Strategy for Agricultural Development in the Western Himalayan Region of India: Economic and Environmental Dimensions

摘要

The process of agricultural transformation is taking place in the region wherein the traditional cereal crops based subsistence farming system is giving way to high value cash crops (fruits and vegetables). This process will further intensify, as the process of commercialization of agriculture will further spread to those areas where presently infrastructure facilities, such as rural roads, marketing and credit are lacking. But this on going transformation process has developed some un- sustainability indicators in the agricultural production system, such as reduction in crop biodiversity, intensive farming for vegetable production putting pressure on fragile soil and forest resources, and dependence on outside chemical inputs (fertilizers and pesticides). Can the hill agriculture afford to depend on diminishing resources that are inherently limited? Can food security be assured if its soil fertility relies heavily on fertilizers and chemicals? Clearly, the productivity of the land must be improved and both crop yields and cropping intensity must rise. But these goals must be met without depleting soil, water, and other natural resources on which continued agricultural productivity depends. Appropriate research; extension, and policy strategies are required to take full advantage of the agro-climatic opportunities of the region for off-season crop production. We need right kind of growth. The development of commercial agriculture should not be at the cost of ecological balance. Therefore, the Western Himalayan region needs a long-term, holistic approach to development in which agricultural systems and other natural resource systems are viewed as an integrated system. The triple bottom-line strategy for sustainable development of hill agriculture should determine how to harmonize what is 'economically profitable' with what is 'ecologically acceptable' and 'socially beneficial'.