Informatics Publishing Limited

Patiram , S. B. S. Bhadauria , R. K. Avasthe

Abstract

Geomorphologically Sikkim hills are the upper part of the catchment of Teesta river and its tributaries. Till the beginning of 20th century , people of this State were self sufficient depending on agriculture and forest produce and were in complete harmony with nature. In the Second Millennium exponential growth of human population resulted in the degradation of natural resources to meet the demand of agricultural land for food requirement , pressure on pasture land to increasing livestock , infrastructure (road , city dwellers and other support services) development , and demand of mountain resources through market and tourism development. The Teesta and its tributaries are divided into many natural micro-watersheds by prominent streams , can be effectively utilized on integrated watershed basis to protect the natural resources (land , water , forest etc.) for the ecological balance of Sikkim hills. It is a multidisciplinary holistic approach to improve the living standard of people by diversifying mountain economy through amalgamation of local wisdom and latest scientific knowhow.

Full Text

     

Patiram , S. B. S. Bhadauria , R. C. Upadhyaya

Abstract

The traditional agricultural systems in the different climatic zones of sikkim have evolved over a long time scale within the historic period. The existing current practices of agroforestry in hill agriculture include large cardamom a plantation crop combination, bamboos all along the stream banks and drainage channel, fodder trees and grasses on terrace risers and wasteland, agri-horti system especially mandarin and intercrops and homestead gardening etc. Practically most of the adopted agroforestry land use systems require neither most costly external inputs nor complex technology. The traditional hill agriculture including horticulture, forestry and livestock together meet the demands of the local people food, fodder, fuel, fertilizer, fibre; timber, medicinal and commodity crops, and also giving some economic return. The indigenous trees are given to increase the over all Productivity on long term basis.

Full Text