Rapid and unplanned industrialisation and mining activities and related climate change in central and western Odisha, including Angul , Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Sundargarah districts, have largely affected the agriculture of the vast region with a direct impact on food security.
The climate change has made the dominating agrarian communities of the region the worst victims. The change in the time and amount of rain during the cropping season has badly hit the agriculture, making it an unviable livelihood option. As a result, the communities’ vulnerability to livelihood loss and food insecurity has increased and youth of the communities are now resorting to distress migration.
Around 2.5 lakh youths of the agrarian community are working as contract labourers / casual labourers with worst service condition in various industries and mines.
The ongoing industrialisation process has already affected the land use pattern. The agricultural land holding has been reduced by 4.22 lakh hectares. Earlier, the State boasted of 61.8 lakh acres of agricultural land. But the same has been squeezed thanks to industrial expansion over the years, while forest land has also been diverted. In the last 12 years, about 15,000 acres of land have been diverted for various purposes, including establishment of industries.
The State Government has so far signed 89 MoUs, including 50 in steel and mine sectors. After the State Government failed to arrange required land for industrialists, it has left the job to private players.
Even the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in a report has pointed out that the Odisha Government has committed the State's natural resources like land and water to industries without bearing in mind agricultural needs. Permission has been given by IDCO to promoters for mortgage of allotted land. The promoters concerned have mortgaged the allotted land in different banks to avail loans though no such commitment was made in MoUs. The Revenue department has not even authorized IDCO to give such permission for creation of mortgage by the promoters. Ironically, IDCO does not have the information about the quantum of loan availed by promoters by mortgaging land resources.
Agriculture occupied a vital place in the economy of Angul district. It was providing direct and indirect employment to around 70 per cent of the total work force of the district. The total cultivable area of the district is 2,16,403 hectares covering 32.7 per cent of the total geographical area. The district has been categorized under the agro-climatic zone of (Mid-central table) of Odisha which is generally flat with undulating hilly areas. The two major rivers Brahmani and Mahanadi with their distributaries pass through this district. The zone frequently witnesses vagaries of weather like drought and flood and represents a rain fed farming situation. The land and water have been taken by industries and mines.
Deforestation and unplanned industrialisation in the name of development has largely impacted the tropical climate across the region.
Mining and its allied industrial activities altered the land use pattern especially on forest cover and agricultural land. The areas under forest cover and agricultural land have decreased. The mining and industrial activities became detrimental to the land use pattern. C R Sahu, an activist and Citizen' Action Forum secretary demanded that such activities most be strictly regulated to avoid further damage and scientific mining has to be taken up in a proper manner to minimize the damage to the land use pattern.
In recent years, land based livelihoods of small and marginal farmers are increasingly becoming unsustainable. As their land has failed to support their family’s food requirements, they are forced to look at alternative means for supplementing their livelihoods. The rapid changes at the macro level have contributed to the instability of the livelihood systems of the poorer section of both rural and tribal households. The emergence of industry and market economy has disturbed the age old tribal and nature relation. The rise of industrialisation, intervention of outsiders and rise of population became major threat for these communities. The degraded resources failed to suffice the needs of the villagers. It compelled the tribal inhabitants to look for other alternatives. In the initial days it was only agriculture, which gave them an alternative source of livelihoods. But the small land holding size and traditional technology failed to meet the rising needs of villagers. Due to increase the population and requirement of industrial needs the forest depletion rate is very fast in this region. People are now travelling long distance to collect the firewood. They have engaged themselves in various industries in their locality. Most of the young children in this region have engaged themselves in non-agriculture sector.