Knitting their way to self-empowerment, Lahauli style

Women in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti make snowy months the foundation of their livelihood, form collectives to hand-knit GI-tagged Lahaul socksLahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh: Tholang village in Lahaul-Spiti tribal district of Himachal Pradesh remains covered in snow for half the year. There is only one cropping season and severe cold restricts people’s activities for the remaining six months, but not Shanti Devi (55) and other women who are busy knitting socks. “I have been doing this for four decades. It was just a hobby in the beginning. However, when I sensed the demand, I started selling them in the local market,” says Shanti.Shanti devi knitting socks (Photo - Rohit Prashar, 101Reporters)Lahaul socks are made from the wool of sheep reared at home. Thousands of women in the district, who earlier worked in their own farms, have been moving towards economic prosperity by putting to use the traditional knowledge of knitting passed on through generations. The interest of consumers has increased after Lahaul socks received the Geographical Indications (GI) tag in 2021. The activity has brought women together to form self-help knitting groups comprising 10 to 25 women under the guidance of Panchayati Raj Department. The women of Tholang's Ghepan Mahila Mandal, which includes Shanti, even visited Bhutan two months ago to introduce their socks, which the shopkeepers were ready to buy.  “In Bhutan, we sold 50 pairs of socks for Rs 300 each. We also talked about staying in touch with these shopkeepers. They have asked us to courier the goods,” said Palmo Shashani, president, Ghepan Mahila Mandal. The opening of Atal Tunnel in 2020 also increased tourism potential of the area, which was earlier unmotorable from November to April due to heavy snowfall. With the tunnel built in the Pir Panjal Range connecting Lahaul Valley to the rest of the world, lakhs of tourists come to Lahaul region during the winters these days.Pairs of socks knitted by the women (Photo - Rohit Prashar, 101Reporters) According to the women of Tholang, before 2020, they used to send their hand-knit socks for sale outside the district. After the tunnel opened, they have been selling them in local shops, dhabas (roadside eateries) and hotels. Shanti said her sales doubled after the tunnel opened. “Earlier, we used to send the socks knitted in winters to Kullu and Manali for sale in the summers. Now, we can sell them in the winters itself.”“We set up stalls on roadsides in places of tourist attraction. Our socks are a great relief to the tourists who visit the cold valleys of Lahaul. They keep the visitors warm,” said Dev Dasi, adding  that the women are not only buying essential items for their homes but also purchasing expensive modern electronic equipment with the income generated.“A woman knitting socks earns Rs 4,000 to 5,000 per month. I am merchandising them in my hotel as well,” said Dev Dasi, who is also the owner of Sukh Lodge Homestay. Akshita Sharma, design consultant, Himachal Pradesh State Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation Limited, said the business volume of socks cannot be estimated since the women mostly sell them locally. "In India, warm socks are necessary only in winters. Summers is a lean period for this business. However, the government is looking at ways to explore the demand in European countries," Sharma said.Vikram Katoch, president, Save Lahaul Spiti Society, has been instrumental in getting GI tag for Lahaul socks by doing the necessary documentation. “Right now, the society is promoting Lahaul socks at several trade fairs and exhibitions. We are building an online platform to sell socks," he said.Besides economic empowerment, Lahaul socks have been unravelling travel opportunities before these women artisans. “We get a chance to display our products in new places, both tourist and religious places. We have made group travels to Dharamshala, Beed in Maharashtra and Bhutan. I have been to Gaya and Arunachal Pradesh, too. The best part is we do not have to take money from the family for these trips,” Anju Devi (45), a socks weaver from Lahaul, told 101Reporters.Appreciating the work of women like her, the handicrafts and handloom corporation promotes their products in its exhibitions and fairs held across the country. This way, it tries to improve the market visibility of the GI-tagged Lahaul socks as well. Further efforts are on to make these products available on online platforms like Amazon. Lahauli woman weaving Lahauli socks (Photo - Rohit Prashar, 101Reporters)The state government organises free training camps to teach new designs to the artisans. They are taken to various fairs and exhibitions and their products are widely publicised. When women travel to attend the corporation's fairs, the government covers their travel expenses. The entire proceeds from such sales also go to these women. Sheela Devi, a member of Madgran Mahila Mandal, said sweaters or full body clothes are made using knitting machines, whereas it is easier to make socks by hand itself. A weaving machine costs Rs 10,000 to 15,000, but the government does not provide a subsidy for it. "Out of the 25 women in our group, four have machines," she said. Handmade products have even designs and are more durable, while some variations in design can be noted in machine-made socks. Santosh Kumari (40), a member of Madgran Mahila Mandal, said they also help each other by sharing new designs from time to time. “New designs are always in good demand in shops… If someone orders in bulk, all of us sit together and make them,” she said.Edited by Rekha PulinnoliCover Photo - Women of Mahila Mandal of Tholang village of Lahaul knitting socks (Photo - Rohit Prashar, 101Reporters)

Himachal Pradesh farmers struggle to rebuild after flood destroys crops, leaves behind debris

Experts flag indiscriminate development in sensitive hill districts, say it increased the intensity of floods and made rehabilitation difficultMandi, Himachal Pradesh: “The flood triggered by rains on July 9 not only destroyed our hard work for the year but also destroyed our land in a way we have never seen before. The deluge brought an overwhelming amount of sand, debris and stones, damaging the crops grown on our 12 bighas. A thick layer of almost one-foot high debris now covers our once fertile land,” says Rishabh Saklani, a farmer from Sidhpur panchayat in Dharampur block of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh.This year, parts of north India have witnessed incessant rainfall, disrupting normal life and causing devastation in its wake. Several roads were blocked and many people were stranded because of the landslides triggered due to heavy rains. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has sought about Rs 8,000 crores from the Centre to rebuild the state after the devastation due to floods. Saklani, one of the many farmers of the state who are dealing with the aftermath of the floods, tells 101Reporters, “My family of 12 depends on the crops for livelihood and sustenance. Usually, the yearly production of food grain and vegetable is at least enough for us to survive. But I have lost all my crops due to the rain and I have suffered a loss of around Rs 1.5 lakh, not to mention the money spent on cultivating the crop.”“To make the land arable again I will have to clear this debris. This is not a task that can be managed with human strength alone. We will have to hire machines, and it is going to cost me an additional Rs 2.5 lakh, I am concerned about how will I get the money,” he adds.Saklani explains that excavators will be needed to remove the coating of silt, debris and stone, which can be rented for Rs 2,000-2,500 per hour. “It will take around a week to clear the land. We also have to reconstruct the concrete retaining walls and repair the fence around the farm which is put in place to protect the land from stray animals. This is all added expense,” he says. Saklani cultivates maize, paddy, ragi, potato and seasonal vegetables on his land.Rishabh Saklani, a farmer from Sidhpur panchayat from Mandi, says he will have to hire heavy machinery to clear the sand and debris that now cover his fields to make them cultivable again (Photo - Rohit Prashar, 101Reporters)According to government estimates, around 9.4 lakh farmers have been affected in the state. Agricultural expert and farmer Padma Shri Nekram Sharma says, “The accumulation of debris in the fields following the river inundation will detrimentally impact the soil's fertility. The longer farmers wait to remove the debris the more the nutrient quality of soil will be affected, further increasing the cost of cultivation in the next crop cycle,” he says.Nisha Kumari, a farmer from Syoh village in Mandi district — which is situated on the banks of Beas rivers — shares a similar story. “My four bigha land is filled with debris; there is sand, plastic, wood and construction material. There are places where chunks of the top layer of soil have been washed away due to the powerful current of the flood water. Whatever is left behind has depleted the soil’s fertility. The land’s productivity will not be the same even after we remove the debris. We have never witnessed floods of this magnitude before…” she says.Kumari says that she is uncertain how she will recover from the devastating impact of the floods.Indiscriminate development in sensitive hill districtsAccording to the India Meteorological Department data, Himachal Pradesh received 249.6mm of average rainfall between July 1 and July 12 – almost a 70% hike from the normal average of 76.6mm, officials say.The state has seen unplanned infrastructure development — many new highways have been constructed, old clay houses have been upgraded to concrete houses, new hotels have come up, and there has also been illegal construction and encroachment of riverbed which aggravated the flooding in the states, says Environmentalist and a Fellow at Impact and Policy Research Institute, Tikender Panwar. Panwar is also the former deputy mayor of Shimla.“Continuous construction on riverbeds over the years is a big concern and exposes the malpractices of governments. The encroachment of riverbeds not only makes the area prone to natural disasters but also increases the intensity of the destruction. In Kullu, Manali and Mandi we saw that the construction on riverbeds was blocking the natural course of the river and water flow. The floods and flash floods washed away these constructions and hence they landed on the agricultural fields. During flooding, the debris flowed with the water and because of the high density; the waste had the strength to uproot everything that fell along its path…. This is a wake-up call. We need to rethink where we are going and what kind of development do we want?" he warns.Environmentalist Ashwani Sharma expressed apprehension over the disorderly and unscientific construction practices taking place in the mountains. “During the recent floods, we saw there was a substantial presence of construction material carried along with the floodwaters. This influx of construction material has significantly exacerbated the extent of the damage caused. It is necessary for the state government to thoroughly reassess and formulate regulations pertaining to construction activities in mountainous regions,” he tells 101Reporters.Rebuilding: Surveys and CompensationAccording to data compiled by Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Department, at least 1,571 hectares of arable land in Mandi district have been affected due to the floods. Expanding the perspective to the entire state, the downpour in Himachal Pradesh has caused damage to an extensive area of 1,30,518 hectares. When accounting for the additional impact on crops, the agricultural sector of the state has incurred a loss of Rs 167 crore during the monsoon season.Himachal Pradesh agriculture secretary Rakesh Kanwar says, “Officials are on the ground to compile a comprehensive report. Affected farmers will receive compensation in accordance with the government’s established regulations.” A preliminary assessment has been completed by the State Disaster Management Authority.Horticulture infrastructure in Sidhpur village lie submerged in the flood in Beas river (Photo - Rohit Prashar, 101Reporters) The state government has increased the compensation to be released to the farmers. Earlier farmers were provided Rs 1,400 per bigha for losses incurred due to silting, which has been increased to Rs 5,000 per bigha. The compensation for crop loss has gone up from Rs 300-500 per bigha to Rs 2,000 per bigha. The compensation on land washed away due to flood will be Rs 10,000 compared to Rs 3,600 provided earlier.According to a state government notification, the compensation will be provided by Himachal Pradesh through the State Disaster Response Fund.“We are appealing to the government to provide compensation to the affected farmers soon,” Deputy Sarpanch of Sidhpur panchayat Lekhraj Palsara says. According to Palsara, in his panchayat around 40 farming families have been affected by the disaster.“The estimation of loss is being done by the agriculture department along with the local village revenue officer. The compensation will be disbursed by the state government based on the assessment report filed by the officials. The whole process may take up to six months,” he adds.However, according to Sanyukt Kisan Morcha co-convener Sanjay Chauhan, this substantial increase will not benefit the farmers. “This enhanced compensation will offer little help to the farmers whose lands have been completely lost to the flood’s devastation; not to mention that usually the compensation amount is released very late. The farmers should be given compensation within a fixed time frame keeping in mind the next cropping season. In addition, the government has to come up with ways to ensure that this does not happen again. The government should ban illegal constructions and take serious action against the offenders.”Cover photo - Farmers' fields and solar fencing damaged due to flood in Beas river in Syoh panchayat in Mandi district (Rohit Prashar, 101Reporters)Edited by Tanya Shrivastava

Nanj natives bunch together to revive a lost forest for fodder

They grow broad-leafed trees in 215 hectares, which spare women from fetching cattle fodder from risk-prone valleys under the constant shadow of death and injuryMandi, Himachal Pradesh: When young Nekram Sharma of Nanj in Karsog block of Mandi set out on a mission to revive a forest exactly three decades ago, he had two things in mind — ensuring fodder for cattle in his village and preventing deaths and injuries in falls from heights.Women had to tread the narrow paths in risk-prone valleys located far away from Nanj to get cattle fodder then. Alarmed by the situation, Nekram, fresh from graduation, approached the forest department for advice on how to revive the forest adjacent to the village, named Prog, which had turned barren due to overgrazing. Many families had lost a member to slippery slopes, yet they were not ready to join him at first. It took four years, that too after they noticed the benefits that had begun to trickle in.   Initially, people would uproot the saplings or set the forest floor on fire to allow fresh growth of grass for the next season. Many thought Nekram had a political motive and continued to graze their animals in the area where he had planted saplings. Finally, thorny bushes had to be used to keep the saplings intact. They were removed only when the plants were big enough. “It was difficult. But when they saw the benefits, everyone came on board,” Nekram told 101Reporters.Women from the Mahila Mandal patrol the Prog forest in Nanj to deter any illegal felling of trees (Photo: Rohit Prashar)Today, Nanj stands as a testimony to how effective community participation makes life easier and better. Every day, a vehicle carrying milk cans leaves for the market from the village. Animals have been highly productive, thanks to Prog forest that provides them with fodder. Not just the cattle rearers in Nanj, even thousands from Khaniyal, Mandi, Mamel and Sarahan panchayats have reaped rich dividends.  Restoring the green patchGrassy shrubs were present in abundance in the area, but plants that can serve as rich fodder for cattle were missing. So, Nekram decided to plant broad-leafed plants and trees on 215 hectares of forest land between 1992 and 1996.“I first researched about the plants and trees that could serve as fodder for animals. In the beginning, I bought 5,000 saplings of shahtoot (mulberry trees) from the forest department nursery and planted them with the help of some villagers,” Nekram said.Nekram led an initiative to plant broad-leafed plants and trees on 215 hectares of land to solve the fodder crisis of Nanj, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh (Photo: Rohit Prashar)According to Dr Vimal Choudhary, broad-leafed plants can ensure fodder for decades together. “Their branches can be cut during winter, when grass is in short supply,” said Choudhary, who heads the Department of Agroforestry at Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Solan.Dr Sushil Sood, a senior veterinarian with PhD in reproductive technology, claimed that broad-leafed plants served as better fodder as they carried higher levels of nutrients.Draupadi Devi, who is involved in forest conservation, said they had planted 40-plus varieties of plants and fruit-bearing trees. The results are quite astonishing as the forest is now home to mango, pomegranate, lemon, guava, bamboo, shahtoot, kachnar, byul, amla, ber, sheesham, dadu, jamun, drek and sheersh.The forest department is closely associated with the conservation from the beginning itself, suggesting species suitable for the place and providing saplings from its nurseries. It also spreads awareness among locals on forest conservation and community participation. Nekram also mentioned the role played by former divisional forest officer Ashok Kumar Simal in increasing the plant diversity of the forest.Benefits aplentyChandramani Sharma of Nanj said forest revival changed his life. “Prog forest has bolstered the livelihood of not just me, but every cattle rearer and farmer in the locality.” Women sell amla and pomegranate collected from the forest, which earn each of them around Rs 20,000 per annum.Village women Krishna Devi, Chandravati and Vimala Devi said in unison that they have been spared from long walks in search of cattle fodder. There was a time when they had to set off to distant places along risky routes to find fodder, hoping and praying all the while that they would not fall into a gorge.Ramkali, the secretary of Mahila Mandal in Nanj, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh is actively involved in the conservation and upkeep of the Prog forest in her village. She, along with other village women patrols the forest and creates fire lines to deter forest fires (Photo: Rohit Prashar) “Remember, we had to return home with heavy loads of fodder on our heads. It was a tiring task, not to mention that it would take us the entire morning and most of the afternoon to get back home.”They said rescue was very difficult when someone fell off the slope. “Many died before reaching the hospital.” Baldev Sharma and Ram Kishan had gone through such harrowing times. “My daughter Babli Devi had gone to cut grass, but she never returned. She was just 26,” lamented Sharma, as he recounted the incident that happened 30 years ago. Kishan told 101Reporters that his mother, now aged 75, escaped only because of luck some 40 years ago. “She slipped and fell while fetching fodder. She had to be taken to the state hospital in Shimla.” Prog forest has also improved the groundwater levels in the locality. “We have 10 baolis (reservoirs) around the village. Four of them now hold water throughout the year, while the rest are very much on the path of revival,” Nekram beamed.Future perfectThe participation of every community member has made a difference in Nanj. Women from the Mahila Mandal patrol the forest during the day. They also create fire lines to prevent forest fires.Right now, Prog forest is off-limits for grazing. “We find new pastures for animal grazing and hold regular meetings to inform people not to graze animals and lit fire in the forest,” said Nekram. Once the fodder in Prog is ready for harvest, villagers cut and distribute it among themselves.The people in Nanj are also taking steps to conserve biodiversity of the region by scattering seeds of indigenous species of plants and nutritious grains such as foxtail millet and barnyard millet during monsoons.What more, taking inspiration from their story, the whole of Karsog is set to adopt the plan. Over 70 Jungle Bachao Samitis have come up in the block, and there has been an increase in community participation. Nekram also visits nearby villages and holds Van Mahotsavs to share their story. Edited by Tanya Shrivastava This article is a part of 101Reporters' series on The Promise Of Commons. In this series, we explore how judicious management of shared public resources can help the ecosystem as well as the communities inhabiting it.The cover image is of the Prog forest conserved by Nanj locals under the guidance of Nekram and forest department, captured by Rohit Prashar.

Kusha grass brings ‘khushi’ on Himachal women’s faces

Overcoming familial and cultural restrictions, women in villages near Shimla are creating business opportunities for themselves using traditional knowledge.Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: Even grass is a weapon in the hands of the skilled. Manju, a native of Roda, located around 35 km from Himachal Pradesh’s summer capital Shimla, just proved it right.  Despite no family support, Manju made herself self-sufficient by creating decorative items using things that most people do not think as worth investing in — Kusha grass, mauli (thread), waste plastic bottles, clay, waste paper and clothes.“Our financial situation was bad. We had taken land on lease for farming, and I wanted to help my husband,” Manju told 101Reporters. “My husband and his family did not like the fact that I was making these products and selling them in the streets,” said Manju. She added that her husband felt ashamed of her work and wanted her to work in the fields or contribute more to household chores.“But this did not stop me. I made several products, which earned me Rs 1,600 for the first time,” she beamed. That was when Kandaghat block livelihood manager Bhavita Sharma encouraged her to work in the community and provided tips on product marketing. “This spurred me to form the Jai Maa Durga SHG in 2018, along with some of my friends,” she said. Her traditional skills not only came to her aid but also bettered the lives of over a dozen others.Today, over 60 women are part of her group. She also finds time to support women SHGs from other villages regarding the marketing of their products.Going from strength to strength At first, Manju and her friends received a month-long training on products made from pine needles under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). They also received Rs 30,000 to set up a shop of their own. Sharma told 101Reporters that Manju and her colleagues were from very poor backgrounds. “But now, their products reach several parts of the country through exhibitions. They get sales orders over the phone from more places,” she said.The women from these SHGs have taken Kusha grass, usually reserved for religious purposes, and turned them into everyday items of use (Photo: Rohit Prashar)The women earn anywhere around Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 a month, by working for two to three hours every day. The amount is sufficient to meet household expenses. They are now able to send their children to private schools as well.Like Manju, women in Tundal and Kaneti villages have used the Kusha grass to make innovative products and set up shops. Lalita Devi, the secretary of the Jai Jwala SHG, Tundal village said the members of her group earlier sold their products on roadside stalls along the route of Chail, a tourist destination in Solan district. “The NRLM support helped us set up a tin stall, making it easier to sell products even during monsoons,” she added.Devi said her SHG has come a long way from solely relying on traditional knowledge to making more beautiful and attractive products after receiving training and watching YouTube videos. “We now use shiny beads as well, which helped in boosting sales.” A homegrown initiativeManju Devi, another member of Jai Jwala SHG, said they keep changing the products as per the trends and demands of customers.Things started to change for the group after the 2017 Doklam standoff. “Earlier, a lot of decorative items and rakhis used to come from China. But after the Doklam dispute, the arrival of Chinese products dipped, which benefited us,” Devi told 101Reporters. People became more aware of homegrown products and started buying them. “Rakhis made from Kusha grass were selling like hot cakes. We managed to sell for over Rs 20,000,” Devi recounted. She said her group took 20 minutes to make one rakhi, which was sold for Rs 30. “We get a lot of orders by phone for rakhis and other items from places outside Himachal Pradesh. Once we receive bulk orders, all members of our group assemble and start working to deliver the products in time,” Devi said.The women are making over 40 different types of products using Kusha grass, including earrings, jewellery, pooja items, roti box, pen stand, table lamps, and sweaters and jackets for children. (Photo: Rohit Prashar)The women are making over 40 different types of products using Kusha grass, including earrings, jewellery, pooja items, roti box, pen stand, table lamps, and sweaters and jackets for children. Kusha grass is very soft, yet long-lasting. Products made from it can last for more than five years and can be washed as well! Several women associated with the SHGs in villages have stated that the new ventures have boosted their confidence to such a level that they can easily sell their products in the market. They claimed that they make these products in their free time, after completing the day’s work.A green ventureThese women SHGs have contributed immensely towards environment protection and the Swachh Bharat Mission through their businesses, by organising cleanliness drives and using plastic waste like bottles and wrappers in their products. The raw materials used for their products come from grasslands. Shalu Verma, a member of Lakshmi SHG, told 101Reporters that the Kusha grass, which is used for ritual purposes, is rarely found in grasslands. “That is why we work to conserve these grasslands. We protect them from forest fires and ensure that no SHG member cuts grass when it is raw. If it is cut before the due time, the yield gets affected,” said Verma.The SHGs have also launched a campaign to save the Kusha grass on panchayat land. They plant it at different locations every year, and make fire lines. They also ensure that the grass variety is cut in time. According to the women, cutting grass every year ensures that yield increases next time. They also create awareness among the villagers on the need to conserve the grass variety.

Tradition kuhl irrigation technique boosts Kangra farmers’ produce and profits

With the Himachali community banding together to maintain the water channels for over 100 years, they’ve been able to reap profits cultivating cash crops in 12 panchayats Kangra, Himachal Pradesh: “Kuhls are the lifeline for us farmers. Our livelihood is entirely dependent on them. We’ve cherished them for generations and passed them on to our children as a legacy,” said Kulwant Singh, a farmer from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.Kuhls are a traditional system of irrigation usually maintained by the local community. They resemble small canals that carry water from a larger water body to the fields. Made usually of cement now, these channels transport water from the main kuhl to the villages and fields through smaller drains. Pucca or kachcha gates are constructed at intervals along their length to regulate the water flow. These gates are usually opened and closed on a predetermined schedule.A vital part of the regional economy, the Tikhrul Kuhl here has been maintained by farmers from more than 150 villages for over a century. These are agriculturists from 12 panchayats in the Panchrukhi block of Kangra, the largest district of Himachal Pradesh. Running up to a length of 25km till Simbalkhola village, the canal has been irrigating about 10,000ha of land for over a 100 years.Situated in the lap of the snow-capped Dhauladhars, Kangra district practised rain-fed farming till about 300 years ago, when the Katoch kings of the Trigarta kingdom introduced the kuhl system for irrigation and appointed a Kohli, a person responsible for the upkeep of kuhls. Thanks to the ready availability of water, the farming community of the region has been thriving economically. They can grow vegetables along with the traditional seasonal paddy and wheat cultivation. Benefits galoreKulwant Raj, a member of the Tikhrul Kuhl Management Committee, pointed out that with water from the kuhl, he grows seasonal vegetables that enables him to sustain his family. He said the villagers worked together to repair the kuhl every year to ensure that water was available for farming all through the year.Vijay Lakshmi, a farmer from Simbalkhola panchayat, said this kuhl had earned her national recognition. Lakshmi had produced a record 41 quintals of high-quality wheat from 1ha of land, for which she was awarded the Krishi Karman Puraskar by the Union Minister for Agriculture.However, the areas that do not benefit from kuhl irrigation present a very different picture. In fact, people from other development blocks, where there are no such water channels, are moving away from cultivation to embrace other forms of livelihood because of lack of irrigation facilities. Also read In Kashmir, once beautiful and life-sustaining ‘kuls’ are now turning into dumping grounds“Farming in our area is completely rain-fed. So we are able to cultivate mainly wheat and maize here,” said Rajendra Kumar, a farmer from Lambagaon, another block in Kangra. “We do not have a channel for water, so most young people prefer to move to other professions.” On being asked whether they ever thought of implementing a similar irrigation plan, he said, “The channels have only been constructed in places where there’s a regular source of water. There’s no river or nullah anywhere near these areas, due to which no kuhls have been constructed here.”Similarly, Renu Kumari, a woman farmer from Pragpur block, also pointed out that they had ample cultivable land but no irrigation system in place, due to which they are unable to grow vegetables alongside traditional crops.Upkeep and maintenance a community initiative Tikhrul Kuhl is 25km long and irrigates more than 10,000ha of land belonging to  8,000 farmers of Panchrukhi block. Water is transported from Aba Khad (ravine) near Banuri to a distance of 25km, covering more than 150  villages. As much as 80% of this canal is concrete, while 5km is still kachcha. The 12 panchayats of Kangra formed a 20-member committee to oversee the upkeep of Tikhrul kuhl. The committee meets every year to decide on the specifics of water distribution to its villages. The kohli, who’s responsible for the maintenance of the channel, and a representative of each village, then disseminates this information, after which every villager is bound to uphold the decision.Moreover, one person from the village is present when the water is being released to their village, and to ensure that no damage is inflicted on the irrigation channel, the committee has laid down several rules. Anyone caught flouting them is fined Rs 500.Devendra Kumar, the pradhan of Simbalkhola, said the panchayat and Jal Shakti Department draw up a budget to repair the kuhls. Delar Chand, who’s been looking after Tikhrul Kuhl for the past 22 years, said, “This kuhl is more than 100 years old, and we repair it every year. Before me, my father was responsible for it for 32 years.”Sonika Gupta, block technology manager of the agriculture department in Panchrukhi, said the farmers here had preserved this old irrigation facility, which puts them at an advantage while cultivating crops like seasonal vegetables.Furthermore, project director of Kangra in the department, Dr Shashi Pal Attri said that in many areas of the district, farmers had come together to protect the channels, which in turn made them prosperous. The government also makes a budget provision from time to time for the maintenance of these channels, which has assured the smooth functioning of the kuhls.Edited by Rashmi Guha RayAll Photos: Rohit PrasharThis article is a part of a 101Reporters' series on The Promise Of Commons. In this series, we will explore how judicious management of shared public resources can help the ecosystem as well as the communities inhabiting it.

Himachal determined to achieve self-sufficiency in seed production

The state government is keen to reduced the import of seeds from other states which often do not sprout under local conditions, and instead promote native farmer groups who produce these seeds.  Shimla: Agriculture and allied activities contribute to 13.62% of Himachal Pradesh’s gross domestic product. Around 69% of this hill state’s population earn their livelihood from this sector. However, with a steady rise in agriculture cost with each passing day, the number of people involved in agriculture is on the decline and people are migrating to the towns and cities in search of a remunerative livelihood.  The agriculture department of Himachal Pradesh government in a move to reduce the cost of agriculture and produce seeds that are in sync with the local conditions has launched Swarna Jayanti Bheej Samvardhan Yojana. The scheme aims to reduce the import of seeds from other states and achieve self-sufficiency. It also strives to promote locally available seeds and supply them to farmers at affordable rates. Promotion of local seed varieties will also guarantee that the seeds that farmers buy sprout. This scheme also gains significance in that at present, only 1% of agricultural land in Himachal Pradesh is used for the production of seeds and this meets 20% of the state’s total seed requirements. As the state is forced to import the remaining 80% of its requirements, it has also faced challenges in this regard. At present, Himachal Pradesh imports 100% of its requirements of maize, barley, peas, millet and vegetable seeds from other states. Besides this, Himachal also imports 90% of its paddy seed requirement, 91% of its oilseeds, 99% of its pulses seeds, 95% of gram seeds, 53% of wheat and 45% of ginger seed. Farmers have often complained that these imported seeds do not sprout locally. The non-availability of seeds has been a cause for concern for the farmers. To address these issues of production and promotion, the agriculture department has adopted a two-pronged strategy. Accordingly, for the fiscal year 2021-22, the department, keeping in mind the demand of 1.80 lakh quintal of paddy seeds, has set itself a target of producing 96,855 quintals of seed in the state itself. Out of this, nine registered farmer groups will produce around 95,000 quintals of seeds. The department in turn will procure these seeds from the farmer groups and sell them to other farmers. In the second strategy, the department in a bid to promote natural farming, through the Prakritik Kheti Khushhaal Kisan Yojana (PKKKY) is readying a master plan to produce seeds on the lines modelled by Subash Palekar. Accordingly, under this scheme, seeds will be produced in 12 out of the 26 farms of the department jointly with 130 other farmers’ associations. The master plan that was drawn under the PKKKY will ensure that wheat, paddy, barley, pea, channa, Indian corn, ragi, coarse cereals are produced locally so that the state’s overt dependence on the import of seeds to meet its local agriculture requirements is pared to a minimum.These seed initiatives hope to directly benefit around 9.61 lakh farmers in the state, around 80% of who are small and marginal farmers (Picture credit - Rohit Prashar) The department as part of its seed multiplication drive will collect seeds available with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Punjab Agricultural University, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and farmers who have worked for the cause of multiplication and conservation of the seed's resources.     The seeds so produced, will be supplied to farmers later on. According to  Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, executive director, Prakritik Kheti Khushhaal Kisan Yojana, the department has formulated this action plan for multiplication and development of seeds and started working on it in consultation with experts and institutions in India and abroad who are working in this area of agriculture sector development. Naresh Thakur, director, department of agriculture says the department is working on the protection and multiplication of the seeds through the Swarna Jayanti Bheej Samwardhan Yojana. The department has set about this task of seed production on its farms with assistance from farmers to ensure that the state is self-reliant in the vital area of seed production, which assures food security to its population.  Virender Kanwar, the agriculture minister said his department has started the above schemes in a planned manner to ensure that the farmers in the state get the best quality local seeds and on time. “The results of the above initiatives taken by the department will be there for all to see within one year,” Kanwar said, adding the government and his department is committed to coming to the aid of farmers. Ashish Gupta, trustee, Gram Vikas Trust that works for the preservation of seeds and farmers said seed production has been limited to a very small area in Himachal Pradesh. “We are therefore dependent on other states for our seed requirement,” Gupta said. Many of our old seeds are on the verge of extinction and the move by the state government in this regard is a commendable one, Gupta added.  If the above initiatives undertaken by the department do bring about the intended results, this will in turn directly benefit around 9.61 lakh farmers in the state. Around 80% of farmers in the state are small and marginal farmers. This move by the department to ensure that these farmers get quality seeds and on time will certainly add to their economic well-being and ensure a prosperous life for them, Gupta added.

Extreme weather wreaks havoc on Himachal’s apple orchards

Himachal Pradesh's farmers and orchardists face heavy losses that are likely to impact apple prices across the country. Shimla: The farmers and orchardists of India's fruit basket — Himachal Pradesh —  are bearing the brunt of extreme weather. The orchards in the state, primarily apple, have suffered heavy losses due to unseasonal rain, snow and hailstorm that hit the Shimla region (which includes Theog, Narkanda, Kotkhai, also known as the apple belt) over the last two months. According to HP Horticulture Department, Himachal’s turnover from horticulture is Rs 4 to 5 thousand crores every year. In an internal assessment survey conducted by the Horticulture Department in May 2021, it was found that 55,515 plants were destroyed, while 2,00,7000 plants were partially damaged — impacting 60,000 farmers and orchardists. The department recorded the loss in horticulture due to snowfall and hailstorm in April as Rs 254 crore. However, the Kisan Sabha, an association of farmers and orchardists, pegs these losses at more than Rs 2,000 crores.The ill-timed snowfall and hailstorm in April and May coupled with a deadly second wave of COVID-19 has doubled the concerns of the farmers and orchardists. Due to lockdown restrictions imposed by the state government, orchardists encountered a severe labour crisis as most of the labour engaged in the orchards come from other states. Also, orchardists were not able to move around to tend to those orchards that were far away.  The loss has significant ramifications. According to the Himachal Pradesh Economic Survey, the agro-horticulture sector contributes 13 per cent to the state's GDP. Apple horticulture, which is the state's economic backbone, has the largest share in it.  Apple county undoneHimachal Pradesh is the second-largest apple producing state in the country. According to the statistics of an internal survey put forth by the Horticulture Department, ‘3,68, 603 metric tonnes of apples are grown in 1,13,154 lakh hectare area in Himachal Pradesh’.More than 100 varieties of apples are being grown in the state. With the arrival of new varieties, apple horticulture has also been introduced in warmer regions in low altitude areas. The maximum apple production is in the Shimla district, which produces about 60 to 65 per cent of the state's total harvest. Apple horticulture also happens in regions of Kinnaur, Mandi, Kullu, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti. JC Sharma, the director of the HP's Horticulture Department, said that Shimla has the highest number of orchardists who have suffered losses. In many places, entire apple saplings have been uprooted."There was so much hailstorm that the anti-hail net installed to protect the apples also burst. Our plants were also uprooted due to excessive snow," said Rohit Sharma, an orchardist from Theog. Apple plants have been uprooted and hailstorm has destroyed many orchards of the region. Due to this, the orchardists will not be able to harvest the crop for the next five to ten years. Rohit added that the maximum damage by hailstorm has occurred in Theog, Narkanda, Kharapathar, Baghi and Matiana areas of Shimla district. The hailstorms were so severe that trees were uprooted and anti-hail nets ruptured. (Left) What apples remain are badly damaged and are not expected to fetch good prices (Picture courtesy: Rohit Prashar)A ripple effect Prashant Sehta, an apple orchadist and the general secretary of Young and United Growers Association, which works for the welfare of apple orchardists, believes that the damage caused to the orchards  due to the extreme weather in April has doubled with the hailstorm of May 31, cutting the harvest by half. "Even the remaining crop is damaged which won't get good prices in the market. A box of apples which usually sells for Rs 2,000 will fetch Rs 900 - 1000 because of the stains," he added. According to HP Horticulture Department, 3.20 crore apple boxes were produced in 2019. This time too, the Horticulture Department had estimated the production of 3.50 crore apple boxes. However, the unpredictably heavy hailstorms have changed these equations, and low output is expected this year. The apple horticulture nurseries have suffered a loss of Rs 30 crore due to the hailstorms. The damage will naturally affect the prices of apples across the country. However, the most affected are the farmers and orchardists of Himachal. Gaurav Semta, an orchardist from Theog said, “My orchard is 70% damaged due to the heavy hailstorm. During the flowering stage, I was hopeful of getting a good crop this year, but the sudden shift in weather has shattered me. I am constantly worried about the livelihood of my family," he added. Gaurav Semta and Rohit Sharma have both demanded that the government compensate them for this loss.

Pandemic wilts Himachal's floriculture industry

The multi-crore flower industry is on its knees with the lockdown bringing all weddings and other celebrations to a halt. Shimla: The dark hues of the COVID-19 pandemic have dulled the colourful vibrancy of the floriculture industry of Himachal Pradesh. Once a major draw at five-star hotels, weddings and functions, these flowers are being fed to cattle for want of takers. Curbs on tourism and functions due to the ongoing pandemic have seriously impacted the livelihood of Himachal floriculturists, while those who had taken loans from banks are on the verge of bankruptcy.From crores to zeroAccording to the Horticulture Department of Himachal Pradesh, the state produces Rs 150-200 crores of flowers annually. Thousands of farmers in six districts of the state are engaged in floriculture. Today, vanishing markets have forced these farmers to feed their produce to cattle. As lockdowns and curbs continue, the farmers are losing all hope of rejuvenating their business. Normally, the marriage season, which extends from February-end to June every year, is a boom time, with flowers riding a crest in demand. But recent times have seen the pandemic at its worst during these months, necessitating nationwide curbs and lockdowns. As a consequence, floriculturists have encountered huge losses over the past year.With no takers for flowers anymore, they are being fed to cattle (Picture courtesy: Rohit Prashar)The Solan district of Himachal Pradesh alone sees business worth Rs 100 crores transacted in flowers. Farmer Ravi Varma from Chail in Solan district has incurred a loss of Rs 30 lakhs over the past year. This year, he had planted new saplings worth Rs 8 lakhs. With this, he intended to make good his losses over the previous year. But with the pandemic worsening since April this year, there were renewed curbs and lockdowns, preventing any sales.  “The government has extended some relief measures, but these are hardly sufficient for farmers to tide over their losses,” he lamented. According to Varma, Himachal Pradesh primarily specialises in carnation flowers. Each carnation plant is bought for Rs 15; nurturing and pesticides cost another Rs 5-8 for the farmer; only then can a carnation stick sell for Rs 20-25 in the market. “But the earnings of flower cultivators have dropped to zero over the past year, causing us all immense mental turmoil.”Sunil Kumar, another farmer from Solan, told 101Reporters, "Flowers are used in large quantities at weddings, fairs, Navratri and other religious functions, hotels and social occasions. Curbs imposed on all these have prevented the sale of flowers. Besides, flowers are a highly perishable commodity that cannot be stored.”Solutions for a turnaroundRuing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on floriculturists, Phal Sabji Evam Phul Utpadak Sangh President Harish Chauhan told 101Reporters, “The government ought to take immediate steps to write off the loans taken by flower growers from banks. This is the only way to ease the situation the farmers find themselves in.”It should be realised that a flowering plant yields flowers for three full years. A rose bush, once planted, may last even longer. Thus, if a farmer uproots his flowering plants to cultivate some other products, it will only increase his losses many times over. Thus, it is not wise to move on to cultivating another crop.Hence, given the circumstances, all that the farmers can do is to pray for the end of the present pandemic, and a renewal of business.Cut carnation flowers, which used to sell for Rs 20-25 per stick, are lying unwanted (Picture courtesy: Rohit Prashar)

Agriculture sans chemicals is giving Himachal farmers better and sustainable incomes

Natural Farming methods have significantly reduced the expenses incurred in the purchase of chemicals, insecticides and fungicides and improved the incomes of farmers in the Himalayan State. Shimla: In light of declining production despite the increased use of expensive chemicals in farming, almost 1.16 lakh farmers of Himachal Pradesh have switched to natural farming, according to data provided by the State Project Implementing Unit set up for the promotion, implementation and monitoring of the natural farming program.Himachal Pradesh which is popularly known as the fruit basket of India produces fruits and vegetables worth Rs 8,000 crores every year. In a state where the agro-horticulture sector contributes 13 per cent to the state's GDP, 10% of the farmers here have reduced their cultivation costs to the minimum by adopting the natural route and giving up expensive chemicals, insecticides and fungicides.Instead of buying chemicals and pesticides from the market, the farmers of Himachal have secured profits by preparing natural inputs using cow dung, cow urine and indigenous vegetation. Earthworms also play an important role in natural farming and it is known to recharge the groundwater. This approach, also known as the Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) method, encourages that all resources required for the healthy growth of the plant should be taken from its surrounding environment. It is named after a Maharashtra-based agriculture scientist who developed this low-cost, eco-friendly farming technique in the late 1990s. It was developed after a 25-year long research conducted by Padma Shri Subhash Palekar, credited as the father of natural farming.Though natural farming eliminates the use of agrochemicals, it is different from organic farming. Unlike organic farming, the farmer makes various concoctions from locally available plants and other resources at his own farm. This decreases farmers dependence on the market for synthetic or bio-pesticides and fertilizers. Natural farming thrives in low-water regionsDue to the lack of irrigation facilities in Himachal Pradesh, several farmers had been moving away from agriculture. However, natural farming requires very little water. A vital component of this farming method is 'Mulching' i.e. covering the crop with live or straw mulch to retain the humus, which is required for the proper growth of the plant. Mulching reduces the water requirement to a greater extent in agriculture. This farming method is becoming effective even in areas with merely less or no irrigation facility. Cultivating crops in one of the highest inhabited villages in India, Kalzang Lade says natural farming allows him to conserve precious water (Picture credit Rohit Prashar)Kalzang Lade is a resident of Chichham, one of India's highest inhabited villages, who started natural farming two years ago. "Our village is situated at an elevation of 4350 meters and has little rainfall. In such a situation, we face difficulties in saving our crops due to a lack of water. I adopted natural farming methods that require very little water. I am seeing good results," said Lade, adding that his cultivation cost has significantly reduced from Rs 18000 to Rs 10,000.Professor Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Executive Director of Khushhal Kisan Yojana, said that farmers in all the 12 districts of Himachal are adopting this method very fast. He stated, "In Himachal, more than 80 per cent of the area is rain-fed farming, and in such a situation, this farming method is proving to be more sustainable even in the condition of less rain."Reduced agricultural costs The Himachal Pradesh State Government also introduced the 'Pratikriti Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana' three years ago to encourage natural farming with a mandate to enhance farmers' income while maintaining harmony with nature. To motivate farmers, an incentive of Rs 25,000 for the purchase of indigenous cows, Rs 8,000 for cowshed lining, 70% subsidy on purchase of drums required for input preparation, Rs 10,000 for setting up Sansadhan Bhandar (resource store) along with free hands-on training and exposure visits are being given by the state government. In a departmental survey conducted under this scheme, it was found that the farmers who adopted this method had reduced their agricultural costs by 43%. Mayaram, from the state's Mandi district, cultivates garlic, maize, peas and wheat in his 7 bighas [one bhiga is about one-third of an acre] of land. Earlier Mayaram used chemicals worth Rs 50,000 every year for farming, earning about Rs 2.50 lakhs annually. But after adopting natural farming, his expenditure has dropped by almost 25%. His income has touched INR 3.5 lakhs. Similarly, farmer Ajay Ratna of Bilaspur district has brought his expenses down from Rs 30,000 to Rs 10,00 by preparing the natural farming inputs at home. Dr Manoj Gupta, Principal Scientist, Agricultural Economics, Palampur Agricultural University, said that, "In the studies done on natural farming, farmers have seen a reduction in the cost of agriculture. Apple horticulture has seen costs reduce by 56% and a 27% increase in net profits of farmers without any special market facility. Apart from this, insects and diseases have also been seen less in the fields of those farmers and gardeners who have adopted this method of cultivation."Anil Biswan, a horticulturist from the Shimla district, echoed this claim. Practising apple horticulture in 30 bighas of land, Biswan adopted natural farming five years ago. He claimed that his expenditure on chemicals used to be approximately Rs 70,000, whereas now it's only Rs 5,000. This switch has also seen Anil's income rise by Rs 3.5 Lakhs. As this method advocates the principle of companion crops, Biswan was also able to add to his overall income with his new crops. Through natural farming, apple horticulture has seen costs reduce by 56% and a 27% increase in net profits of farmers without any special market facility. (Picture credit Rohit Prashar)A sustainable and healthy futureShailendra Sharma, who cultivates tomato and capsicum in Solan district, cut down his costs significantly and experienced immense health benefits. "I have been protected from the harmful effects of chemicals by adopting this farming method. I used to get headaches and allergies while spraying chemicals, for which I sought treatment at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGI) in Chandigarh. Now, by adopting natural farming, my health-related problems have been completely relieved," he stated. Professor Chandel added that by introducing Subhash Palekar's natural farming method, the state government is working towards increasing the farmers' income and reducing the threat of climate change. This farming method also contributes significantly to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. The COVID lockdowns have seen significant return migration in the northern Himalayan States. People returning home from outside states have turned to agriculture for their livelihoods. This sustainable and inexpensive farming method has emerged as a lifeline for these people.