Measuring Livelihood Vulnerability to Floods among Livestock Rearers Using a Composite Index in Odisha, India

Abstract

Frequent floods in Odisha have severely impacted agricultural livelihoods, particularly those of livestock-rearers. These disasters erode farmers’ investments, destroy crop fields, and reduce the availability of feed and fodder. Beyond crop loss, floods contaminate the environment, rivers, and drinking water, posing serious health risks to livestock. Prolonged exposure to floodwaters increases susceptibility to hoof and skin infections, while injuries from debris raise the risk of tetanus and toxin exposure. Outbreaks of multiple diseases among livestock during floods further threaten the livelihoods of rural households. In response to these challenges, the present study assessed the flood-induced vulnerability of livestock-rearers in Odisha using a Composite Livelihood Vulnerability to Flood Index (CLVFI). According to Odisha’s Disaster Management Plan (Animal Development Sector), 17 out of 30 districts are major flood-prone, while 13 are minor. For this study, one district from each category was randomly selected: Balasore (major) and Dhenkanal (minor). A random sample of 120 livestock-rearers was surveyed across the two districts. The findings revealed that livestock-rearers in Balasore exhibited lower adaptive capacity compared to those in Dhenkanal. Key factors such as income levels and cropping intensity were found to be more sensitive to flood exposure. Vulnerability was higher in villages farther from markets and veterinary centres. The study confirms a direct relationship between the severity of livelihood vulnerability and the degree of flood-proneness. These insights aim to support state and national agencies in agriculture, animal husbandry, and disaster management to design location-specific contingency plans for mitigating flood impacts effectively.