sustainable agriculture: Sustainable agriculture means farming in sustainable ways, meeting society’s existing food and textile requirements without compromising the ability of current or future ages to meet their needs. Several philosophies, practices, and policies have committed to these goals. Moreover, from farmers to consumers, people in different roles have shared this vision and contributed.
But an increasing number of innovative farmers and experts are taking a different path, leading toward a farming system that is more sustainable— economically, environmentally, and socially. This system has room for all sizes, producing several ranges of foods, fibres, and fuels modified to local conditions and local markets.
In agriculture, sustainability is a complicated idea with many aspects, including the economic, the social and the environmental.
Basanthy Singampalli, Xavier School of Sustainability and Pradeep Mehta, CHINAR (Central Himalayan Institute for Nature & Applied Research)
The dichotomy in humans is similar to the dichotomy in the Himalaya. The dual description of the mountain by humans oscillates between the reverent and the dreadful, the majestic and the dull; the generous and the unkind. This dualism is intrinsic to nature. Humans as a part and product of nature inherit this contradiction and live with it, there is no escaping. (Pandit)
Concrete roads scarring the beautiful landscape, motor vehicles interrupting the echoes of silence, soot-filled air embezzling the people of snow, deteriorating forest cover and ever-increasing footfall of tourists. Amongst all these anthropogenic encroachments, the Himalaya still survives, but with its patience tested time and again. To our little satisfaction, there is still an undying hope that the agricultural practices followed in these hilly areas would save the day. Mountains have preserved cultures and practices that kept their ecosystems intact, making the agricultural practices followed by these farmers organic by default. The quality attributes of the yield in these regions fit the ideal picture of a healthy vegetable or fruit. The contentment of taste buds that are achieved always makes one want to go back for more. It is noteworthy that most of the mountain dwellers are immune to health problems and the life expectancy could stretch an easy 80 years with all five senses functioning normally. The pristine environment that has not seen any external interventions has contributed in maintaining a sound health uniformly across these native indigenous communities.
Sustainable agriculture is the root of a sustainable custom and a belief system, it is a way of life. The entire lifestyle and routine of the people here revolve around land preparation, tilling, ploughing, reaping, harvesting and consuming, or selling it in a few cases. Livestock plays an indispensable role in this agricultural setting as natural fertilizers (Gobar khaad – compost and Khenchuwa – vermicomposting) is the major form of nourishment and soil enrichment provided to these soils to make them fertile and sustainable. The manure consists of cow excreta, leaf litter. This mixture that is collected from the cowshed every alternate day is collected in a heap on the fields and allowed to compost naturally dry for six months to a year after which it is used as a fertilizer for the crops.
Crop rotation, companion plantation, contour farming and rain-fed agriculture are the identity of mountain agriculture. The cropping pattern and agriculture diversity are in line with the principles of permaculture. Hence, there is not only diversity but also above ground stratification as well as underground stratification as a result of which different crops use nutrients from different depths of soil thus maintaining the soil fertility and sustainability.
Companion plantation has numerous advantages of fewer pests and weed invasion, minimal need for irrigation, compact plantation, and hence the efficient usage of land. It primarily involves nutrient fixing. The combination of the crops grown to neutralize the nutrient and NPK content in the soil, extensive in vegetable gardening. The crops used as companion planting also maintains stratification above ground as well as underground. Crops like coriander, garlic, onion, and zakhiya, act as a repellent and helps the crops from insects and pests. Nitrogen crops like peas, kidney beans and pulses, helps in fixing nitrogen into the soil and maintains soil fertility.
Irrigation systems in these regions are nature. The fear of climate change has already gripped the farmers as they are facing prolonged dry weather and rainfall with hailstorms that end up destroying the crop, affecting the seed bank for the next cycle. The traditional crop varieties are resilient to the climate but will they be adapting to the changing climate is the daunting question. Farmers are being facilitated by many change agents to find solutions before it’s too late. The community follows natural methods for repelling pests if any. Ash produced from burning wood or Akhrot (walnut) leaves are added to the seeds for efficient storage as it acts like a repellent due to its pungent smell.
To conclude, mountain ecosystems are a holistic nexus that requires the causal links to be preserved and nurtured through adversities. They are perfect examples of permaculture systems and exhibit unusual agroforestry landscapes that keep the cycle of resources flowing. There are many non-profit organizations like CHINAR (Central Himalayan Institute of Nature & Applied Research), Gramiya, ATA (Approximation Technology Asia) to name a few; that are working tirelessly in the upper regions of Bageshwar in Uttarakhand to document and incorporate positive interventions that help these farmers and agriculture systems sustain through hardships brought about my evolving nature. The role of climate-smart agriculture, bee-keeping techniques for enhancing pollination in these areas and horticulture are extensively being researched and a means of involving young talent by familiarizing them with agricultural studies at a young age would take our agrarian economy a long way.