Changing agroclimatic zones and cropping patterns in the Garhwal Himalaya with reference to major drivers, implications and mitigation measures

This paper examines the changing agro-climatic zones and cropping patterns in the Garhwal Himalaya. Drawing on household surveys, climatic trend analysis, and people’s perceptions, the study identifies the major drivers, implications, and adaptation pathways shaping agricultural transformations in the region. The authors conducted a household-level survey of 280 households, enumerating 100% of households from each village across 15 villages in five districts of the Garhwal Himalaya, complemented by correlation analysis and climatic trend data, to examine agro-climatic variability and crop diversity in detail. The Garhwal Himalaya possesses rich agrobiodiversity, and its cropping patterns are distinctive. In recent years, however, agro-climatic zones and cropping patterns have undergone significant changes. The findings show that persistent warming, combined with socio-economic stressors such as wildlife intrusion, out-migration, labour shortages, and changing food habits, is reshaping cropping patterns in the region. People’s perceptions of changing rainfall patterns, shorter winters, and declining water resources closely align with observed climatic data, supporting climate change as the dominant driver of change. The results highlight uneven vulnerabilities across the four agro-climatic zones: cereal decline is steepest in sub-tropical valleys due to lack of irrigation facilities; fruit decline dominates in sub-temperate and temperate belts due to warming and pests; while apple cultivation has shifted into the cold agro-climatic zone. Therefore, adaptation strategies must be zone-specific: expanding irrigation and protecting crops from wildlife in sub-tropical valleys; diversifying crops and reviving orchards in sub-temperate belts; adopting pest-resistant varieties in temperate regions; and strengthening dairy farming and market linkages in cold zones. Besides, stronger policy interventions, institutional support, and access to climate information are vital to ensure sustainable and climate-resilient mountain agriculture in the region. These findings are directly relevant to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals- particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land)- by promoting climate-resilient food systems, adaptive livelihoods, and conservation of fragile mountain agroecosystems in the Himalayan region.