An Analysis of Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Sand and Silt Deposited Areas of Dhemaji District of Assam

The study was undertaken in sand and silt deposited areas of Dhemaji district in Assam, primarily to measure physical and social capitals as livelihood assets, compute Sustainable Rural Livelihood index, study selected personal, socio-economic and psychological attributes of farmer respondents as well as to find out the relationship, if any, between Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and the selected personal, socio-economic and psychological attributes of the respondents. A descriptive research design, following an ex post facto approach was utilized for the study. A multi-stage, purposive cum proportionate random sampling design was adopted for the study in order to select 100 respondents.

With respect to the selected personal, socio-economic and psychological attributes of the respondents, the study revealed that most of the respondents (88%) were young to middle aged and had medium level of formal education (57%). The study revealed that the proportion of farm families belonging to small and medium sized families were almost equal (46% and 43% respectively). Majority (61%) of the respondents was marginal farmers and belonged to the low and medium level of annual income categories (respectively 41% and 46%). On the other hand, a large majority (70%) had low level of annual expenditure pattern, medium level of economic motivation (68%) and risk bearing ability (70%).

The computed Sustainable Rural Livelihood Index score (49.89%) was found to be on the lower side, indicating its relatively low strength based on physical and social capital indices. Correlation analysis of the independent variables of the study with Sustainable Rural Livelihoods revealed that five independent variables, viz., age, education, size of land holding, expenditure pattern and risk bearing ability were positively and significantly correlated with Sustainable Rural Livelihoods.

The study reveals that a productive human capital falling largely in the young to middle age category holds promise for socio-economic development in similar situations. However, illiteracy, coupled with lower formal education would mean that skill development ought to be the focal area for capacity building in the agricultural sector. . Strategic agricultural technology interventions suited for sand and silt affected areas have to planned keeping in mind seasonal uncertainties and low cost technologies.