The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : An opportunity for the devastated islands

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Friday, May 27, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

An opportunity for the devastated islands

P.C. Kesavan and K.Balasubramanian

The forests and mangroves of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands must be used in a sustainable manner for the livelihood security of the local community.

THE ACTION Plan for the post-tsunami development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, submitted to the Centre by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) on May 16, has strategies for both ecological and livelihood security.

The plan for a "New Andamans" details plans for redesigning the farming and fishing systems that are best suited for the island ecosystem. The MSSRF team visited North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Nancowrie and Great Nicobar group of islands and assessed the nature and extent of damage. The tsunami has caused extensive damage to agricultural fields, coconut forests, fishing ponds, and lagoons. The food security base both for the settlers and the natives has been severely eroded. As Prof. M.S. Swaminathan pointed out ( The Hindu , January 17, 2005), medium and long-term rehabilitation demands three things: strengthening the ecological foundations of sustainable human security; rehabilitating livelihoods and fostering sustainable livelihood security; putting in place a network of rural knowledge centres.

Each region in the islands was found to require a specific set of solutions. For instance, the rise of the landmass in North Andamans (Diglipur) has led to a fall in the water table. The littoral and mangrove swamps have dried up. Fresh water for paddy and horticultural crops has become scanty. So, the administration should immediately set up `community water banks" with rainwater harvesting and conservation. Women's self-help groups should be formed and trained to manage water banks. Paddy should be cultivated only where it is a choice, both from the ecological and economical points of view.

The islands are more suited for horticulture than conventional agriculture. `Small Farm Horticultural Estates' should be established along the lines recommended by the National Commission for Farmers to provide centralised service for post-harvest processing and marketing. Low input sustainable aquaculture should be integrated with community watersheds. Inter-disciplinary teams should monitor the impact of the southwest monsoon on coastal hydrology and mangrove eco-system.

In contrast, South Andaman has been inundated by seawater, especially the agriculture fields. The coming monsoon could disrupt communications, leading to transient hunger spots; even starvation deaths. The MSSRF has suggested the immediate setting up of community food banks. This also provides a food-for-work system. There is also great potential to establish mangrove bio-shields, taking advantage of the excellent nursery available in Yerrata, and integrate them with sustainable aquaculture. Tiger prawns and mud crabs can be readily cultured and these have great demand in both national and international markets.

Little Andaman has suffered total disruption of communication and therefore it is a potential hunger hotspot. Immediate action is necessary to set up community food banks. Since the Revenue Department controls the severely damaged beach forest it should help the Forest Department in ecological restoration and bio-shield erection.

The major challenge caused by the tsunami in the Nancowrie group of islands is the extensive damage to mangroves and the coconut forests. The bio-degradable debris should be used to make compost. The coconut trunks and the wood of the fallen trees could be used for construction of houses and also for furniture making.

A large part of the southern region (Indira Point) of Great Nicobar still remains submerged under the sea. All the inner roads have been completely destroyed. The agricultural fields, coconut and arecanut plantations have suffered severe damage. A bio-shield programme should be immediately initiated using food-for-work strategy. Steps should be taken to erect a bio-shield consisting of coconut, casuarina, arecanut, pandanus, and sea mahua, with pepper, clove, and nutmeg as intercrop. Steps should be taken for restoring soil health and rebuilding essential infrastructure for farming and fishing activities.

In general, the overall situation in the Andaman and Nicobar requires provision of multi-fortified (iron, iodine, vitamins) salt to people to fight micronutrient malnutrition. In order to ensure sustainable livelihood, a coastal bio-village paradigm based on fish, forest, and coconut-based micro enterprise should be developed.

Since the islands do not have energy resources of their own, the great potential for coconut-based biomass gassifiers for power generation should be harnessed.

There is an urgent need for rural knowledge centres with appropriate connectivity to provide early warning of cyclones, tsunamis, rainfall.

In a nutshell, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands should use the forest and mangrove resources in a sustainable manner for the livelihood security of the local community. Agriculture should not be on the conventional lines of the mainland.

The Andaman and Nicobar islands are fortunate in having several tribal communities whose collective traditional wisdom is formidable. Planning and development should be based on a bottom-up approach involving the local elected representatives, captains and members of the tribal councils. With over 85 per cent of forest cover, these islands are excellent "green" factories that consume carbon and produce oxygen.

(The writers are with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.)

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