Hill Farming in Uttarakhand: Navigating Challenges, Embracing Opportunities

Uttarakhand’s agriculture is predominantly rural and forms the backbone of its economy. Hill farming, constituting about 70% of the agricultural activities in the state, provides sustenance to small and marginal farmers (Govt. of Uttarakhand, 2022). However, with fragmented landholdings and erratic climatic conditions, the farming system faces significant challenges (Rawat, 2020). Despite these, the agroecological diversity of the region offers unique opportunities for cultivating high-value crops, fruits, and medicinal plants (Joshi et al., 2021). Hill farming in Uttarakhand faces significant challenges, including youth migration, climate change impacts, and socio-economic barriers. However, there are emerging opportunities for revitalization through community engagement and innovative practices. The following sections outline key aspects of hill farming in this region. Hill farming in Uttarakhand involves traditional small-scale practices that integrate local ecological knowledge (LEK) and spiritual roots, promoting sustainability in food and farming systems. These practices offer innovative solutions to the challenges posed by modern industrial agriculture. (Rana & Bisht, 2023). Hill farming in Uttarakhand primarily involves subsistence agriculture, constrained by land-locked geography and market distances. The development strategy suggests diversifying agriculture towards high-value crops and promoting tourism to enhance livelihoods and reduce migration from these hill districts. (Mittal et al., 2008)