined very rapidly ever since the onset of green revolution. In view the emerging issues arising out of agricultural sustainability, changing managerial pattern, depleting natural resource like ground water, changes in tenancy regulation and challenges posed by liberty liberalization to agriculture, the main focus of CAS is to study the on going changes in agrarian problems, management of land resources and organize training programmes on land-related matters.
India is prone to all types of disasters, including volcanic eruptions in Andaman and Nicobar Islands . However, major natural disasters like cyclones, floods, droughts and earthquakes have been playing havoc with the people, especially the vulnerable sections living in rural areas. Whatever we do in the name of Rural Development over a decade may be set at `naught’ by one major cyclone, flood or an earthquake, the recent examples being Orissa Super cyclone and earthquake in Gujarat. Not only there are loss of human and animals lives on a large scale, there are devastating damages to rural infrastructure and the livelihoods causing severe setback to the rural economy and strain to the public exchequer. The disaster management, so far has been a fire fighting exercise with main focus on relief and rehabilitation. Considering this, it is high time to change the focus and emphasize more on disaster reduction and preparedness by integrating the calamity relief with long term development planning. This is the emerging concept all over the world. There are institutions here and there in the country dealing with disaster management with limited focus on relief and rehabilitation measures. But that is not going to help in the long run. Instead of resorting to `fire-fighting drill’ year after year, calamity after calamity, it is better that we plan especially for hazard prone areas and the people, who are the worst affected on account of various disasters
Main activities under Agrarian Studies
Research, Action Research & Consultancy
Agrarian relation and agricultural systems in relation to liberalization, globalization and WTO regime;
Impact assessment of liberalization on different category of farmers and farming systems;
Land ownership and alienation in tribal areas;
Emerging land markets, tenural structure and policy options;
Computerization of land records and digitization of cadastral maps;
Productivity and efficiency of Indian agriculture, Credit flow and marketing; and
Rehabilitation/regeneration of livelihoods for displaced.
Action Research on Restoration and Development of Land Allotted to the poor under various Programmes through Social Audit and Jan - Sunwahi (Public Hearing)
Training
Management of Small Farms and Development of Small and Marginal farmers
Community based integrated land use planning for sustainable development and Management of common lands;
Management of Agriculture in Drought Prone Areas;
Credit flow ;
Rural Marketing
Main Activities under Disaster Mitigation
Research, Action Research and Consultancy
Mapping of natural hazards,vulnerability and risks;
To develop district, block and village level disaster management plan;
To identify preventive and protective measures for disaster reduction and plan for their integration with long term development ;
Capacity Building at Community Level for Disaster Preparedness about the vulnerability and risks of natural hazards and need for self – help in countering their affects; and
Local governments for disaster management and mitigation.
Training
(a) Community Based Disaster Management;
(b)Capacity Building at Community Level for Disaster Preparedness; and
(c) Disaster preparedness, Emergency Response and Early Warning System ; and
(d) Disaster Management Plan at District, Block and Village Level;
Faculty Profile