82
5.5.1.3 Traditional Practices of Golpata (Nypa fruticans) Harvesters
According to the rules followed by Golpata harvesters, exploitation in any area is
not allowed more than once in a year and is not allowed during June to September
specifically as it is the growing period of Golpata (Nypa fruticans). They cut only
the leaves that are approximately 9 ft long, and the leaves are cut in a way so that the
central leaf and the leaf next to it in each clump are retained. They maintain the rule
that the flowers and fruits shall in no way be disturbed when cutting leaves. They
also maintain that young plants with only one utilisable leaf should not be cut.
5.5.1.4 Customary Rules Followed by Jele (Traditional Fishers)
The Jele (traditional fishers) knows that catching fish fry will ultimately deplete the
number of fishes in the water bodies and thus they try to avoid doing so. They do not
use ‘jal’ net (very small-meshed net) usually. They use nets like behundi jaal (bag
net) or charpaataa and khaal-paataa jaal (stake nets)—which are innovated and
customised scientifically to benefit the Sundarban’s unique waterscape. They use
big-meshed net for rivers and small-meshed net for closed water bodies. They do
not catch all species of fish and also avoid fishing in the spawning period.
5.5.2 Innovation and Diversification of Livelihood Patterns
In addition to the above-discussed traditional rules and practices which have been
practiced through generations, the IPLCs in recent times have also diversified their
livelihoods options by innovating different production methods and techniques as
responses to the continuous deterioration of their livelihood opportunities due to
man-made pressures (e.g. degradation of forest resources, loss of agricultural lands)
and anthropogenic pressures such as climate change. These techniques are innovative as the IPLCs came up with these for enriching their adaptation capacity to the
changed situation.
5.5.2.1 Innovative Techniques in Agriculture
The local small farmers have developed some innovative techniques in agriculture
that are adaptive to local biophysical conditions while ensuring environmental sustainability. In the face of climate change and increased salinity in soil and water in
that coastal region, the farmers grow their rice seedlings in raised land to reduce the
risk of saline water contamination for ensuring maximum survival and then these
seedlings are transplanted in the main agricultural land. For instance, they harvest
rice plant at 8–12-in. high from the ground to respond to high salinity contents in
soil and water (Fig. 5.11a). Practically this saline contaminated rice straw is decomR. A. M. Titumir et al.
5.5.1.3 Traditional Practices of Golpata (Nypa fruticans) Harvesters
According to the rules followed by Golpata harvesters, exploitation in any area is
not allowed more than once in a year and is not allowed during June to September
specifically as it is the growing period of Golpata (Nypa fruticans). They cut only
the leaves that are approximately 9 ft long, and the leaves are cut in a way so that the
central leaf and the leaf next to it in each clump are retained. They maintain the rule
that the flowers and fruits shall in no way be disturbed when cutting leaves. They
also maintain that young plants with only one utilisable leaf should not be cut.
5.5.1.4 Customary Rules Followed by Jele (Traditional Fishers)
The Jele (traditional fishers) knows that catching fish fry will ultimately deplete the
number of fishes in the water bodies and thus they try to avoid doing so. They do not
use ‘jal’ net (very small-meshed net) usually. They use nets like behundi jaal (bag
net) or charpaataa and khaal-paataa jaal (stake nets)—which are innovated and
customised scientifically to benefit the Sundarban’s unique waterscape. They use
big-meshed net for rivers and small-meshed net for closed water bodies. They do
not catch all species of fish and also avoid fishing in the spawning period.
5.5.2 Innovation and Diversification of Livelihood Patterns
In addition to the above-discussed traditional rules and practices which have been
practiced through generations, the IPLCs in recent times have also diversified their
livelihoods options by innovating different production methods and techniques as
responses to the continuous deterioration of their livelihood opportunities due to
man-made pressures (e.g. degradation of forest resources, loss of agricultural lands)
and anthropogenic pressures such as climate change. These techniques are innovative as the IPLCs came up with these for enriching their adaptation capacity to the
changed situation.
5.5.2.1 Innovative Techniques in Agriculture
The local small farmers have developed some innovative techniques in agriculture
that are adaptive to local biophysical conditions while ensuring environmental sustainability. In the face of climate change and increased salinity in soil and water in
that coastal region, the farmers grow their rice seedlings in raised land to reduce the
risk of saline water contamination for ensuring maximum survival and then these
seedlings are transplanted in the main agricultural land. For instance, they harvest
rice plant at 8–12-in. high from the ground to respond to high salinity contents in
soil and water (Fig. 5.11a). Practically this saline contaminated rice straw is decomR. A. M. Titumir et al.