In three days International workshop and regional expert consultation on mountain agriculture Development and food security and nutrition governance held at Beijing, China from 30th October, 2018 to 1st November, 2018, I represented India and delivered expert lecture on Mountain Agriculture in India. This is my presentation which I delivered in Beijing, China

1. Country Study on Mountain
Agriculture in India
By: Dr. Parshant Bakshi
Represented India in Beijing, China
30th October, 2018 to 1st November, 2018

2. Speaker Introduction
• Dr. Parshant Bakshi, Associate Professor, Fruit Science
SKUAST-Jammu, J&K, India is having more than 15 years
of experience in research, teaching & extension activities.
• Dr. Bakshi is having more than 100 publications in national
and international journals of repute.
• He has been adjudged for best poster and oral presentation
at various national and International platforms.
• He has guided 7 research students (04 M.Sc. and 03 Ph.D.)
as chairman and 30 as co-chairman and authored 7 books
and 9 manuals.
• He handled 03 externally funded project as P.I. and 14 as
Co-P.I. He is the life member of 12 societies of Horticulture
and is the fellow of Hi-Tech Horticultural Society.
• He has RG score of 23.14 and planted 9,000+ fruit plants
under Save Horticulture mission.
✉ parshantskuastj@gmail.com
📞 +91 - 9419101600
2
https://www.krishisandesh.com

3. • Overview
• Mountain agriculture in India
• Opportunities for Mountain Agriculture development
to address zero hunger and poverty
• Country Experience: Policy measures and
Initiatives
• Strategic consideration and suggestions
• Conclusion
3

4. Overview
4

5. 01
India has six major climatic subtypes, ranging from arid desert in
the West, Alphine Tundra and glaciers in the North, and humid
tropical regions supporting rainforests in the Southwest.
Climate
02
India is the 6th largest (nominal GDP) & one of the fastest
growing economies in the world.
Economy
03
With 513.7 Million workers, India has world’s 2nd largest work force. Labour
policies are devised to maintain economic development, social justice,
industrial harmony and welfare of labour in the country.
Labour Force
04
The service sector contributes up to 55.6% of GDP,
the industrial sector 26.3% and the agricultural sector
18.1%.
Key Sectors
05
06
India has a land frontier of 15,106.70 km and a
coastline of 7,516.6 km
Area
07 Rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, fruits, jute, tea, sugarcane, and
potatoes
Key Agricultural products
08 Textiles, telecommunications, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
biotechnology, food processing, steel, transport equipment, cement,
mining, petroleum, machinery, and software.
Industrial products
Overview: About India
With over 50% population dependent on agriculture, it is one of
the key backbone of Indian Economy
It is the seventh-largest country in the world, with a total area
of 3,287,469 square kilometers
Geography
5

6. China
Myanmar
Pakistan
Mountain Ranges in India
India has seven major mountain ranges & some of the highest
mountain ranges in the world
Bay of BengalArabian Sea
6

7. The Himalayan Range
The Great Himalayan mountain range are the famous
and highest mountain hills of India. The Himalayan mountain
range bisects India from the rest of Asia, this mountain is the
primary source of mighty rivers in India. These hills contain
areas of exceptional natural beauty, sparking waterfalls and
habitat for many species of medicinal plants, beautiful birds,
unique reptiles and wild animals.
7

8. The Purvanchal Range
The Purvanchal range is the extension of the Great Himalayan
range in North-east region of India. It is parallel to Karakoram
and Ladakh range. It is the most densely forested area and full
of flora and fauna in India. These hill regions are also known
for highest rainfall. Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are well
famous for highest annual rainfall and wettest place on earth.
8

9. The Vindhya Range
The Vindhya range is one of seven chief holy mountain ranges
in India. Vindhya range is a very old mountain range in central
India. It extends in east-west direction from Varanasi
through Madhya Pradesh to Gujarat. Vindhya range is parallel
to Satpura ranges. The southern slopes of the range are drained
by the Holy Narmada river also known as Narmada valley
Amarkantak.
9

10. The Satpura Range
The Satpura range is a mountain range that extends across
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Satpura range
is triangular in shape with its apex at Ratnapuri, other two
sides being parallel to the Tapti and sacred Narmada river. The
Narmada and the Tapti are only major rivers that flow into the
Arabian Sea.
10

11. The Aravalli Range
The Aravali range also known as Mewat hills, is one of the
oldest and most popular mountain range in India, running
across Rajasthan to Haryana. The Aravalli range is the eroded
stub of a range of ancient folded mountains. Aravalli range is
famous for mineral resources and surrounded by dense forests
rich in flora and fauna.
11

12. The Western Ghats
The range starts near the border of Gujarat and ending at Kanyakumari. About
sixty per cent of the Sahyadri range is located in the state of Karnataka. This area
is one of the world’s ten “Hottest biodiversity hotspots”. The Arabian sea area is
known as Konkan area, one of the best tourist attractions in India. The Western
Ghats mountain ranges make up an impressive fortress all along Kerala. There are
number of beautiful hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala.
12

13. The Eastern Ghats
The Eastern Ghats is an irregular range of mountains, which include four
major rivers. The Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Holy Kaveri. Its range
starts from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri hills “The Blue
Mountains” in Tamil Nadu lies at the junction of the Eastern and Western
Ghats. These discontinuous mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of
Bengal. The Shevaroy hills are the highest peak in the Eastern Ghat.
13

14. Agriculture in The Himalayan Region
About 85 per cent of Himalayan landmass occurs in India occupying 16.4 % of country’s area and support 65 million people.
01 The Himalayan region is inhabitant of 34 million people, a large
percentage is of the hill farming communities.
Population
02 They sustain largely on subsistence farming which they practice on
marginal rainfed and some irrigated farmlands occupying 15.8 per
cent of the total area of the Himalayas, i.e., 53.8 million hectares.
Farming Practice
03 Agriculture is the primary sector of the economy contributing 45
per cent to the total regional income of the inhabitants.
Key Income Source
04 More than 90 % of the farmers in the hill and mountain areas are
marginal or small land holding families, cultivating less than one
hectare of land each.
Farmer’s Landbank
05 Most agricultural land in the mountain areas is not only marginal
in terms of potential productivity, but its quality also appears to
be deteriorating by declining soil fertility and crop productivity.
Crop Productivity
06
Many mountain families face food shortages of varying
degrees, which contribute to the chain reaction process of
poverty–resource degradation–scarcity–poverty.
Economic Output
07 The summer crop season by and large receives about 75 per
cent of the total annual rainfall which goes waste due to
undulating topography.
Main Crop Season
08 Maize-wheat, paddy-wheat and intercropping of pulses and
oilseeds in maize and wheat with no irrigation situations,
whereas paddy-wheat and vegetable based crop sequence are
dominant under irrigated conditions.
Major Cropping Systems
14

15. Component
Zones
Sub-montane low-hills Mid hill sub-humid High hills temperate wet High hills temperate dry
Farming systems Agriculture-livestock-
horticulture
Agriculture- horticulture-
livestock-silvi pasture
Horticulture-livestock-
pastoral-agriculture-
Livestock- pastoral-agriculture-
horticulture
Food and other crops Wheat, Maize, Rice, Oilseeds,
Pulses, Sugarcane
Wheat, Maize, Rice, Oilseeds,
Pulses
Maize, Wheat, Millets, Ragi,
Apricot (Prunus-Chuli)
Buckwheat (Barley, Apricot (Prunus-
Chuli)
High value crops Vegetables, Ginger, Turmeric Off-season vegetables, Ginger,
Turmeric
Seed potato, Off-season
vegetables
Off-season peas, Seed Potato,
Blackzeera, Saffron, Hops (Humulus
lupulus), Other vegetables
Fruits Mango, Citrus, Litchi, Peach,
Apricot
Stone fruits, Citrus, Mango, Peach,
Apricot (Prunus-Chuli), Pear
Apple, Almond, Pear, Nuts Apple, Dry fruits, Chilgoza (Pinus
gerardiana), Nuts
Flowers Marigold Gladiolus, Marigold, Carnation Tulip, Lilly, Carnation -
Medicinal Plants Amla (Phyllanthus emblica),
Bhehra (Terminalia belerica)
Amla, Bhehra Seabuckthorn (Hippophae L.) Seabuckthorn (Hippophae L.), Kuth
(Saussurea lappa)
Livestock Buffalo, Cow Cow, Buffalo Sheep, Goat, Cow Sheep, Goat, Cow, Yak
Fodder trees Grewia, Celtis, Leucaenea,
Robinia, Khair, Bauhinia
Grewia, Khair, , Bauhinia, Morus Salix, Morus, Quercus Salix, Poplar, Robinia, Morus, Quercus
Subsidiary enterprises Apiculture, Silvi culture,
Fisheries
Apiculture, Mushroom, Rabbitary Apiculture Apiculture
Predominant farming components in the Himalayan Region
15

16. Mountain
Agriculture
In India
16

17. Mountain agriculture in India
Key mountain agriculture activities are cropping, animal husbandry, horticulture, forestry,
etc., as well as water harvesting and a variety of conservation practices.
 76 per cent of the gross cropped area of the entire
Himalayan region is under staple food grain crops.
 The food grain production in the Himalayas may decline
in the future because of the shift to cash crop farming.
 In the western Himalayan region, wheat is the main crop
and rice, maize, millets, barley and buckwheat, pulses
and oilseeds are also widely grown.
 Crop survey assessments show that the area under
paddy and maize is declining in the Himalayas but the
area under wheat remains unchanged.
17

18. Mountain agriculture in India
Key mountain agriculture activities are cropping, animal husbandry, horticulture, forestry,
etc., as well as water harvesting and a variety of conservation practices.
 The reduction in area is largely because of a shift
towards cash crops like fruits and vegetables.
 Mountain agriculture being in transition phase currently
witnesses some transformation in some selected
pockets.
 The mountain agriculture could provide the products and
ecological services which cannot be provided by the
mainstream agriculture.
 The system uses natural subsidy in the form of forest
biomass and recycled nutrients.
18

19. Key mountain agriculture types
Mountain agriculture broadly covers all the land based activities such as agroforestry, horticulture, animal husbandry, forestry etc.
Most farmers are engaged in cultivation of
cereals and nearly 80% of the area is under
wheat, maize and paddy.
The focus towards horticultural crops will
have positive implications for improving
the economic security of the hill farmers.
Agriculture Horticulture
Agroforestry practices are common in the
Himalayan region mainly to support
farmers basic needs.
Livestock acquire special importance in
mountain farming systems both on
ecological and socio-economical grounds.
Agroforestry Livestock
It includes fruit and vegetable crops
suitable to improve the livelihood and
economic conditions of farmers.
Cash crops farming
19

20. 01
The major cropping system is maize-wheat, paddy-wheat
and intercropping of pulses and oil seeds in maize and
wheat.
Intercropping
02
Monoculture of crops is prevalent in higher hills
where farming is possible in summer seasons due
to severe winters.
Monoculture
03
Rotational farming is traditionally practiced for enhanced
production. Barley , pea (Pisum sativum) and wheat
constitute the common rotation.
Rotational farming
04
Most farmers are engaged in cultivation of cereals and
nearly 80% of the area is under wheat, maize and paddy
Key Crops
05 In unirrigated areas, yielding one crop a year, wheat or barley rotates
with maize and /or mash
Agriculture in unirrigated areas
06 Crop diversification, can be achieved by rotation of different crops
and intercropping of two or more crops. Both the systems can be
utilized in commercial agriculture today.
Crop diversification
07 With the adoption of intercropping the farmers can diversify their crops
by adding legume, oilseeds, fodder, vegetables, aromatic, medicinal
and fruits, floriculture, fruit and vegetable nurseries etc.
From traditional to high value agriculture
08 Focus on high value driven agriculture will lead to stability in yield,
reduced pest and disease infestation and fungal invasions and
higher profitability per unit time.
High quality yield leading to prosperity
Agriculture
20

21. 01
The proportion of the land under horticultural crops is much higher
in the western Himalayan states (20 % of net cultivated area) than in
the north-west (5.0 % of net cultivated area).
Land distribution under horticulture
02
The lands that are not suitable for seasonal crops and lying barren
and unproductive could be covered with orchards to generate
additional income for farmers without causing land degradation.
Additional income source
03
In the hills having low elevation and less rainfall, guava, aonla,
pomegranate, mango, ber etc. would be a profitable commodity,
where failure of seasonal crop is a regular feature.
High profitability
04
The total area under fruit and vegetables in the Indian Himalayan
states is estimated to be around 16 % of the gross cropped area,
which is much higher than the all India average of 4%.
Horticulture in the Himalayan region
05 Horticultural plants have multipurpose uses. Apart from producing food,
fruit trees and vegetables are used as fodder for cattle, fuel, essential
oils, spices, medicines and other materials.
Multipurpose
06 The present trends towards rapid expansion of horticultural crops will
have positive implications for improving the food and economic security
of the hill farmers.
Economic security
07 Hills are gifted with the cultivation of vegetables and other plants in
those seasons when these are not available in plains and are known as
off-season vegetables.
Suitable climatic condition
08 To make a profitable preposition, diversification of vegetables as pure or
intercrop with fruit and other fruits, off season tomato, peas, capsicum, french
bean, carrot, sweet potato, baby corn needs to be explored.
Crop diversification
Horticulture
21

22. 01
In a home garden, multiple crops are present in a multi-tier canopy configuration. Homestead is constituted of fodder trees i.e. Celtis
australis (khirak), Bauhinia variegata (kachnar), Grewia optiva (bihul) in the upper story. The middle storey is constituted of bushes
like Adhatoda vasica, Vitex negundo, lemon (Citrus limon) and galgal (Citrus aurantifolia) as fruit trees.
Multiple crops production
02
A common practice in the north-western Himalayan region to cultivate wheat, potato, peas and cauliflower during winter and maize, tomato, chillies
during summer season either in monoculture or mixed on the permanent terraces prepared across the hill slopes. This type of practice is prevalent
in sub-mountain and mid-hill sub humid zone of Himachal Pradesh.
Monoculture
03
During the rainy season cucurbits (vines) are grown along with colocacia (Colocasia esculenta), turmeric (Curcuma longa) in the field and
vegetables during the winter season. Similarly, in agri-horticultural system which is predominantly followed in mid hills-sub humid and high
hills temperate wet zones fruit trees are grown on terraced beds along with agricultural crops.
Seasonal farming for high quality yield
04
Agri-silvicultural practices are common in Himalayan region. A homestead or home garden is such kind of practice which is
traditionally used in this region, in which a number of tree species are raised along with livestock, poultry and or fish; mainly for the
purpose of satisfying the farmer’s basic needs.
Agri-silvicultural practices
Agroforestry
22

23. 01
Livestock acquire special importance in mountain farming
systems both on ecological and socio-economical
grounds.
Live stock importance
02
They act as a ‘bridge’ connecting two types of land, viz., the
uncultivated forest land & the cultivated land. This linkage is crucial
for the ecological & economical sustainability of the system.
Integral part of farming system
03
Forests, especially the natural ones, are the rich repository
of nutrients, which become a subsidy for cultivated land.
These nutrients are transferred to the cultivated land via
the agency of livestock.
Helpful to replenish the nutrients
04
Indian Himalayas support about 50 million domestic animals
(1.6 animal/ ha); cattle (47.5 per cent), goats (15.8 per cent),
buffaloes (12.3 per cent) and sheep (10.4 per cent).
Live stock in the Himalayan region
05 Animal dung and bedding material provide manure and compost for the
crops. In past decade, almost the entire draught energy requirement of hill
agriculture was met from bullocks.
Manure & energy source
06 A large proportion of livestock species is raised under mixed
cropping systems. The land holdings are small and livestock
supplement the family income.
Supplementary income source
07 Key technologies include characteristics of migratory grazing by shepherds,
health care, veterinary prescriptions and optimization of animal breeding for
milk and draught power.
Technology for increased productivity
08 Livestock is the one of appropriate enterprises for hills, providing economic and
livelihood security to both the landed and landless farm families. Production of
milk, animal nutrition plays an important role in productivity and economics of
dairy animals.
High quality yield leading to prosperity
Live stock
23

24. 01
In uplands of the Himalayan region, off-season vegetables and fruits
provide the comparative advantage to the farmers.
Production of off season fruits & vegetables
02
Himalayan region is also treasure of numerous medical and aromatic
plants. Kuth (Saussurea lappa), blackzeera (Carum carvi), saffron
(Crocus sativus).
Medicinal and aromatic plant production
03
Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Withania, mentha, Glycirrhizza,
Tagetes, Lavender, Geranium, Valeriana and Bacopa have a great
scope for diversification of agriculture in this region.
Diversification
04
Cash crops farming including fruit and vegetable crops suitable to
specific agro-climatic conditions are one comparative advantage
that can be exploited by these farmers.
Suitable climate for high yield
05
If the poor mountain farmers are going to compete favorably in the
modern world, they must be given options and alternatives that are not
already captured by the competition.
Competitive advantage
06There, is a need to explore ways of increasing the sustainable
productivity and carrying capacity of the farming systems in the
mountains to improve the livelihoods of marginal mountain
households.
Path to prosperity
07 The focus of mountain agriculture is shifting from traditional cereal
crops farming to high value cash crops and the cultivation of such crops
as apples (Malus domestica), almonds (Prunus dulcis), pear (Pyrus
communis), peaches (Prunus persica), plums (Prunus domestica) and
cherries (Prunus cerasus) and off-season vegetables, both for local and
export markets is increasing.
High value farming
Cash crop farming
24

25. • Small fragmented land holding
• Inaccessible land area
• Dependent on rains
• Scarcity of labour
• Shrinkage of cultivable land
• Natural calamities & erratic monsoon
25
Mountain agriculture challenges

26. • Infrastructure constraints
• Climatic constraints
• Biophysical constraints
• Constraints of management
• Shrinkage of cultivable land
• Socio-economic constraints
26
Mountain agriculture constraints

27. Mountain
Agriculture
Development
Opportunities
27

28. • Agriculture diversification and sustainable
intensification
• Dairy & Poultry development
• One person one plant
• Agro processing & Value addition
• Piggery development
• GIAHS | HMNEH | Kisan Seva Kendra
28
Opportunities for Mountain
agriculture development

29. 29
Path to Prosperity

30. Policy
Measures
and
Initiatives
30

31. • Poverty Alleviation: Gaps and Fresh
Opportunities
• Handling Social Marginality
• Productive use of marginal land
• Diversifies farming system
• Niche focused development
• Gender involvement for new horizon
31
Country Experience – Policy
measures & initiatives

32. 32
Case Study – Strawberry
production in Kashmir
Abdual Ahad Mir
Strawberry grower, Village Wanihama,
Kashmir, India
Case Study – Strawberry
production in Kashmir

33. 33
A. Merry Corelia
West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India
Case Study – Anthurium
cultivation in Meghalaya

34. Strategic consideration
& suggestions
34

35. 35
Strategic consideration &
suggestion
• Top priority should be given to
increase the farmers income
• Location specific strategy
development
• Convergence of allied activities
• Transfer of location specific
technology
• Input supply
• Facilitate private investment
under PPP model
• People’s participation
• Food processing
• Research and technology
package
• Marketing infrastructure
• Minimum support price
• Use of information technology
• Flood and drought
management
• Cost of implementation of
new agriculture policy
• Regional R&D centers to
focus on regional issues

36. Conclusion
36

37. 37
Conclusion
• Mountain agriculture in India is very
promising and has great prospects
• Himalayan region is the biggest contributor
of mountain agriculture in India
• Cropping & plantation are the key agriculture
activities
• Horticulture is helping to drive high value
farming which leads to high profitability
• Key government policies and information
technology are helping to drive high value
farming
• Diversification & awareness on post harvest
technology to drive high value farming

38. 38
Thank You
谢谢
Xièxiè

39. Few Pics
of China
Visit
39

44. Media
Coverage