Assessing Agricultural Vulnerability to Climate Change in High-Altitude Himalayan Regions: A Composite Index Approach in Lahaul and Spiti, India

High-elevation agricultural systems face increased risks due to climate change, thus livelihood, food security, and rural areas are threatened. In this study, a region-specific Agricultural Vulnerability Index is constructed to assess the climate vulnerability of 41 panchayats in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Using a multi-dimensional framework incorporating exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity across 57 indicators, the AVI scores and spatial analyses normalised agricultural vulnerability conditions. The AVI scores ranged from 0.471 to 0.553, with Langza (0.553), Sagnam (0.551), and Lalung (0.550) being considered as the most vulnerable panchayats due to climatic extremes, seasonal instability, and limited adaptive mechanisms, while the areas of Goshal (0.471) and Khangsar (0.474) showed lower vulnerability. The agricultural vulnerability shows aspects of the multidimensional framework under ecological fragility and socio-economic constraints. Identifying spatial risk patterns makes this research instrumental in evidence-based planning for climate-resilience agriculture. Such analyses accentuate the need for an integrated approach encompassing infrastructure development, policy changes, a confluence of technologies, and community participation in building adaptive capacity for mountain farming systems.