Crop Diversity and Agro-ecological Zones

The Central Himalaya boasts a wealth of crop diversity and a variety of agro-ecological zones. Numerous crop cultivars/races, including food grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, spices, and vegetables, flourish across all altitudinal zones. In a single cropland, more than 12 crop races are cultivated, constituting what is known as the ‘Barahnaja’ system. However, in recent times, there has been a decline in crop diversity as agro-ecological zones shift to higher altitudes. This has resulted in the disappearance of many crop cultivars from their original locations. Several factors contribute to this decline, with climate change emerging as a significant driver.