The Status of Women in Subsistence Agriculture in the Garhwal Himalaya, India

Abstract

The rural people of the Garhwal region are generally characterized as economically deprived. Their basic source of income is traditional agriculture on small terraced fields with low productivity. Animal husbandry is neither productive nor profitable yet excessive and uncontrolled grazing has led to large-scale soil erosion; the only economic benefit from livestock is the dung which provides fertilizer for agricultural fields. The daily requirements of the inhabitants for fuel, food, and fodder are a cause of great concern in any attempt to achieve or maintain sustainable development and a balanced ecosystem (Negi, 1992). In view of this, an integrated watershed management project has been developed in the Garhwal Himalaya to improve rural agriculture and, at the same time, to prevent overexploitation of the natural resources. A study was undertaken in the area south of the River Bhagirathi. Here, watersheds defined by natural boundaries in each drainage basin were designated as 'sub-watersheds' or 'mini-watersheds' and these units were used to classify information on the development of land, water, and plant resources to meet the subsistence needs of the hill farmers and farm women. The Henval, Hindolakhal, and Muni-Ki-Reti subwatersheds were selected for field study in the south Bhagirathi area in the Tehri Garhwal district. Within these, five mini-watersheds were selected: the Agar (about 280 ha) on the eastern banks of the Henval; the Lawa (336 ha) and Amani (358 ha) on the north and south banks of the Hindolakhal; and the Simswara (104 ha) and Byasi (575 ha) on the north and west banks of the Muni-KiReti.