• Corpus ID: 201799824

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRODIVERSITY IN TRADITIONAL FARMING OF THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA

@inproceedings{Sharma2012CLIMATECA,
  title={CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRODIVERSITY IN TRADITIONAL FARMING OF THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA},
  author={Ghanashyam Sharma and Lalit Kumar Rai},
  year={2012}
}

• G. Sharma, L. Rai
• Published 2012

Climate change impact at the global level has become a major concern today and Sikkim Himalaya is no exception. In the regional context, climate change has contributed to unpredictable or erratic rainfall pattern, drying up of local springs and streams, species migration to higher elevations, shift of sowing and harvesting period of crops, emergence of invasive species and incidence of diseases/pests in crops as well as in fodder species. Building resilience in both human and ecological systems to an optimum level is the best possible way to adapt to climatic variation. This study has identified the primary challenges of mountain farmers for ensuing adaptive capacity and water security in the agriculture systems. High levels of impact from climatic change was recorded for paddy, maize, wheat, oil seeds, cardamom, ginger, drinking water sources and springs and fodder trees. A total of 9 types of rains (jhari) and 12 traditional landuse practices are studied which have undergone changes due to climatic change impacts in the area. Innovative coping mechanisms developed by local farmers against emergence of diseases and pests, invasive alien species, untimely shift of crop sowing and harvesting season, rapidly declining productivity, climatic variability etc. are detailed. Pastoralists are now resorting to an alternate strategy for making the best use of their land and herds. There is a need to develop a comprehensive master plan for strategically planning conservation, addressing poverty and food security in the wake of climate change impacts.