Himalayan farmers stand tall against chemicals

Protecting the environment and biodiversity is essential for farming worldwide, but for Himalayan villages, it’s a lifeline. With their high altitudes, steep slopes, and close proximity to forests, these villages hold the key to preserving some of the richest biodiversity on Earth. Yet, this comes with a challenge: how can small, often fragmented plots of land sustain the nutrition needs of villagers engaged in hard manual labour?

One answer lies in safeguarding the region’s biodiversity, particularly traditional crops like millets. Why? Because agro-chemicals not only degrade the soil but also pollute the vital Himalayan water sources, such as springs and rivers, more rapidly than in other regions. On the flip side, good soil and water conservation practices here can ripple downstream, benefiting the plains far below.

Seeds of change

These issues weren’t lost on Gandhian social activists in Henvalghati—a scenic valley of the Henval River, visible from the Rishikesh-Chamba Road in Uttarakhand. Decades ago, they launched the ‘Save the Seeds Movement’ (or Beej Bachao Andolan, BBA) to champion eco-friendly farming and preserve the diversity of traditional seeds.

Activists like Vijay Jardhari, Kunwar Prasun, Dhum Singh Negi, and Sudesha Devi, who had earlier fought to protect forests in the Chipko (hug the trees) Movement, extended their commitment to sustainable agriculture. They faced an uphill battle when officials began promoting soybean monoculture, dismissing the region’s traditional mixed farming as outdated.

Farming wisdom

What these officials failed to see was the brilliance of the local mixed farming system, known as barahanaza or “12 foods.” This ancient practice, often involving more than 12 crops, created a resilient, sustainable food system.

Each crop played a role:

• Legumes fix nitrogen, enriching the soil
• Creepers like chaulai (amaranth) thrive on legume stems
• Mandua plant roots prevent soil erosion

This intricate balance wasn’t just about survival; it maximised nutrition and kept the soil fertile, season after season. The BBA activists promoted the benefits of barahanaza, using science to support their claims. Over time, their views gained wider acceptance and are now officially recognised.

Green Revolution

In the fertile valleys, rice and wheat dominate. Yet, the shift toward Green Revolution varieties brought dependency on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Participatory research by BBA activists, including women farmers–vital contributors to Himalayan agriculture–revealed an alternative.

Their studies highlighted that traditional rice varieties often matched or even outperformed the new ones, yielding more rice per kilogram of paddy. Farmers also noted a significant boost in fodder quality and quantity, critical for livestock.

But the impact went beyond numbers. Farmers found food made from traditional varieties tastier, more nourishing, and better for their stamina.

More villagers began recognising the core message of the Beej Bachao Andolan (BBA): the need for ecologically protective farming and preserving biodiversity. Volunteers rallied together, joining foot marches that carried this message from village to village. Along the way, valuable knowledge about traditional crop varieties was shared, and actual seed exchanges took place.

One of the longest marches stretched from Askot to Arakot, covering the breadth of Uttarakhand. Leading the way was Kunwar Prasun, a dedicated activist who walked the entire route, spreading awareness and inspiring action.

Traditional treasures

The foot marches uncovered a wealth of information about traditional crop varieties. In Jaunsar Bawar, villagers held their chwatu red rice (also called chardhan or chwaria) in high regard for its unique flavour. In Kairaro Valley, thapchini rice stood out for its high yield and good taste, while the barahai variety thrived with minimal water. The zeeri variety was prized for its exceptional flavour, and jhailda and khimanand ki ghori were resilient against hailstorms. For windstorm-prone areas, jarakhya proved to be a dependable choice.

In wheat, the mishri variety was celebrated for its rich taste and ability to withstand snowfall and limited sunlight. Meanwhile, the thang variety performed well in less fertile lands.

Operating without external funding, BBA worked tirelessly to preserve these seeds in fields and record their characteristics. Kunwar Prasun and Vijay Jardhari contributed to this effort by writing books in Hindi on these topics. Prasun also penned an essay documenting over 100 rice varieties from the region, detailing their unique traits.

Lessons from forests

Despite working without funding, BBA did its best to save seeds in the fields and document their efforts. Kunwar Prasun and Vijay Jardhari have written books in Hindi on these and related topics. Kunwar Prasun also wrote an essay that records over 100 varieties of rice from the region, highlighting their unique traits.

BBA’s work built on the earlier efforts of the Chipko movement in Henvalghati, which focused on protecting forests. Villagers from Henvalghati showed immense courage, saving forests in Advani and Salet from being cut down or auctioned to contractors. They also worked to restore degraded forests. These forests are crucial—they prevent soil erosion and landslides, provide fodder and leaf manure, support water springs and streams, and offer wild foods that improve food security for poorer families.

The villagers also stood up to mining contractors who wanted to extract limestone and other stones from the Henval river. If mining had continued, it would have caused landslides, damaged farms, and destroyed small irrigation channels (guls) that took generations of hard work to build. BBA activists extended their efforts to other villages like Nahin Kala, where mining posed an even greater threat. They helped protect farms and forests there from reckless mining.

A key insight from BBA was the significant role of women farmers. While they are central to Himalayan agriculture in normal times, their contributions become even more vital in protecting biodiversity, forests, and the environment. Women displayed exceptional responsiveness to these concerns, demonstrating their indispensable role in these efforts.

The lessons and achievements of BBA and similar movements offer valuable guidance for shaping Himalayan agriculture. They underscore the urgency of prioritising ecologically protective farming and preserving the region’s rich biodiversity.

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