'THIS area, being quite close to the sea has often been ravaged by storms, none more devastating than Sidr in recent times, and number of storms have also increased over the last five years, damaging yield and harvest of crops,’ explains Kajol Malli.

   While five years ago, an estimated amount of 12 – 16 maunds of crops could be yielded in a one bigha land, that amount has come down substantially to around 4 maunds per bigha, says Kajol.

   ‘The time for yielding paddy has traditionally been around the month of Sraban, however, untimely and unexpected rainfall during the months of Bhadra and Ashwin – and even during winter - has completely ruined its cultivation over years,’ she adds.

   The storms mostly come from the north, say locals. Although the quantity of rainfall has decreased, its frequency has increased. Of late there is rain even during the winter (Paush and Magh). The length of winter has become shortened whereas the summer has expanded while during the beginning of summer, fog was still visible in the late evenings in this area.

   Before and during storms, a heat wave passes through this region; however, the average amount of yearly rainfall in the area has decreased in recent times. Like in neighbouring areas, the level of salinity found in the soil is high, as a result of which the yield of various crops has reduced significantly.

   River erosion has also had an adverse effect on the agriculture in the area, as many residents had lost their crop lands, eventually having to shift their households further in, towards the mainland.

   Watermelon is the best-produced fruit but the harvest of jackfruit and mango has fallen drastically. Because of excessive use of pond water in housing and agriculture the water has turned out to be dirty and thus resulting in diseases like jaundice and dysentery amongst the village community. There is an increased symptom of pneumonia among the children in Dacope as well, say locals.

ZONE
   Ganges Tidal Floodplain
   
   CHANGES
   * Changes in rainfall pattern (increased in monsoon and decreased in winter)
   * Increased temperatures in monsoon and winter
   * Humidity
   
   POTENTIAL IMPACTS
   * Flood
   * Drought
   * Sedimentation
   * Drying of water bodies and scarcity of fisheries