Agriculture in Uttarakhand, India—Biodiversity, Nutrition, and Livelihoods

This study investigates food production and agrobiodiversity in the Tarikhet and Ukhimath blocks in Uttarakhand, India, located in the middle ranges of the Himalayas. On the small patches of terraced land available to the average household in these areas, the cultivation of a wide range of traditional and high-yielding varieties of grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits is a positive feature in terms of sustainability. Some villages also supplement plant-based food production and income by incorporating animal husbandry into the overall agroecosystem. It was found, however, that the output of the average farm provides only about half of the household energy requirements, forcing most families to resort to off-farm activities to support a large proportion of their food and other requirements. There is therefore a need to develop policies that will continue to support the rich agrobiodiversity of these areas, while providing for the nutritional and economic needs of the population.