Socioeconomics and sources of livelihood security in Central Himalaya, India: a case study

ABSTRACT

This case study was conducted in Himalayan watershed to understand traditional farming and socio-economic status of the people in Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. In spite of high literacy rate in this area, their livelihood security is reliant on traditional farming practices that include agroforestry beside forest produce. More than 85% farming is rainfed and managed in a traditional way. Land holding size owned by farmers in the area extended from 0.57 to 2.57 ha but majority of farmers (51–80%) had farms of size less than 0.50 ha. The study revealed that forests provided 73–79% of required energy from fuelwood and more than 81% fodder. Agroforestry, livestock (dairy and poultry/goat rearing) and labour employment are the major sources of income to the people in the watershed. The income of people was positively correlated with livestock rearing and traditional farming.

KEYWORDS:

• Agroforestry
• farming
• Central Himalaya
• livelihood
• Socioeconomic

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Director of Research, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh and Director Indian Council of Agricultural research – Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, Uttarakhand for providing necessary support. The authors also thank to the line department officials and villagers in the study area for their cooperation during the survey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan; ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora.