Thematic Group onMountain Agriculture

SMDS IIIKohima, Nagaland

Methodology

Group strength – 70 (approx)Methodology followed: ParticipatoryIndividual inputs on issues in agriculture which

make each participant GLAD, SAD, MADIdentifying and Analysing Common issuesFor TodayWhat needs to be done , how and by whom among

stakeholders? Individually, jointly? Way Forward

Issues identified : Glad about

• Resilience and tenacity of farmers despite non supportive environment.

• Closeness and harmony with nature in farming• Biodiversity of the mountains• Opportunity for healthy, natural, food• Opportunity for organic identity for mountain produce.• Existence of rich traditional knowledge related to food

and agriculture• Abundance of natural resources – forests, water, diversity• Niche mountain produce

Issues Identified: SAD and MAD

POLICY, PLANS AND PROGRAMMES

Disconnect or mismatch between policy/planning, implementation and mountain peoples needs.– Lack of focused policy for mountain agriculture esp jhum– Schemes do not reach most farmers (info and extension)– Schemes and programmes focus on cash crops– No incentive for maintaining biodiversity of mountain

agriculture.– No hedge against risk, support for mitigation and adaptation

to climate change, reward for landscape maintenance

Socio-economic issues

• Agriculture not regarded as an enterprise opportunity

• Fast declining interest of youth in agriculture• Landuse change- agriculture to nonagriculture• Reduced grasslands for pastoralists/nomads• Low incentive for agrodiversity maintenance• Declining food production - productivity• Continuing drudgery of women in agriculture

Infrastructure, Research, Development

• Lack of mountain specific agriculture supportive infrastructure – investments, credits, good roads,

transport, marketing and distribution support)• Agriculture research biased towards few major crops• Push towards cash crops without supporting services• Research and development organisations work in isolation.

Traditional knowledge and culture

• Erosion of traditional knowledge and local institutions• Erosion of culture, tradition, rituals• Erosion of crop varieties

Natural resources• Destruction of supporting natural resources• Forest fires• Shortening of Jhum cycles• Deforestation• Declining pollinators• Natural resources degradation

CLIMATE CHANGE

Lack of recognition of eco services provided by mountain agriculture.Mitigation, adaptation and risk resilience issues

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