Traditional Knowledge-Based Sustainable Agriculture in the Eastern Himalayas in India

The Himalayan region occupies 18% of the Indian subcontinent. In Indian Himalayas, the Eastern Himalayas is represented by North-East India covering more than 50% of the total area. In this region, terrace farming (TF) together with shifting cultivation (SC)/jhum/swidden are the most important livelihood sources of local tribes since early days. In India, more than 80% of the land under SC lies in the North-East region. The species cultivated in SC present the cultural significance of the respective tribes, while many endemic species together with genetic resources are conserved. Hence, the eradication of SC is not a viable approach to agrobiodiversity and forest conservation. Rapid industrial development and demographic changes have reduced SC and TF. However, uncontrolled deforestation in many regions for SC with a reduced fallow period has caused a reduction in the carbon sink, nutrients, soil fertility, forest cover, productivity, topsoil erosion, loss of biodiversity including microbiota, and climate change. Contours in TF conserve soil, retain moisture/nutrients, and soil productivity. However, TFs have been abandoned pertaining to rugged terrains, steep topography, poorly designed agriculture tools, irrigation difficulties, transport networks, demographic changes etc. Ecosystem restoration and conservation with economic objectives are often not effective and limit fallow regeneration. Therefore, it is worthwhile to study traditional agricultural practices and their challenges in productivity for the conservation of the agroecosystems in the Indian Eastern Himalayas. The policies for livelihood security as per the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and agroecological elements [Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)] for agricultural management are also addressed.