Most studies on air pollution take a scientific or environmental view. But farmers have to cope with its impact on their livelihoods. What do they think about it? Research in India in collaboration with Imperial College London reveals farmers’ views on pollution and their suggestions for dealing with its consequences.

Farming is an important source of food, income and employment in urban and peri-urban areas. However, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have reduced crop yields and income, threatened health and made livelihoods uncertain. Air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, fluorine, nitrogen oxide, ozone and particulates affect agriculture in complex ways. They are also a serious health hazard.

Many farmers are aware of the pollution of their environment and seek solutions to the problems that it creates. But their views are rarely heard. This study used participatory field research to uncover the perspectives of around 1200 farmers from 28 urban and peri-urban villages in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Faridabad, Haryana. The study aimed to reveal:

• the importance of agriculture in farmers’ livelihoods
• constraints and coping strategies in agricultural practice
• the impact of air pollution on agriculture and health
• possible solutions to the problems.

The farmers describe important relationships between livelihoods, agriculture and air pollution. They see nearby industrial towns and facilities, domestic coal stoves and traffic as sources of air pollution. The villagers face three groups of health problems: chronic diseases affecting large sections of the population, specific diseases experienced only by some people, and diseases which affect the general population during certain seasons.

The farmers identify a number of difficulties affecting agriculture including:

• weather problems
• attacks by weeds, pests and animals
• pollution
• crop disease
• land issues
• inadequate infrastructure
• shortage of credit
• weak institutions.

They also emphasise the collapse of state support systems, low access to agricultural inputs and poor surveillance of unscrupulous traders. They use a range of coping strategies at the personal level to deal with the low returns and high risks of agriculture and the uncertainty of paid employment.

The farmers suggest offsetting damage from industrialisation and urbanisation through stronger support systems and policies that promote sustainable agriculture, such as:

• guaranteeing electricity and water supplies
• subsidising or controlling the cost of fertilisers and medicines
• punishing manufacturers of counterfeit drugs
• offering low-interest loans
• halting construction of houses on agricultural land and locating factories and roads away from crops
• compensating displaced farmers with new jobs, rather than money.

The researchers feel that policy-makers should raise community awareness about air pollution. They also recommend doing similar studies in other areas to provide a voice for the voiceless on livelihood, health and pollution issues resulting from the unregulated growth of industry.

Source(s):
‘Alternative perspectives on livelihoods, agriculture and air pollution’, SOAS Studies in Development Geography; Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd., by N. Mukherjee, 2001 Full document.

Funded by: UK Department for International Development Environment Research Programme

id21 Research Highlight: 6 August 2003

Further Information:
Neela Mukherjee
Director
Development Tracks in Research, Training & Consultancy, plc
52/82 C. R. Park (Ground Floor)
New Delhi
110019
India

Tel: +91-11- 26270332/ 26270824
Fax: +91-11- 26270332/ 26270824
Contact the contributor: neelamukherjee@vsnl.com

Contact the contributor: neelamuk@del2.vsnl.net.in

Other related links:
Trouble in the air for food production as urban pollution hits rural development

The International Food Policy Research Institute has a project focusing on Food, Agriculture and the Environment

See the Sustainable Development Department of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations