Agricultural Practices and Livelihood Status of Toto Community of Alipurduar District of North Bengal, West Bengal

Agriculture is the main back bone of any rural society, especially for the tribal communities who are closely associated and dependent on natural elements. The ‘Totos’ are one of the primitive tribal communities of Madarihat Block of Alipurduar District of West Bengal. The population is very minimum because they have an opinion of family planning to not to put excess pressure on nature. The first survey was carried out in 1989-1994, and then successive survey was carried out in different census year. The census record reveals that the population growth rate was very low as they maintain the faith – fear – belief system. They learnt agriculture from other communities, but a major section is fallen under agricultural labour category. This paper focussed on the types of agricultural practices performed by the Toto Community and their livelihood depending on these agricultural practices. Like other rural communities, they have shifted from the slash – burn cultivation technique to the shifting cultivation. Recent developments in the agricultural sector influenced them to cultivate cash crops to some extent. The quantity of production is limited although in near future it will increase and may be a new gateway for self - development process.