Climate change and its impact on the diversity and productivity of traditional crops in Himalaya: An interpretation of women’s perception Tiwari Prakash C.* Senior Fellow, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Department of Geography, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002, Uttarakhand, India *Email id: pctiwari@gmail.com
Online Published on 2 March, 2024. Abstract This paper aims to assess the impact of climate change on the traditional diversity and productivity of crops in the Lesser Himalayan mountains of India, primarily through the interpretation of women’s perceptions, with a case illustration of Kosi Headwater situated in Kumaon Lesser Himalaya. The study employs empirical methods to interpret the relationship among various research parameters. Twelve villages located in varying agroclimatic transacts have been selected for a detailed empirical study. The empirical methods employed include field observations, mapping and documentation, household and group interviews, particularly with women, informal meetings with a range of stakeholders, and Participatory Resource Appraisal (PRA). Climatic information was collected from various secondary sources. The results indicate a sharp rise in annual mean temperature, a decline in rainfall, a decrease in the number of rainy days, and a significant increase in the frequency of high-intensity rainfall events and drought. These changes have reduced the variety of native cereals, millets, and pulses, decreased cropping strength by 11%, and reduced the productivity of traditional crops by 30.37%. Consequently, different villages are facing a food deficit ranging between 47% to 69%, increasing the proportion of the food-insecure population by 12.75%. Therefore, it is highly imperative to evolve an integrated and adaptive resource management framework at the watershed level involving rural communities and a range of other stakeholders, including local institutions, government agencies, private enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations. Top Keywords Agrobiodiversity, Community perception, Cropping strength, Food deficit, Food security. Top |