Integrating Management for Land–Water Ecosystem for Augmenting Productivity, Income, and Sustainable Livelihood

Wetland has got a formidable role for maintaining the terrestrial and aquatic eco-dynamics, which in turn sustains critical ecological deliverables for sustainable development and environmental freshness. The northeast of India is endowed with 30% of total wetlands which has well been orchestrated with the life and culture, economy and ecology as well. All these wetlands are profusely fed during peak rainy season and as a result bounty of water gifted by nature has made the main river system, its tributaries, mostly in Indo-Bangladesh regions, a rich source of sweet water for this entire region. These are immensely resourceful for production of valuable aquatic food crops [deepwater rice (Oryza sativa L.), water chestnut (Trapa bispinosa Roxb.), makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.), water-lily (Nymphaea sp.), Colocasia, or Cyrtosperma sp.] as well as vegetables crops in the contiguous lands, which remain so far overlooked or underutilized. These crops have got huge yield potentials and are highly remunerative, mostly preferred by rural and urban people in this region. This paper deals with a number of case studies commencing over last 15–16 years on proper utilization of waste wetlands in different agro-zones (new alluvial, old alluvial, and coastal and saline) involving wide sector of downtrodden, resource-poor to marginal farming communities. These research activities are carried out under the aegis of Government of India aided transfer of technology-based research projects, formulated with low-cost updating agro-techniques. The following improvised integrated nutrient management systems (organic, inorganic including micronutrients applied with proper dose and time) were executed for enhancing productivity and economic viability (exhibited even > 3.0-folds than that of farmers’ practice) at sustainable level. The study reveals that this improvised farm practice is imperative to utilize these vast unused wetlands, particularly in north-eastern part with a focus on food, livelihood, engagement of household labors and ultimately, economic sustainability of rural people.