ALTERING INDIGENOUS FARMING PRACTICES IN NORTH WESTERN HIMALAYAS

G.S. Singh and K.S. Rao*

N-289, Sector-8, R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110022

*G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263643

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Since ancient time, the marginal farmers of western Himalayas have developed multitude of indigenous on-farm techniques (the methods by which inputs are powered) and technologies (the application of knowledge to the production system) for optimal production. Such practices have evolved from generations through various trial and errors. Traditional farming systems are the reservoirs of a huge variety of crops, many of which are still undocumented. The indigenous practices are interlinked with animal-forest-farm resources. Recent introduction of high yielding variety (HYV) of food and fruit crops has subsequently diverted the farming systems from mixed crop cultivation to mono-crop cultivation leading to the loss of agrobiodiversity. Conservation strategies related to sustainability of the indigenous farming systems are needed for overall environmental, economic and social development through adopting the traditional and appropriate modern techniques and technologies.

Agrobiodiversity is the most potential option for sustainability of the agriculture production system (Swift et al.,1994). Since millennia, ancient agriculture practices have, by and large, made significant contribution in maintaining the high genetic resources involving the locally available plant and animal resources. However, modern farming application as the consequence of ‘Green Revolution’ has resulted the farmer’s dependency on market oriented resources leading to genetic erosion. This study analysed the pivotal factors which are responsible for maintaining the hill farming diversity and also discussed the possible reasons faltering such practices in relation to current environmental milieu in western Himalaya.
Traditional agrobiodiversity practices

Agriculture remains the key source of livelihood for all of the people of the area. Information regarding the indigenous knowledge (local techniques and technologies), has evolved over a long period of time after excessive informal trial and error. Such repository of knowledge plays vital role in equity, adaptability and sustainability of the society in longer perspectives. Unlike other parts of the Himalayan region (Ramakrishnan, 1992; Rao and Saxena, 1994) in western Himalaya too the traditional farming operation is a complex product of crop husbandry, animal husbandry and forest resources constituting interlinked diversified production systems. Inaccessibility, environmental heterogeneity and ecological fragility favoured the evolution of subsistence production systems sustained with organic matter and nutrients derived from the forest. Such production systems are the reservoirs of a huge variety of crops and cultivars many of which are still lesser known to the mainstream societies and are better adapted to eco-environmental and geo-climatic conditions and social set up as compared to the modern agriculture systems. Moreover, this diversity can virtually be judged through maintaining diverse farming systems, farming situations, cropping systems, crop diversity and genetic variability within species. Such farming system, comprised of four subsystems like forest, agriculture, livestock, and household in organic linkages with each other. No input from outside the system is required.

                As many as seventeen crops are being cultivated (Singh et al., 1997), almost all are local breed except wheat. This huge diversity has been maintained through a variety of crop compositions, cropping patterns and crop rotations (Singh, 1996b). Seventeen cultivated crops were grouped into five categories (i) cereals (paddy with two local cultivars, wheat with two cultivars one each local and HYV and barley local cultivar) (ii) millet and pseudomillet (Amaranths, buckwheat (3 cultivars), fingermillet and maize) (iii) pulse (blackbean, frenchbean, horsebean, soyabean, green gram and pea) (iv) vegetable (potato) and (v) oil seed (mustard). Out of seventeen, twelve crops were, in general harvested as mixed cropping confined in upland located terraced slopes during rainy season whereas, three crops namely wheat, barley and mustard were usually cultivated as monoculture in winter season; occasionally wheat is mixed with mustard. Pulses were always intermixed with millet and pseudomillet and formed twelve different crop compositions. The number of crops constituting the mixture ranged from 2 to 5. Mixed cropping constituting high crop genetic diversity might have evolved to ensure optimal production under stressful geo-environmental conditions ensuring adequate stability of the area. Leaving the land under fallow for replenishment of nutrients was still practiced at higher elevation. But this old practice is disturbed due to introduction of HVY in the last decade or so.

                An enormous diversity of cultivated and wild plants, providing edible products is one of the most stricking feature of maintaining traditional farming diversity and stability. As many as twenty-five plants include wild edible fruits and seeds are obtainable from nearby forest areas. Twelve wild plants used as vegetables, sauces and salad and ten wild fruit bearing species are cultivated on their private land. About ten species are used as condiments and species. Similarly, about fifteen species are used as fodder, fuel wood and timber purpose. Thus, the people of the western Himalayas harboured high diversity food production system as compared to indogangetic plains.
Landscape diversity
Conducive performance of such systems will be appreciated enormously by the measurement of diversity stored in various segments. The conditions for rich bio-diversity are created due to micro-geo-climatic variability influencing the diversified landscape even within a shorter distance. Varying site factors like altitude, slope direction, slopping pattern, landraces, temperature, humidity, rainfall, edaphic, factors, available irrigation facilities and distances from the snowline or plains are the driving forces for the diversification of farming landscape. Inaccessibility, marginality, ecological fragility, environmental heterogeneity, locally available resources and socio-economic conditions favoured evolution of stable production systems in a heterogeneous landscape. Such landscape variability favoured the maintenance of rich genetic diversity over centuries. The discrete origin of farm fields is, by and large, complex but its functional significance would be probably related to diversified benefit to each family. The existence of discrete parcels may serve to maintain crop genetic diversity, and also largely minimize the environmental risk factors, pest control and available resource use.
Optimal use of local resources

                Yield of crops is absolutely depend upon the input of locally available organic manure derived from animal’s dung and urine, forest resources and crop residues. Farmers left substantial portion of crop parts in field just after harvesting the crops. Left over residue ploughed back into the system which released significant amount of nutrients and ultimately reutilized by the subsequent crops. Significant amount of weeds are also harvested to avoid the competition. Harvested weed either left in crop field and/or given to animal as fodder which finally comeback to the system. This integrated production system is therefore, the result of the human-animal-nature interaction operating since generations.

                The use of bullocks for draught power and humanbeings for labour is the important input into the system. Sharing of human labour through an exchange mechanism has been operating as tradition is a way of stability and equality of society. Men usually involved to perform heavy work like preparation of farm field, terraces and bunds and carrying head loads whereas women are involved in light and sedentary work like harvesting of crops, weeding, thrashing and other domestic chores.

Incorporation of new on-farm technologies
                Introduction of HYV of food and fruit crops particularly wheat, rice and apple was introduced in 1970s. This change has invariably resulted is incorporation of new farm technologies, more dependency on external yield increasing inputs (agro-chemicals and seeds), high cost and in-flux of labour and market influences. Erosion of traditional values and knowledge, loss of genetic diversity and inequity in society rapidly imperils the native landraces and overall sustainability of the agriculture systems in western Himalaya. This reveals surprising facts of declining traditional crop diversity during last two decades (Singh, 1998). Some of the crops like Setaria italica, Echinochloa frumentacea and Chenopodium album were once the major cultivated crops but now have completely disappeared from the area (Singh et al., 1996). Similarly, species of Fagopyrum, Eleusine coracana, Amaranthus paniculatus, Triticum aestivum (local cultivar) and Oriza sativa (local cultivar) are now least cultivated and are on the verge of their extinction. When any species or cultivar is lost the centuries old traditional knowledge about the same also disappear. Some more interesting changes like a shift from subsistence heterogeneous agriculture production system to economy oriented market dependence homogeneous production system are distinctly visible. Similarly, it has been pointed out that women workforce oriented traditional agriculture system is gradually started shifting to men workforce oriented conventional agrihorticulture system. Lack of technical know-how and unplanned use of pesticides in farming system has remarkably accelerated the occupational health problems to the farmers (Singh, 1996a).
Search for alternatives
                To assess what system of agriculture is best suited to these marginal farmers and environment is not straightforward. Neither traditional agriculture practices are economically suitable in present context nor high input of agro-chemicals demanding species are ecologically sustainable, that could exert intolerable pressures on these fragile, high mountain environment, is easily recommendable. Therefore, new alternatives must be derived from empirical and integrated scientific knowledge based on indigenous knowledge packages, which would narrow down the gaps incurred in the system. At higher elevations promotion of fruit bearing trees would not likely to be advisable due to adverse environmental conditions but should be promoted for integrated mixed crop cultivation, the area is eco-environmentally tuned to such crops. Promotion of such model could be initiated with the involvement of peoples’ participation and with the help of non governmental organisations. It seems a wise strategy linking traditional crop production with economic development through value addition by adopting the traditional and non-traditional appropriate technologies for long term planing and sustainability of the area.
REFERENCES

Ramakrishnan, P.S. (1992). Shifting Agriculture and Sustainable Development: An Interdisciplinary Study from North-Eastern India. MAB Series Vol. 10. UNESCO Paris and Carnforth (UK), Parthenon Publishing Group.

Rao, K.S. and Saxena, K.G. (1994). Sustainable Development of Rehabilitation of Degraded Village Lands in Himalayas. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun

Singh, G.S. (1996a) Pesticides: A growing menace. Occupational and Environmental Health 3, 13-18.

Singh, G.S. (1996b). Changing traditional land use pattern in Himachal Himalayas at Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. In: Pathak, P.S. and Gopal, B. (eds.), Studies in Indian Agroecosystems, pp. 1-13.

Singh, G.S. (1998) Environmental, ecological and socio-economic impact of introduced corps in western Himalayas: A case study of Kullu Valley. Journal of Human Ecology 9, 63-72.

Singh, G.S., Saxena, K.G., Rao, K.S. and Ram, S.C. (1996). Traditional knowledge and threat of its extinction in Chhakinal Watershed in north-western Himalayas. Man in India. 76, 1-17

Singh, G.S., Rao, K.S. and Saxena, K.G. (1997). Energy and economic efficiency of the mountain farming system: A case study in the north-western Himalaya. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 9, 25-49.

Swift, M.J., Bohren, L., Carter, S.E., Izac, A.M. and Woomer, P.L. (1994). Biological management of tropical soils: Integrating process research and farm practice. In: Woomer, P.L. and Swift, M.J. (eds.), The Biological Management of Tropical Soil Fertility. John Wiley and Sons.

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