farming for a meaningful life

Hi there,

We are approaching end of April many of the villages in lower Ladakh called as ’Sham Region’ are undergoing sowing season while as further lower region such as Dha and Hanu region already got over with their sowing season and agriculture fields have become green.

The ‘Stod’ or upper Ladakh is yet to have their sowing season; however, vegetables have come well in the polyethylene green houses. So the family can manage green foliage for sometime through these innovative methods of raising green vegetables.

One of the first organization to initiate polyethylene green houses was the Ladakh Ecological Development-Group (LEDeG) somewhere in the early 1990s. It so happened that the glass green houses did not prove effective and sustainable, so LEDeG officials proposed for buying polyethylene sheets from India Petro Chemical Ltd, New Delhi for a mere 1 Lac budget.

And it established this with few of the progressive families of Leh such Mahey family Tukcha and few other families which proved successful and later the government agriculture department adopted it and million rupees worth polyethylene sheets were procured which was win win case for both the IPC Ltd company as their business thrived while local farmers of Ladakh could extend their agriculture season even into the winter through these novel methods.

Ladakh is a very cold region in the world in the past our climate used to be compared with Siberia and northern European countries. To lead a life in Ladakh has always been a challenge yet the people here have adapted and have thrived here. Many outsiders after staying here for sometime say that it really is a difficult region to live especially during winter.

Another important contribution of LEDeG in the past has been their dissemination of information regarding the ill effects of use of too much Chemical fertilizer in their agriculture farms; which led the farmers to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers and of encouraging the usage of organic fertilizers which can come only by raising live stocks.

One of the most damaging things that has happened is the total elimination of raising goat and sheep by local farmers since year 1990s; which is one of the most important sources of organic manure also of future of organic farming. This needs to be started at community level as a pilot project with support from the department of sheep husbandry under LAHDC-Leh and UT Administration.

These will revolution Ladakhi agriculture also provides healthy mutton, dairy, wool for local dresses. It sounds strange now as we are thinking we left it long time why now? The reason being we are already facing so many problems like life style diseases etc due to consumption of pre cooked. packaged and junk food? For generating enthusiasm about agriculture and its benefits children must be involved from early years. They must be taught in school regarding becoming farmer and benefits they could make to society by providing genuine local and rich food which organic and locally produce. Bye for now.