Having witnessed losses owing to natural disasters since the last three years, villages in Himachal Pradesh are already adapting to climate change by making changes in the crops grown as well as reviving springs.
The study shows that the farmers are changing what they grow in Sandhu, Shimla. In Bajaura, Kullu, the shift to persimmon came as plant viruses began hitting pomegranates. In Parara, Sirmaur, people have adopted integrated farming, combining garlic with special apple varieties. Increasingly frequent flash floods, cloudbursts and heavy rainfall are disrupting lives, essential infrastructure, horticulture, supply chains and tourism. Where both are present, impact multiplies. Himachal’s panchayats show that adaptation can start with villagers, and the experience of Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan shows that building foresight into climate adaptation and disaster management is possible. We hope this evidence travels across the region.
Community members report that natural farming has spread to more than 20 families after it proved profitable and more resilient to extreme climate events. Dr Amina Maharjan, ICIMOD, said, “The Hindu Kush Himalaya is warming faster than the global average, and what happens in its mountain villages impacts the 1.9 billion people downstream. The next step is to make such pairings the norm, so that panchayats can act before a hazard becomes a disaster.
Releasing the CEEW study, “How can himalayan communities anticipate risks and adapt to a changing climate?”, managing director, Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC), Duni Chand Rana, said, “CEEW’s research draws on ground-level evidence from across Himachal Pradesh, capturing how gram panchayats are experiencing climate extremes and identifying measures to strengthen their resilience. Shreya Wadhwan, programme lead and co-author on the study, CEEW, said, “The cases we documented follow one pattern: a local champion, such as a farmer, a women’s group or a village committee, and a supporting hand from a krishi vigyan kendra, an NGO or a government scheme. Rajeev Ahal, executive director, HITA, said, “Climate adaptation requires states, districts and villages to work together to map risks, plan responses and implement strategies suited to their local contexts.”
These findings are from a new independent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), supported by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), was released on Saturday.
