SWOC is mainly a flexible tool that can be used for various purposes like planning, assessing project works or business ventures, making decisions solving problems to strategy formulation. In the comprehensive district agriculture plan (C-DAP), we use it to analyse the district situation regarding the potential of agricultural and allied sectors in two AESs of the three provinces, i.e., Gram Panchayat, Block and District. SWOC analysis helps us to understand the regional strengths and uncover good opportunities that can be improved or covered within a stipulated time to accelerate the development programme. It also considers the weak sides of these provinces and points out external challenges. If foreseen in advance, the factors negatively influencing the development can be omitted or faced with confidence and preparation. In that case, they might not become big obstacles to the development of the region later on. The SWOC analysis, which is presented in the figure below, contains four sections: strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/challenges which describe positive or negative, internal or external characteristics of the district.
Internal factors can influence the local decisions and actions during the planning process:
(i) Strengths are internal attributes that add value to the district in the context of current infrastructures and facilities available. Those help the planner to make the plan more realistic and address peoples’ needs.
(ii) Weaknesses are internal factors that may detract from the district’s potential. Regional needs and disparities can be addressed or mitigated by local and regional decisions through proper planning.
External factors describe broader factors, which are independent of a regional situation but might affect it:
(i) Opportunities are external positive factors that may assist in overcoming the weaknesses of the area and building on the strengths. Such opportunities might include the development of infrastructures in other areas, the desire for planners to invest in the area, and the ability for new technology to be brought to the area, which can uncover a greater potential for agricultural and rural development.
(ii) Challenges are external obstacles that are largely beyond any control. Challenges constrain the range of opportunities for change.
In this section, the SWOC analysis of Nabarangpur district is depicted with identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of different sectors from two different agro-ecological situations in the blocks. It is a widely recognized method for gathering, structuring, presenting and reviewing extensive planning data and an extremely useful tool for understanding and decision-making for all situations in the planning process. The overall purpose is to conduct a broad-based SWOC analysis of the programme so that mid-course action is initiated at an appropriate point in time. Based on the district status the entire plan can be formulated for integrated and holistic development of the people.
SWOC Analysis of Nabarangpur District
The strategic planning workshop for the district was conducted with the stakeholders where different aspects of district development were discussed in detail. The overall SWOC analysis of the district is reflected below.
