IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES ON CROP PRODUCTION: A STUDY IN THE CENTRAL BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY ZONE OF ASSAM
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Date
2018-07
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Abstract
Industrialization is considered as a main thrust for development due to which the scope for exploring and exploiting the natural resources and surrounding environment has gained importance. However, there also have been many negative consequences of rapid industrialization, particularly on agriculture ecosystem and human health, because of the exploitation of natural resources and pollution. The present study was conducted in Central Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam, comprising of two districts namely Nagaon and Morigaon to study the impact of industrial effluents and industrial production activities on crop production. From Morigaon district, the Nagaon Paper Mill (NPM) under Mayong block was selected, whereas, from Nagaon district, the Brick Kilns Industry (BKI) located in Darigaji development block was purposively selected for carrying out the present study. Two situations were considered for detailed investigation considering their distance from the industrial units. Situation-I included villages in the vicinity of the industrial unit and Situation-II included villages over 10 km away from the industrial units. Multistage random sampling was adopted for collecting 100 numbers of samples. The present study was undertaken to identify the changes in the cropping pattern and crop productivity in the two situations and the consequences of industrial effluents and other industrial production activities on crop production. The findings of the study revealed that as the distance from both of the industrial units increased, the net sown area increased from 37.65 ha in Situation-I to 53.77 ha in Situation-II from NPM. Similarly, as the distances increased from the BKI, the net sown area was more i.e. in Situation-II it was 44.26 ha as compared to Situation-I with 37.23 ha. The cropping intensity in case of Situation-I and II from NPM was 145.18 per cent and 154.51 per cent respectively. Similarly, the cropping intensity in case of Situation-I and II from BKI was 119.98 per cent and 136.74 per cent respectively. Thus, the cropping intensity was found to be higher in Situation-II. The productivity of sali rice was also lower in case of Situation-I from NPM and BKI with 19.56 q/ha and 17.30 q/ha respectively. While, in case of Situation-II, it was highest with 21.68 q/ha and 22.93 q/ha from NPM and BKI respectively. Therefore, it was revealed that as the distance increased from the industrial units both the cropping intensity and crop productivity increases. The costs and returns were examined to study the expenses incurred and returns obtained by the sample farmers from sali rice cultivation. It was found that the net return obtained by the sample farmers in Situation-II from NPM was ₹ 34068.78, while, the net return obtained in Situation-II from BKI was ₹ 28716.15. The farmers in the vicinity of NPM and BKI (Situation-I), obtained lower net return of ₹ 15187.43 and ₹ 10249.06 respectively. This means that, the net return obtained by the farmers were more as the distance increased from the industrial units. The multiple linear regression analysis was done to see the significant difference in resource use efficiency and production across different situations. For Situation-I and Situation-II from NPM, the
R2 values were found to be 0.938 and 0.956 respectively. Therefore, it could be
concluded that 93.8 per cent and 95.6 per cent variation in the dependent variable
(production) was explained by the independent variables (Seed, FYM, Fertilizer,
Irrigation, Plant protection chemicals, Human labour, Bullock labour, Tractor labour)
respectively for Situation-I and II. While, in case of Situation-I and Situation-II from
BKI, the value of R2 were found as 0.934 and 0.947 respectively. To test whether there
was significant difference in productivity, gross return and cost of cultivation across
different situations t-test was done and observed that productivity of sali rice across
different situations from NPM and BKI was statistically significant with t-values of
2.74 and 4.53 respectively. Also, the cost of cultivation and gross return obtained by
the sample households across different situations from NPM was found to be
significant with t-value 2.83 and 2.99 respectively. While, for BKI the t-value was
found as 2.17 and 3.46 respectively. The problems faced by the majority of farmers
across different situations were pollution emitted from the industrial unit, incidence of
pest and plant diseases, high labour cost, low crop yield and health related problems
which were more severe in Situation-I as compared to Situation-II from both of the
industrial units. The study suggested that the industries should be compelled to follow
the pollution control measures as notified from time to time by the pollution control
boards as well as district administrations and the effluents should be properly treated
before disposal to nearby water bodies, land and environment. The Agricultural land
should not be allotted for constructing brick factories. The norms for establishing BKI’s
should be strictly monitored as many unregistered BKI’s are coming up in different
parts of Assam. Farmers should be made aware of regarding harmful effects of
industrial effluents and also about the remedial measures to reduce the effect of
industrial wastage.