Climate-Resilient Agricultural Technologies for Mountain Ecosystem: A Review

Abstract

The Indian Himalayan highland is subject of ecological and social alteration due to burgeoning population and over-exploitation of resources. Being a fragile ecosystem, mountains are more vulnerable to climate changes and rising temperature which is higher than global average by 0.74°C over the last 100 years. The main sources of livelihood for inhabitant living in hills are agriculture, livestock and forest produce. Shift in forest biodiversity from broadleaf tree to pine tree, declining crop productivity due to reducing soil fertility, outbreak of new pest and disease and weather calamity under changing climatic condition have posed some serious threat to food and fodder security in Himalayan ecosystem. At this juncture, when consequences of climate change are clearly evident, strong mitigation and adaption strategies are needed to improve livelihood resilience to climate change. Furthermore, these strategies should be supported by policy and legislative changes for their fair implementation in order to improve overall resilience and sustainability of system to cope with climate change.