STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF TRADITIONAL HILL AGROECOSYSTEMS OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA

A detailed ecological analysis of the energetics and biomass utilizati on patterns of the existing traditional hill agroecosystems in three d ifferent localities/villages situated along an alititudinal transect i n the outer Garhwal Himalaya was performed in order to understand the functions of the hill agroecosystem in relation to current environment al perspectives. In general, the energy efficiency (considering green biomass obtained from agroforestry tree species, weeds and herbaceous vegetation growing on the bunds as an auxiliary output) of the agroeco systems of this region is low. The annual energy output and input rati o on a per hectare basis was maximal (5.80) for Jaidevpur village (low er altitude), followed by Dalimsain (middle altitude) and Hathnur (hig her altitude). Since Jaidevpur is located in the foot hills where the agricultural land is flat and completely irrigated, and people also pr actice semi-mechanized agriculture, grain yield was observed to be hig her than in Dalimsain and Hathnur. However, in the absence of agrofore stry tree species in Jaidevpur, people were forced to depend more on t he forests for their fodder, fuelwood and other requirements than in D alimsain and Hathnur, where the agroforestry component was found to be strong. Dalimsain derived only 5% of its total fodder demand from the forest while Hathnur was observed to be self-sufficient in fodder and fuelwood requirements. Further, on rainfed, terraces the grain yield was higher for the kharif season (April-October) crops than the rabi s eason (November-March) crops, owing to the availability of rain water during the monsoon. The characteristic feature of the hill agroecosyst em was its organic base. Farmyard manure was observed to be the main i nput in to the agroecosystems. Agriculture in the hill areas is not ea sily adapted to industrialized techniques, partly because of the topog raphy and partly because of socio-economic considerations. In the face of the prevailing environmental conditions, with natural resources de clining at a rapid rate, the efficiency and sustainability of the hill agroecosystems should be restored through the strengthening of the ag roforestry component and efficient biomass utilization employing appro priate technological inputs. Such technologies should build upon the e mpirical knowledge of the local people and their perceptions. In addit ion to this incorporation of technological inputs, short term economic benefits should be included in any development programme at the same time as long term strategies. This type of approach would be appreciat ed by the local communities and would readily find their acceptance an d effective participation in the programme.