Community Food Security Profile
Rajasthan
WFP/India VAM Unit
SCHEDULE 10
Block (Panchayat Samiti) Level Discussion Guideline
1. Can you please tell us something on the general livelihood status of the rural people of the district?
Major occupation(s)
Standard of living
Opportunities and threats
Major natural hazards
2. Natural Resource Access and Trends
i. Discussion on Soil Resources
Major factors influencing the soil fertility of the area (if possible region wise to see variation in different part
of the area), including: (a) main types of the soil in the area, (b) whether soil erosion is a problem; (c) if yes, is
it widespread or localized? (d) what are the main measures used by the department to control soil erosion?
In addition, ask how have soil conditions changed over the past 10-15 years and how have those changes
influenced crop productivity?
ii. Discussion of forest Resources
Discuss with the area officials, access to and utilization of both community and reserve/protected forest areas,
including: (a) Who are the communities who have access and or utilization of the forest resources? (b) level of
dependency of the various communities in the block on the forest; (c) what are the main uses of forest
resources?
Possible uses of forest resources include: (1) fuelwood, (2) fodder, (3) small timber, (4) NTFP, (5) grazing/
fodder, and (6) other (specify).
In addition, ask how have the forest conditions and management practices changed in the past 10-15 years and
what has been the impact of these changes in forest conditions on the dependent people?
iii. Agriculture Practices
Inquire regarding the crops grown in this block (region wise information will be crucial). For each season
(kharif, rabi and summer), rank crops in order of importance (land area planted) by season.
Discuss with the officials: (a) how farming conditions have changed in the past 10-15 years and (b) what have
been the implications for overall agriculture production.
iv. Animal Husbandry
Discuss regarding each of the important livestock reared by people in the area and rank them in order of
importance or possession.
Discuss with the officials: (a) how livestock/pasture conditions have changed in the past 10-15 years and (b)
what have been the implications for overall livestock production?
3. What are the areas (clusters of villages) in the district having predominant occurrence of poverty (or where the
vulnerable sections of people reside)?
4. What are the major castes/ classes in each of the vulnerable pockets? (Get some secondary data on this aspect)
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5. What is/ are the major reasons responsible for the poor economic condition of these people/ pockets?
6. What are the major NGOs operating in the area? What are their areas of intervention?
7. What are the interventions in the offing for the vulnerable sections in this area?
8. Have there been any major natural hazards that the area has faced in the recent past?
9. How did the people and the government react to each of the natural hazards? Detail of the programmes / interventions.
The participants in the discussion should most likely include CEO, Agri. Extension Officer, Forest Ranger,
Veterinary Doctor, Soil Conservation officials etc. and other district level representatives.
Ask each official the general problem of utilization of services and the possible solutions pertaining to them Also ask
the problems faced by them in implementing various programmes by them and for probable solution. Ask how
Food Aid can be utilized in case of programme implementation.
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