Traditional crop diversity, agricultural calendar and indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) in Spiti valley of the Indian trans-Himalaya

The Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, a high-altitude cold desert of the Indian trans-Himalaya, possesses rich traditional crop diversity and indigenous agricultural knowledge. However, socio-economic changes, climate variability and shifting livelihood patterns are increasingly threatening these valuable biocultural resources. This study was conducted during 2025-26 in villages under Losar, Kibber, Kaza and Kungri Panchayats to document traditional crop diversity and indigenous farming knowledge. Data were collected from 120 households using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools, including transect walks, focus group discussions, seasonal calendars and farmer meetings. A total of 28 traditional crop landraces and native plant varieties were recorded, including six barley landraces, four wheat landraces and two black pea landraces, along with several indigenous vegetables, spices and medicinal plants. Barley remained the most resilient and widely cultivated crop, whereas, black pea, wheat, mustard and several indigenous vegetables showed marked decline. Farmers reported that 42.85 per cent of traditional crops were declining and 17.85 per cent had become nearly extinct over the last 20-30 years due to labour shortages, youth outmigration, changing food habits, low market demand and climate variability. The study also documented indigenous systems of land measurement, crop calendars, irrigation management, collective labour sharing and agricultural rituals. These knowledge systems contribute significantly to sustainable resource management and climate adaptation. The findings emphasize the need for community-based conservation and promotion of traditional crops to strengthen agrobiodiversity, cultural heritage and climate resilience in the Spiti valley.