Kendbona Eco-Development Project - a novel approach to wasteland reclamation.
Chowdhury M. K.
Author Affiliation: West Bengal Forest Department, Calcutta, India.
Indian Forester 118 : 879-886
Abstract : An account is given of this participatory project between the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation and the local people, centred in Kendbona, Purulia District, and covering 54 ha of waste land split into 6 patches between villages and cultivated areas. The area was barren and eroded, and has previously been used for grazing. The village of Kendbona had 48 families all belonging to scheduled castes or tribes and below the poverty line. Some 21 beneficiaries were selected from the families, all female, as this was considered desirable; they were actively involved at all stages of planning and implementation of the project. Plantations of fast growing species were established from 1989 onwards, to be grown on a short rotation, and intercropping was done in order to obtain early returns. The 3 main plantation systems used were: cashew (Anacardium occidentale) intercropped with sabai (Eulaliopsis binata); bamboo intercropped with arhar (Cajanus cajan); and fuel plantations of Acacia auriculiformis, Eucalyptus and indigenous species such as karanj (Pongamia pinnata) and neem (Azadirachta indica). These systems covered the entire waste land area. They were supplemented by distribution to homesteads of fruit tree species (grafts of mango (Mangifera indica), guava, lemon, bael [Aegle marmelos], anona [Annona sp.] and jamun [Syzygium cumini]; and seedlings of coconut). Details are given of planting patterns, costs and benefits. Immediate economic returns were achieved, and the project was considered highly successful.