Changing socio-economic and climate scenario calls for documentation of the traditional knowledge and practices related to riverbed cultivation: a case study of a migrant farming community from Western Himalaya, India

摘要

This study reports the traditional yet specialized farming practices of a migrant community called Rai on seasonally dry and sandy riverbed created by River Swan around Una Township in the foothills of western Himalaya. The Rais cultivate a range of vegetables between October and June on this land as tenants. Information on socio-economic profile of Rais, their farming systems such as land selection criteria, agronomic practices and economic earning was documented between 2015 and 2018 following standard methods. The study would help in preservation of farmers' knowledge amidst a host of changes in socio-economic spheres and climate in recent times.