Traditional Crop Diversity in Kumaon Himalaya of Uttarakhand State – A Case Study

Traditional crop diversity plays an important role for the sustenance of human life. In hilly areas, climatic conditions vary from place to place and the adaptability of crops also varies. In such complex system of hill farming, number of crops and their numerous varieties are one of the main components of sustainable development. These diverse crop groups and varieties play key role in diversifying the agriculture as well as ensuring food security. The present study was focused on the adaptability of crops and their varieties (both traditional and improved) on the parameters like altitude and irrigation water in the Kumaon Himalaya. Impact of irrigation on the loss of crops diversity and selection procedures of varieties is also discussed.