Agricultural adaptation to climate change in the trans-Himalaya: a study of Loba Community of Lo-manthang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Abstract

This paper presents community interference on agricultural ecology against climate change impacts in Lo-manthang, Upper-Mustang, Nepal. The peoples’ response strategies are based on traditional agroecological knowledge. This study applied the human ecological approach (Cause ➔ Effect ➔ Response) to analyze continuity and change in the agricultural practice of the indigenous Loba community of the Trans-Himalaya. Data were generated through anthropological fieldwork using quasi-ethnomethodology. Qualitative data on changing climate was further supported by the analysis of meteorological records of last 40 years from the nearest station. The overall impression of the study is that the Lobas are hardly adapting to the dynamics of socio-environmental factors as climatic, geo-environmental, and politico-institutional changes. The strategy adopted to respond to the impacts of change on the local livelihoods is particularly associated with altering traditional agricultural practices. Indigenous knowledge-based systems of farm, labor, and resource management, accompanied by changes in food preference (food value) and linking agriculture with spiritual practice, are specific adaptation options, further supported by emerging options such as occupational modernization and migration. However, not all of these strategies produced positive outcomes in the local socio-ecological system of Lo-manthang. Therefore, policymakers should recognize Trans-Himalayan environmental uniqueness and its sensitivity to different drivers while designing policy to address them.

Indigenous institutions as adaptive measures to environmental dynamics: an ethnographic study of Loba Community of Upper Mustang, Nepal

“…The analysis of meteorological data shows the rise of temperature and decrease in rainfall in the Upper Mustang (Khattri 2021 ; Khattri & Pandey 2021 ). The changes are limited to the rise of temperature and the forms and seasons of precipitation (Pandey 2016 ).…”

“…The area is experiencing a high rate of climate change. The temperature is rising at 0.048 degrees Celsius per year, and the annual rainfall is decreasing by three millimeters (mm) per year (Khattri 2021 ; Khattri & Pandey 2021 ).…”

“…The Loba produces only a single crop in a year, and the tenure of the village head, hence, also becomes one agriculture cycle. The sakaluka ritual is the function of worshiping local spirits ( nagas, serpents ) where a lady plows the land at the beginning to mark crop cultivation time (Khattri 2021 ; Khattri & Pandey 2021 ).…”

Himalayan ecosystem services and climate change driven agricultural frontiers: a scoping review

“…Multiple cropping has also been adopted as an effective adaptation strategy as it increases productivity, contributes to agrobiodiversity, and increases farm income [ 45 , 46 ]. These methods are based on traditional ecological knowledge of local crop species and varieties [ 44 ]. Connections between traditional ecological knowledge, provisioning services, and cultural services are important to consider in the context of enabling agroecological transitions to low-carbon agricultural systems in the climate change driven Himalayan agricultural frontiers.…”

“…An extensive study on agricultural adaptations in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region shows that farmers have noticed more frequent floods, droughts, landslides, pests, and diseases, and adapted their practices to these environmental changes through water conservation methods, changing sowing time, and introducing perianal crops that are more resilient to water stress and have high market value, such as temperate grape vines, fruits and nuts [21]. Farmers in India and the Loba community in Upper-Mustang, Nepal have noticed similar environmental changes and are adapting through crop diversification, increased vegetable and fruit farming, community involvement in labour, maintenance of irrigation systems, and migrating or abandoning cropland [42][43][44]. However, many of the introduced modern crop varieties for commercial farming are not necessarily the type of adaptations experts have recommended to promote agroecological transitions.…”