Policies and Planning for Sustainable Agriculture

The Central Himalaya has been engaged in traditional cereal farming, primarily for subsistence. In the past, when the population was smaller, crop production was sufficient to meet the needs of the community. Over time, with the increasing population, the output from the farmland became inadequate. Development agencies attempted to enhance productivity using various innovative methods; however, several factors hindered successful implementation. This chapter focuses on the formulation of policies, their planning, and implementation in farmlands. It explores how crop production and productivity can be improved to sustain the livelihoods of the growing population.