Authors : Dr. Bappa Mondal

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5n934f7r

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/2kv5nd43

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26May734

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Floodplains represent highly productive yet environmentally vulnerable landscapes because of their dynamic geomorphic processes and recurring hydrological disturbances. The present micro-level study investigates the changing nature of agriculture and rural livelihoods under the influence of recurrent flooding and flood-induced sand deposition in Guptipara Char Mouza of the lower Bhagirathi floodplain, West Bengal, India. The study analyses spatio-temporal flood characteristics, sand-splay deposition, land-use transformation, agricultural change, socio-economic vulnerability, and livelihood adaptation between the agricultural years 1999–2000, 2012–2013, and 2025–2026. Both primary and secondary data sources were used. Household surveys, farmer perception analysis, plot-wise land-use surveys, GPS-based field investigation, and satellite image interpretation using Google Earth Pro imagery (2015 and 2025) formed the major methodological basis of the study. Several agricultural indices, including Cropping Intensity, Gibbs–Martin Crop Diversification Index, Overall Yield Index (Shafi, 1972), Enyedi Crop Productivity Index, and Volume of Change in Crop Cultivation Index, were applied to measure agricultural transformation. The results reveal that the floods of 2000, 2007, and 2015 caused severe inundation and extensive sand-splay deposition across the study area. The flood of 2000 affected almost the entire mouza, whereas the flood extent gradually declined in later years due to partial embankment strengthening and local adaptation measures. Sand deposition significantly reduced soil fertility, altered soil texture, and negatively affected traditional crop cultivation, particularly Boro paddy. Consequently, agricultural diversification increased gradually, while orchard farming, especially mango cultivation, emerged as a major adaptive strategy in sand-affected areas. Land-use and land-cover analysis indicates a decline in traditional agricultural land and a rapid increase in orchard area and settlement expansion between 2015 and 2025. Occupational diversification also increased substantially as households shifted from cultivation toward agricultural labour, business, transportation, textile work, service activities, and seasonal migration. The study demonstrates that recurrent flood hazards and geomorphic disturbances have fundamentally transformed the agricultural economy and livelihood structure of the lower Bhagirathi floodplain. Sustainable floodplain management therefore requires integrated river management, scientific sediment-control measures, climate-resilient agricultural planning, community-based adaptation strategies, and improved rural livelihood support systems.

Keywords : Sand-Splay Deposition; Rural Livelihood; Crop Diversification; Agricultural Transformation; Bhagirathi Floodplain; Farmer Perception Study.

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