IMPACT OF THE 2024 TRIPURA FLOODS ON AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOODS: AN ASSESSMENT FROM JOLAIBARI BLOCK, TRIPURA

The August 2024 floods in Tripura were a severe disaster for the state, profoundly impacting the agricultural livelihoods of farmers. This research focused on the severely affected Jolaibari Block of South Tripura District. The study was conducted using surveys of 105 affected farmers from three Gram Panchayats in Jolaibari Block and quantifies the flood impacts. Key findings show that nearly 90% of households suffered significant income losses, with damage to paddy, vegetable, and fisheries sectors. The post-flood situation was heart-wrenching for farmers due to severely hindered recovery of waterlogged fields, soil erosion, soil covered with mud and debris, combined with damage to livestock, seeds, and irrigation. To cope with the livelihood damages, farmers relied on multifaceted strategies such as temporary migration, informal borrowing, and food credit. Even after five months, a quarter of households continued to struggle to restore their livelihoods. Crucially, government aid (insurance, seed distribution, input support) managed to reach less than half of the affected households, revealing significant gaps. This research highlights the immediate need for an integrated policy approach, including strengthened insurance, financial aid, climate-resilient agriculture, and livelihood diversification, to build resilience among small and marginal farmers in Tripura's flood-prone areas. Keywords: Tripura Floods 2024, Agricultural Livelihoods, Flood impact, Coping Strategies, Livelihood resumption, Disaster resilience, Community preparedness