Introduction

The farming system in the Central Himalaya is unique and diversified, primarily characterized by the cultivation of traditional subsistence cereal crops. These crops are grown on narrow patches of terraced fields, a practice that is centuries-old. A large area of cropland is rainfed. Irrigation facilities are available only in the river valleys and plain regions. The modern innovation in agriculture is limited due to undulating terrain, fragile landscape, and inaccessibility. Therefore, the output from traditionally grown crops is significantly less. This leads to food insecurity. This chapter provides a comprehensive description of farming systems and sustainable agriculture. The theoretical/conceptual framework for sustainable poverty reduction has been presented. Furthermore, the chapter is enriched by discussions on the study area, methodology, and the layout of the book.