“Alchas”
(A technique of agriculture in Sundarban as climate change adoptive flood resilience Model of Vegetable cultivation)

Place: Gosaba and Basanti Block

Process of good practices:
Sundarban is Gangatic delta consist of 102 Islands and proximity to Bay of Bengal, covers 19Blocks of South & North 24 Parganas Districts in West Bengal. The area is crisscrosses by the rivers. The location is prone to Disaster like Cyclone and Flood due to its geographical location proximity to Bay of Bengal.

Agriculture is the main source of income in Sundarban Region. The livelihood opportunities of Sundarban are badly affected by back to back Cyclone and flood which brings Saline water from Bay of Bengal and damages the crops and Vegetables almost in every year. Due to heavy rain water logging is also main problem of the agriculture.

To cope up the situation, “Alchas” is an innovative idea adopted by few marginal farmers as climate change adoptive flood resilience Model of Vegetable cultivation in Sundarban. It is a new technique of producing vegetables in Sundarban Islands for avoiding water logging.

The farmers raise the soil (4- 5 feet height) of their field and make rampart or fringe in 3 feet interval in whole land. This is a multi-cropping Model. They are using the upland or rampart for growing vegetables and the dig part of the field using for fish cultivation during rainy season. Therefore, farmers of Sundarban are gradually adopting this system for alternative way of growing vegetables. This system of growing vegetable is locally known as “Alchas”.

Vegetables: Better gourd, Beans, Chili, French beans, pumpkin, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower etc.

Qualifying Criteria:
 To protect vegetable cultivation during flood and water logging situation, “Alchas” is an innovative idea as climate change adoptive flood resilience Model of Vegetable cultivation in Sundarban.
 The farmers raise the soil (4- 5 feet height) of their field and make few banks in 3 feet distances in whole land. This is a multi-cropping Model. The banks are used for vegetables cultivation and the low or sinking part of the field using for fish cultivation during rainy season.
 Profitable and less vulnerable to frequent flood and water lagging areas.

Scope of replication:
• The scope of replication is high in water lagging areas. Some farmers already started this “Alchas” in the project operational area. Once the farmers being profited, the neighboring farmers will follow the same.
• This model has been started by some farmers of Gosaba, Basanti and Mathurapur II in project operation area. Farmers of Mathurapur II Block have started this technique for betterment of their livelihood after the exposure visit.