Irregular rainfall impacting traditional farming; investments into new methods good examples of climate adaptation, say experts
Climate impact in the Himalayas has severely affected agriculture in the region. Now, farmers in Uttarakhand are making a strategic transition to livestock farming and forestry and experimenting with new agricultural practices to overcome the climate sensitivity of agricultural farming.
Vinod Kumar has transitioned from an agricultural farmer to a stockbreeder in Dhankholi, Almora district. Along with cows and buffaloes, he has begun to raise various species of chickens, like the indigenous breed Kadaknath, which has become a valuable source of income. Kadaknath chickens are jet black and much more expensive than the usual chickens.
Showing a healthy black rooster, Kumar said, “Kadaknath chickens are priced three to four times higher. Its meat is sold for Rs 1,200 to 1,300 per kilogramme and one egg is sold for Rs 50 to Rs 60.” Along with dairy farming of products like milk, ghee and cottage cheese, poultry farming is proving to be a lucrative business for many people, including Vinod.
Read more: Baranaja: a climate resilient farming practice
Paan Singh Parihar (45) from Mujhauli village, about five kilometres from Dhankholi, is breeding quail commercially. “Quail farming is more profitable than chickens. It incubates for about a month and starts laying eggs in about 50 days. My earnings are now four times what they were before. The birds do not suffer from any disease and we do not add any kind of antibiotic to the feed, so the customer is also happy,” Parihar said.
Global warming has had a huge impact on agriculture in the Himalayan region and the rainfall pattern does not support farming. Crops grown in the Himalayan region will be severely affected by the end of the century, according to a study by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Wheat yield here may decrease by up to 12 per cent, it said.
As a result, farmers in Uttarakhand are rethinking traditional agricultural practices. They are experimenting with new crops and species and branching into animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming.
The assessment of the impact on crop yields was based on the impact of global warming in the last few decades, said Sanjay Vashishtha, director of Climate Action Network (South Asia). “New research is showing that the temperature rise is happening more rapidly. Due to this, the impact on yield may be much greater than the estimated figure,” he said.
Vashishtha approved of farmers branching out with crops and practices. “These are good examples of climate adaptation to face climate challenges ahead,” he added.
Rainfall patterns and temperatures are irregular due to climate impact, said Lakshmi Kant, Director of Vivekananda Hill Agricultural Research Institute, Almora, associated with ICAR.
“Mountainous regions are experiencing fluctuations between excessive rainfall and drought. Additionally, there is an observable increase in maximum temperatures and a decrease in minimum temperatures. Consequently, while the average temperature may seem unchanged, there is a widening gap between the temperatures. This is adversely affecting crops — the Rabi crop was significantly impacted this year. This trend is also influencing the production of our Kharif crop,” said Kant.
Apart from crops like wheat, paddy, millet and maize, pulse crops have been affected. Insect attacks were seen in maize and tomato crops, said Kant, stressing the need for climate-resilient crops.
The need for sustainable livelihoods has prompted entrepreneurs to also explore animal husbandry and forestry. Sanjeev Bhagat, a businessman near Bhimtal, has been making and selling various types of juices, jams, pickles and murabbas (sweet fruit preserve) for the last few years.
“Farmers are facing huge losses due to low or irregular rainfall. Pulse crops in the mountain region also suffered greatly this year, but our horticulture business is constantly growing,” Bhagat said. The entrepreneur is producing 45 products in 85 different packings, including 12 types of pickles and juices, five types of jams, two types of chutneys and three types of marmalades.
Bhagat has employed about 30 people in his business. “In the Buransh (rhododendron) season, 200 more workers join us,” he said.
Women in Uttarakhand making juice out of buransh (rhododendron) flowers. Photo: Hridayesh Joshi
Many people are also taking up beekeeping and goat rearing, with the latter offering lucrative profits. “If someone invests Rs 30,000 in goat rearing, he can earn Rs 50,000 in a year,” claimed Nand Kishore of Malayal village in Almora, who profited handsomely from goat rearing.
Climate change has also prompted migration from Uttarakhand villages. According to the state government data, 1,500 villages are either completely vacant or have just a handful of families left. Along with a lack of good education and health facilities, the agricultural crisis is also one of the reasons responsible.
But transitioning to new ventures is not that simple — lack of knowledge and high input costs are the biggest deterrents, said Jogendra Singh Bisht, former advisor to the Uttarakhand Forest Department and president of non-governmental organisation Lok Chetna Manch.
“The main challenge is to develop the ability to engage in new livelihood activities. There is a need to reduce input costs as well because the majority of materials in such experiments must be obtained from outside sources,” he said.
Read more: Rabi sowing update: Wheat gains momentum, pulses continue to lag
This contrasts with traditional livelihood systems, in which knowledge and other needs were met locally. “Therefore, there is a need for skill development and supply chain development,” Bisht said
Both Kant and Bisht believe that farmers should think and behave like entrepreneurs. In such a situation, villagers form groups and receive training in various professions.
Climate change has increased the risk of monkeys and pigs destroying crops in Uttarakhand villages, but many farmers have been taught to cultivate mushrooms in closed rooms, according to Kant. “Farmers can earn up to Rs 1 lakh per year from mushroom production,” he said.
Kant said, “To increase their selling power, the people of hilly regions must grow things that cannot be grown in the plains. Hill pulses (bhatt, gahat) along with grains like madua (finger millet) and kuttu (buckwheat) are sold at very good prices. This helps to stop migration while also connecting rural youth with the enterprise.”
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