Army scientists helped Ladakhi farmers use mulching and changing climate to grow a hot weather fruit in a cold desert
The residents of the village of Phey near Leh in Ladakh are cultivating a crop that is usually not grown in the fragile, water-scarce cold desert region. Using a technique known as mulching, the village in Leh district has emerged as the hub of organic watermelon cultivation.
People in Phey, 14 kilometres from Leh town, are earning a handsome profit by cultivating the melons. They are being helped by scientists from the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) and changing climate in Ladakh.
Dorje Angchuk, Scientist (Agri Extension) DIHAR said, “Ladakh is a cold desert and watermelon is a hot climate plant. To grow it in a cold desert successfully was a challenge for us.”
The scientists used technological innovations and also the fact that Ladakh’s climate is undergoing transformation to beat the challenge.
How did they do it?
Scientists from DIHAR had published a research paper in 2017 titled Growing Watermelon in High-Altitude Trans-Himalayan Ladakh in the journal National Academy Science Letters.
“However, watermelon is traditionally not grown in the trans-Himalayan region and local needs are met through import from elsewhere…,” the scientists wrote in the paper.
“We experimented with two innovations. We selected the most suitable varieties of watermelon from India and the world to identify the variety best-suited for Ladakh. Generally, watermelon requires high temperatures, which are 3 to 4 degree Celsius higher than the summer temperature in Ladakh. We were able to achieve these temperatures in greenhouses but it imposes a space constraint. In open conditions, we used a simple technology called mulching. We trained the farmers to lay 100-micron polythene and grow the crop above it. This increased the temperature by 4 to 5 degree Celsius,” Angchuk explained.
Scientist F at DIHAR, Tsering Stobdan, told this reporter that Phey was chosen as a ‘trial village’ based on a recommendation from the late Sonam Dawa, former chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh.
Dawa had suggested Phey as a possible candidate for trial village in a meeting as it suffered from water scarcity.
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“He (Dawa) argued that if watermelon can be grown in Phey, it can be replicated it other villages too. He asked us to demonstrate mulching technology along with the Agriculture Department. Phey is a small village and the farmers have been very receptive. As a research institute, we demonstrate a technology and then formally transfer it to the Agriculture Department,” said Stobdan.
The paper had noted that Black plastic mulch (BPM) increased soil temperature and offered possibilities for early production and higher yields of warm-season vegetable crops.
Farmers of Phey village removing the black polythene (mulching technology) after harvesting watermelons. Photo provided by Rinchen Angmo Chumikchan
“In addition, BPM reduces water evaporation and controls weeds,” the scientists wrote in the paper.
Over the last two decades, many Ladakhi farmers have abandoned their agricultural land due to water scarcity and low productivity of traditional crops like barley and wheat.
In this context, the introduction of BPM has proved to be very beneficial. Farmers report that the adoption of mulching technology has doubled their income.
Climate change is another factor that has allowed farmers in Ladakh to grow watermelons.
“Earlier, many crops would not grow in Ladakh, especially in open conditions. Now Ladakhi farmers are able to grow a number of crops even in open conditions. Similarly, in the past, apples would only grow at lower elevations but with climate change it is also growing at higher elevations now,” Assistant professor, Plant Pathology, SKUAST-Kashmir, Vikas Gupta told this reporter.
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“The shifting of crop patterns is the result of climate change, which has helped farmers diversify crops. Climate change also has negative impacts such as insect and locust outbreaks. In Ladakh, we are seeing more positive impacts of climate change than negative impacts but in the long run, it is expected to have an adverse impact,” Gupta added.
Farmers strike gold
“Initially, we were reluctant to grow watermelons as it seemed impossible to grow them in Ladakh. The team from DIHAR encouraged us and provided us with the necessary training. It was successful and the whole village was surprised to see watermelons growing. It was something new for all of us. The best thing about Phey watermelon is that it is fully organic and tastes very sweet,” farmer Lobzang Phuntsog said.
Gupta claimed that the sweetness is a result of higher altitude conditions. “The watermelon and muskmelon grown in Ladakh have high total soluble sugar. The sugar content is very high in Ladakh as it receives bright sunshine,” he said.
Tsering Dolma, another farmer from Phey village, said:
Initially, DRDO tried growing watermelons as an experiment with four families in the village. The experiment was a success and the whole village now grows watermelons.
Dolma added:
In addition to watermelon, we are also able to grow a variety of crops, vegetables, and fruits. Watermelon and kidney beans from Phey have become very famous. The demand for Phey watermelon is very high in the market and people queue up to buy it. We have also started supplying watermelon to the armed forces now.
“Now, for the first time in Ladakh’s history farmers in Phey village are growing watermelon commercially for sale in the market and also supplying it to the defence forces. As a cash crop, watermelon has been very successful and gives a higher income than conventional crops such as potato, onion, cabbage which are grown at a larger scale,” said Angchuk.
The women of Phey are happy to cultivate watermelon and other cash crops, which enable them to earn a higher income as compared to traditional crops.
Padma Yangzom, another farmer from Phey village, said, “Initially, I used to grow watermelon on half a kanal of land with help from DRDO and I would earn around Rs 60,000. Now, I grow watermelon on 2 kanal of land and earn a much higher income.”
Yangzom also said Ladakhi farmers’ income was low when they grew traditional crops such as wheat and barley. Additionally, labour costs were high.
“Now, we grow cash crops instead of traditional crops. The problem is that we do not have a proper market to sell these products and often have to sell it at half the cost. If we had a proper market, we would be able to sell these products at the right price,” she said.
She however said she felt more empowered now: “I do not have to depend on my husband for money and to buy supplies for the house as I have my own hard-earned income.”
Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Phey village too have started generating a higher income by selling such cash crops.
Moreover, there has been a trickle-down effect. After the success in Phey, many other villages have started growing watermelons. Tashi Dolma, district agriculture officer said, “Today around 25 to 30 villages in different parts of Ladakh are cultivating watermelons. The Agriculture Department is providing villagers with free mulching sheets and seeds at a 50 per cent subsidy.”
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