thematic group on mountain agriculture smds iii kohima, nagaland
TRANSCRIPT
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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