1. Thematic Group on Mountain Agriculture SMDS III Kohima, Nagaland

2. Methodology Group strength – 70 (approx) Methodology followed: Participatory Individual inputs on issues in agriculture which make each participant GLAD, SAD, MAD Identifying and Analysing Common issues For Today What needs to be done, how and by whom among stakeholders? Individually, jointly? Way Forward

3. Issues identified : Glad about Resilience and tenacity of farmers despite non supportive environment. Closeness and harmony with nature in farming Biodiversity of the mountains Opportunity for healthy, natural, food Opportunity for organic identity for mountain produce. Existence of rich traditional knowledge related to food and agriculture Abundance of natural resources – forests, water, diversity Niche mountain produce

4. Issues Identified: SAD and MAD POLICY, PLANS AND PROGRAMMES Disconnect or mismatch between policy/planning, implementation and mountain peoples needs. – Lack of focused policy for mountain agriculture esp jhum – Schemes do not reach most farmers (info and extension) – Schemes and programmes focus on cash crops – No incentive for maintaining biodiversity of mountain agriculture. – No hedge against risk, support for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, reward for landscape maintenance

5. Socio-economic issues Agriculture not regarded as an enterprise opportunity Fast declining interest of youth in agriculture Landuse change- agriculture to nonagriculture Reduced grasslands for pastoralists/nomads Low incentive for agrodiversity maintenance Declining food production - productivity Continuing drudgery of women in agriculture

6. Infrastructure, Research, Development Lack of mountain specific agriculture supportive infrastructure – investments, credits, good roads, transport, marketing and distribution support) Agriculture research biased towards few major crops Push towards cash crops without supporting services Research and development organisations work in isolation. Traditional knowledge and culture Erosion of traditional knowledge and local institutions Erosion of culture, tradition, rituals Erosion of crop varieties

7. Natural resources Destruction of supporting natural resources Forest fires Shortening of Jhum cycles Deforestation Declining pollinators Natural resources degradation CLIMATE CHANGE Lack of recognition of eco services provided by mountain agriculture. Mitigation, adaptation and risk resilience issues

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