Tulsi - An Alternative Livelihood for the Poor and Smallholder Farmers

Abstract

This study assesses the pursued impacts of Tulsi value chain development intervention on the 15 livelihoods of rural poor in Uttarakhand state of India. Tulsi as an alternative livelihood, particularly for 16 the rural poor, is less explored. With increased crop depredation of major cereal crops grown in the 17 district by wild animals and pests, and decreasing availability of water agriculture, attempts were made 18 to improve earnings from Tulsi as an alternative livelihood. Findings suggest that the average 19 households' gross profit from Tulsi farming increases by more than double within a span of two years. 20Total crop income of beneficiary farmers' increases by 0.8 percent for every 1 percent increase in Tulsi 21 income. Intervention helped enhance productivity of Tulsi, thereby enhancing earnings from Tulsi 22 farming. Most importantly, intervention has shown a tremendous adoption rate. Towards the end of the 23 intervention, the value chain work was out-scaled to another 19 villages in Chamoli district, thereby 24 reaching out to more than 400 households. 25 26 34 barley, maize, potatoes, paddy, and millet. Crops namely, wheat, rice, and maize account for more than 35 half of the dietary supply [3]. Hill agriculture has inherent constraints of remoteness and inaccessibility, 36 marginality and fragility in terms of moisture stress and the poor soil conditions and a short growing 37 season. Added to these are socio-economic constraints such as small holdings, poor productivity, poor 38 production management, labour shortages, poor post-production management, poor marketing and 39 networks and lack of entrepreneurship have led to under-utilisation of resource bases in the hills and 40 limited generation of surpluses [4]. In particular, rural agriculture in hills lack an established market for 41 agroforestry products, even though these products could be a significant source of additional income [5]. 42Besides, in parts of the HKH region, for example, the hilly districts of Uttarakhand state in India, 43 traditional crops grown also suffer from depredation by wild animals, depleting water agriculture, and 44 pest infestations. In the face of such vulnerabilities, provision of alternative livelihood options for the 45 poor and smallholder farmers becomes a high priority. At the same time mountains of KHK region are 46 endowed with an extensive variety of high value resources, including non-timber forest products 47 (NTFPs) and medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS), which can be grown, harvested, and processed into 48 high value products [6]. 49 Ocimum Sanctum (Sanskrit: Tulasi [or Tulsi]; English: holy basil; family: Labiatae), one such 50 NTFP. Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), an aromatic shrub, is a perennial plant with purple-pink flowers that 51 produces light lemon scent. Historically, it is known for its healing power that dates back over thousands 52 of years. The plant acts as a natural anti-stress agent and boosts immune system [7]. Tulsi is less water 53 intensive crop and is less affected by animal depreda...