Small scale farming in ladakh explain.
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Answer:
In recent times, one of the significant features of the unique, mountainous region of Ladakh, lying
on the high altitude has been the transformation in the traditional subsistence economy and trends
towards livelihood diversification. This will have a direct impact on the dominant economic
activities of the region, i.e., agriculture and pastoralism. Ladakh consists of two districts i.e. Leh
and Kargil. Pastoral and agriculture activities have been entirely dependent on each other.
Agriculture in the region primarily is of subsistence type and only a few crops have been
traditionally grown, because of cold arid climate, high altitude, extremely rugged and isolated
terrain, absence of market etc. The major crops cultivated included Grim (Naked Barley), wheat,
peas and alfa-alfa for fodder. Agriculture occupied all the workforce and social institutions and
practices were all built around agrarian lifestyle. The agricultural areas are confined to the
relatively lower areas which correspond with the river valleys particularly in the central and
western Ladakh.
The isolated, ecologically sensitive, region of Ladakh has been exposed to major changes during
the last fifty years due to political factors as well as increased development activities and
interaction with the outside world. Present study was carried out in two villages of Leh district i.e.
Skuru and Saboo. Secondary data has also been used along with primary data. The study shows
transition in the economy which resulted in changes in the traditional agricultural practices, crop
diversification, mechanisation, fertilizers intake etc. Traditionally, large share of the total cropped
area was under barley and wheat. Households have increased vegetable production for domestic
use as well as cash crop mainly to meet demand of army and tourism industry. Introduction of
public distribution system in the region resulted in increase in dependency and decline of
cultivation of traditional crops like wheat and barley. Traditional practices started declining in
recent times and use of chemical fertilizers and mechanisation has increased. There has been
increase in total area under fodder crops and alfalfa is one of the main fodder crops of the