Little Rann of Kutch

Designing
Sustainable Livelihood Options
Little Rann of Kutch – An Overview

-Salt marshy area located near Great
Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
- unique landscape: saline mudflat
- Arid climate, temperature range :
below freezing point to above 50
degree centigrade
-Surrounded by 108 villages, area :
6979 sq. km Major Economic Activities:
-52634 families (2.5 lakh human Salt making, agriculture, livestock
population) rearing and seasonal fishing
-2.6 lakh livestock population in this
landscape

-Majority of agriculture is rain-fed.

-Livestock rearing is mostly free
only stronghold for the endangered major marine nursery for the
grazing (some stall feeding from
wild equid subspecies Equus famous endemic “Kutch Prawn” and
crop residues)
hemionus khur (commonly known a feeding ground for numerous fish
- a large number of migrant livestock as Wild Ass) in Asia and invertebrate species
and livestock of migrants
(Maldharis)
Designing a Livelihood Intervention
• Understanding the internal context of Intervention
• Understanding the external context of Intervention
Stage 1

• Analysing value addition

• Knowing Economies
Stage 2 • Deciding on Value chain

• Designing the intervention

Stage 3
 Communities
• Livelihood for sustenance; unsustainable use
of biodiversity
03 •
•
Most vulnerable group from all four
Employed as agriculture laborers and wage

• Done in brackish water

02 Landless
labourers
laborers in salt production; many
occupational hazards
• Fishing takes place only in Fishermen
monsoon
• Live in temporary houses;
devoid of basic infrastructure

04
Maldhari
01 Community

Agariya
Community
• One of the most vulnerable social group.
• Main occupation is Salt Farming
• Trapped in vicious cycle with merchants
• Pastoralism- one of the most prominent source of
livelihood; communities rears sheep, goats and buffalos
• Maldhari (cows/buffalos) associated to diaries; Maldhari
(sheep/goat), very low level of revenue generation from
milk/wool
• Free grazing issues, common land reduce drastically from
encroachment, as a result increased use of sanctuary
land leading to biodiversity conflict
Occupational Pattern
Salt Farming Seasonal Fishing Charcoal Making Livestock Rearing

Salt is produced through Good rainfall ensures large Abundant growth of Prosopis Focuses mainly on rearing
solar evaporation method by scale immigration of prawns serves as the raw material goat, sheep, cow and buffalo
a population who resides on for making charcoal. to sell their milk and wool
the fringe area (Koli Rainfall ensures low level of and to earn their living.
Community) salinity and sufficient High pace during the
availability of food for their monsoons Performed by mainly
Fulfills approx. of nation’s growth. Maldhari Community
salt demand Performed by the landless
Average number of prawn labourers who work in the
Area is famous for Inland salt fishing days in a season is agriculture fields and salt
only about 25 –30 days. pans as a secondary activity.
Salt Production Cycle
 Large Salt Companies

Company Year of Production Capacity Expansion Plan Free Flow Salt Area Location
Establishment Capacity

Jaydeep Salts 1980 5 Million 9 Million Tonne 1.26 Lakh Tonne 9000 Vavaniya,N
Tonne/Annum PA PA Acres+ ear
Navlakhi
Port
Dev Salts 1989 1,50,000 1 Million Tonne NA 7000 Haripar
Mts./Annum PA Acres Village
 Salt Farming
08 TRANSPORT
After this entire process of salt making now the
salt is lifted and transported to storage sheds
01 AGARIYA
As the month of October approaches, the
01
Agariya families begin with the preparation of
called ganja.
08 02 shifting to the Rann

07 SALT DRYING
The water is removed from salt for drying and
is heaped on both sides of the pan.
Salt
DIGGING 02
Dig a well to draw sea water out of it which
varies from 15 feet in Maliya district to 150
Production
07 03 feet in Satalpur district

06 SALT CRYSTALS
The salt farmer begins to run a wooden rake
(locally called dantaara) through brine solution
Cycle
PUMPING 03
Water is drawn out using water pumps which
run on diesel. Often 3 pumps are run using one
and thus the salt crystals formed. generator
06 04
05 EVAPORATION
As the water evaporates, the brine gets more
concentrated and seeps into the next pata. At
05
SALT PANS 04
Salt pans (locally known as patas) are prepared
for collection of water drawn. These plots are
this stage, salt precipitates in the form of filled with brine which is drawn from the wells
crystals.
Existing Value Chain in LRK region
Existing Value Chain in LRK region
 Seasonal Fishing
• Seasonal Business- In a season avg number
of Prawn fishing days- 25-30
• Nearly 6500 men engaged in fishing
• Brackish water made by rainwater and sea
water is suitable foe Prawns in LRK
• Prawns are the main catch
• Nets are used for fishing(20-100 kg)
• Price of 1 kg net- 400
• High demand of Prawns (Kutchi) for Export
• Immature Prawns are boiled dried and
sold@ 150/kg (For 1 kg dry Prawns 5 kg
fresh Prawns are required)

Challenges/Limitations:
• Lack of access to the markets
• Has to sale to fixed merchants at very low prices (30-40/kg and MP is 150-250/kg)
• Unavailability of Cold storages
• Unaware of Government policies.
• Catching of small Prawns disturb ecological cycle (Unsustainable Practices)
• Prawn catch depends on numerous factors(Natural, Anthropogenic, Tidal effect, fishing tools etc.)
 Problem(s) & Solution(s)
THE PROBLEM(S)
• Loss of productivity
• Decline in ecosystem services
(Hydrological cycle and water
regime)
• Undermine the availability of NFWP
• Long standing power structure
leading to marginalization and
improvements
• Adverse environmental impacts:
i. Denudation
ii. Decline in aquifer recharge
iii. Augmented severity of drought
and flood
THE SOLUTION(S)
• Inclusive management strategy
• Scaling up conservation –
management beyond protected areas
to landscape levels
• Forest department to rationalize
management to secure biodiversity
• Sustainable availability of biodiversity
to needy
• Strict regulations (if needed than
enforcement) used against those who
pursue profits
• Conversion within forestry-wildlife
sectors
• Seek support at central and state
governmental level including national
planning commission
• Create awareness among people
• Government should conduct
training/workshops for skillset
development and explore alternate
livelihood in the vicinity (relocate
within 5-10 km range)