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Switch to Alternative Farming to Improve Food Security in Hindu Kush Himalayas, Say Experts

The Hindu Kush Himalayan region, with its vast and diverse landscapes of high-altitude mountains, rolling mid-hills, and expansive plains, plays a crucial role in ensuring the food, water, and energy security for up to two billion individuals. This region is the origin for ten significant rivers, such as the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.

Recognizing the region’s vulnerability to the challenges posed by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, a significant conference was organized. It brought together diverse groups including academics, researchers, and policymakers from nations like Bangladesh, Bhutan, China (Tibet), India, Nepal, and Pakistan to have a focused dialogue on enhancing food security in the region.

The experts stressed, “Food and farming activities contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, being second only to energy consumption. Transitioning to alternative farming models offers a dual benefit by potentially reducing these emissions and serving as a method of storing carbon in the soil, making agriculture part of the climate solution.”

In a rapidly warming region, at twice the rate of the global average, the Hindu Kush Himalaya faces severe challenges: changes in water supply due to the diminishing mountain snow and ice, coupled with instances of extreme rainfall, are placing immense pressure on the current agricultural model. The experts highlighted that embracing alternative agriculture techniques presents a significant opportunity for carbon sequestration and can effectively address these pressing issues.

Given the extensive populous in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region paired with pressing food insecurity concerns, emphasis must be placed on investing in a transition toward agroecological practices. This sentiment was echoed during the international conference on climate-resilient agriculture for sustainable food systems convened earlier this month.

The conference also served as the culmination of a two-year action-research initiative, Green Resilient Agricultural Productive Ecosystems (GRAPE). This project showcased climate-resilient farming methods across seven districts situated in the Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces of Nepal.

Insights from the project stressed the substantial benefits of engaging closely with small-scale agricultural entrepreneurs. It demonstrated that cost-effective farming solutions significantly contribute to improving soil health. In turn, healthier soil enhances yield quality while simultaneously reducing farmers’ dependency on expensive external inputs.

“By implementing accessible, low-cost farming solutions, we can achieve superior soil quality which results in high-quality harvests without the need for costly external resources,” remarked Kamal Prasad Aryal, a dedicated researcher associated with the GRAPE project.

The findings and discussions from the conference emphasize the importance of rapidly transitioning to sustainable agricultural practices. Such a shift is not just about adapting to the new climate realities but is inherently a step towards creating robust and climate-resilient food systems that can withstand environmental stresses while ensuring the livelihoods of local communities.

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