The Himalayan regions have been witnessing a continuous decline in agri-horticulture produce over the last two decades. The comprehensive assessment of a number of Panchyats in several districts of Himachal Pradesh under the Community-Led Assessment, Awareness, Advocacy and Action Programme for Environment Protection and Carbon Neutrality (CLAP) attributes it largely to shifts in the monsoon pattern, frequent land sliding, loss of soil nutrients, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, shifting land use patterns, shrinking natural springs and lack of irrigation facilities. In order to address these issues, the Development Alternatives Group has been conducting a three-year project under CLAP in Himachal Pradesh, funded by the State of HP. The project seeks to mobilise communities and panchayats to undertake local-level environmental improvement actions through a network of eco-clubs, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals and NGOs.

These factors have adversely affected villagers' livelihood and income generation capacities and induced stress migration undertaken in search of fodder for the large livestock population typical of the Upper Himachal Region (UHR). In this context, the agro-forestry system has provided and can continue to provide viable solutions which will not only enhance the economy of the region, but also supplement ecological services in the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas.(The agro-forestry systems are being maintained and encouraged by the state government through a number of flagship programmes).

Farmers have been growing fruit trees such as apple, pomegranate, plum, almond, walnut, seabuckthorn, wild chuli, peach etc. in their agricultural fields along with potatoes, garlic, peas, tomatoes, pulses and cereals like maize, wheat, barley and paddy. Poplars and willows are widely planted by the people on the bunds of the fields even in the difficult and rugged terrain of Kinnaur, Chamba and Lahul Spiti. When poplar and willow are planted on the hedges, both kharif and rabi crops are grown in the fields. These two important agro-forestry species serve as windbreak, reducing soil erosion. Also, they provide fodder and fuelwood to local inhabitants which significantly improves their livelihood prospects and socio-economic condition.

CLAP team members often encourage farming communities to adopt sound agro-forestry practices. The people are advised regarding ecological and economic tree species that can be grown in and around the agricultural field. The representatives of Panchyats, SHGs, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, etc. miss no opportunity to solicit information from CLAP team members about the ecological and environmental benefits of agro-forestry practices. Existing agro-forestry practices in Traditional Farming Systems (TFS) have gained wider attention among politicians, scientists and policy makers at national and international levels due to the multifunctional role and environmental services of agro-forestry systems. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has advocated an ecosystem approach while the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has emphasised agro-forestry as a means of sequestering carbon dioxide and reducing GHG emissions (LULUCF, 2001). q

Naveen Kumar
nkumar@devalt.org

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