Family farming is… empowering women mountain farmers in India

A story by Rohit Prashar

“We have only one farming season here. So we always look for the best alternatives to
sustain our livelihood”, says Tenzin Dolma, a resilient 45-year-old farmer from Losar, a
secluded village nestled in the Spiti valley of tribal Lahaul-Spiti district. For much of the
year, Losar remains snowbound, making agriculture uniquely challenging and highly
dependent on a narrow window of opportunity.
Historically, farming in Losar has always been non-chemical, relying on practices
passed down through generations. However, the increasing unpredictability of weather
patterns, a hallmark of climate change in the Himalayas, has spurred an urgent need for
more systematic and resilient approaches. For Tenzin and many other women in Losar,
the answer came in the form of natural farming. Following training sessions in 2018 and
2019, they were quick to adopt this innovative approach.
“Traditionally, we only used animal dung as manure, without any structured method. In
contrast, the natural farming approach ensures systematic handling of non-chemical
inputs and offers numerous benefits for sustainable agriculture”, Tenzin explains. “The
results in our fields have corroborated that natural farming is indeed more beneficial,
especially for adapting to the changes we are witnessing in our climate.” Tenzin, who
cultivates 15 bigha (1.2 Hectares) out of her 30-bigha (2.4 Hectares) land using natural
farming, embodies the spirit of resilience. Her family’s livelihood depends on this single
annual crop. She diversified her produce, growing peas, potatoes and barley in
dedicated fields, alongside vegetables in a small polyhouse (greenhouse covered with
polyethylene sheets). “I have tried line sowing of peas as per the natural farming
approach and found that it produces longer pea pods. The seed requirement is lower.
Two kilograms of seed produce two bags (50 kg each) of peas. We are now producing
our own seeds, which helps us adapt to changing seed availability and costs”, Tenzin
shares, noting how the previous broadcast methods (where seeds are scattered by
hand without spacing) yielded less.

While natural farming hasn’t drastically impacted potato or barley yield yet, Tenzin points
to crucial benefits that enhance climate resilience: “The soil texture in the fields has
visibly improved, and the crops grown under the natural farming approach perform
better during water shortages, as they require less water.” This reduced water
dependency is critical in a region where erratic rainfall and diminishing snowmelt pose
growing threats to agricultural sustainability. Although natural farming involves more
labour, the women find the effort worthwhile. “The produce is shiny, lush green and rich
in nutrients. We get good prices for it in the market”, Tenzin adds, emphasizing the
improved quality and market value, which contribute to the community’s economic
resilience. The peas, a staple crop, have remained remarkably disease-free for years,

offering consistent income, with farmers earning over INR 80 per kg at their doorstep,
bringing Tenzin over INR 150,000 annually from pea sales alone.
The COVID-19 pandemic, while disruptive, also showcased the adaptive capacity of
these farmers. When marketing chains for green peas collapsed during the lockdown,
the community pivoted. “We grew a traditional crop, black peas (a pulse), which has
good potential in Spiti but had vanished over the years. The pulse can be stored for long
periods” Tenzin explains. This strategic return to a climate-resilient, storable traditional
crop demonstrates an inherent wisdom for ensuring food security in uncertain times.
Tenzin leads the 20-member Choyang Mahila Khadya Suraksha Samuh (Women’s
Food Security Group) in Losar, where most members have adopted natural farming on
at least some of their land. Their collaborative spirit is a pillar of their success. All the
women have local cows and they often join forces to produce and share farm inputs, in
an effort to assist one another with fieldwork. Some have even participated in visits to
other natural farming initiatives in Himachal Pradesh organized by the Agricultural
Technology Management Agency under the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana
(PK3Y) scheme, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building.
To further disseminate their newfound knowledge, the group members are also creating
videos showcasing the preparation of farm inputs and various principles of natural
farming. These videos are widely circulated among women farmers in adjoining villages
like Chichong and Kayato. “The women are adopting natural farming methods when
they look at the success others are getting from it”, Tenzin notes, highlighting the power
of peer-to-peer learning and visible results.

In tribal areas, women traditionally manage the fields and often make key decisions.
Tenzin believes that natural farming has further empowered these women mountain
farmers, enhancing their skills and problem-solving abilities through regular training and
knowledge exchange. This blend of traditional wisdom with systematic natural farming
practices is not just about growing food. it is about building resilience, fostering
community and empowering women as agents of change in the face of climate change.
Through the dedicated efforts of women like Tenzin, Losar village is becoming a beacon
of climate-resilient agriculture, demonstrating how traditional knowledge, empowered
communities, and innovative techniques can secure livelihoods and food systems for a
sustainable future.

Key messages:

1. Around 1.1 billion people worldwide live in mountain communities. Of these, 65%
   live in rural areas where agriculture and livestock are the main sources of
   livelihood. FAO. 2015. Mapping the vulnerability of mountain peoples to food

insecurity. Rome, FAO.
https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.11766/16636

2. Family farms in mountains help shape mountain landscapes, providing vital
   ecosystem services, including the provision of freshwater, disaster risk reduction,
   preservation of biodiversity, and space for recreation and tourism. FAO. 2013.
   Mountain Farming is Family Farming: A contribution from mountain areas
   to the International Year of Family Farming 2014. Rome: FAO.
   Available at: https://www.fao.org/4/i3480e/i3480e.pdf
3. Pillar 6 of the UNDFF Global Action Plan promotes the sustainability of family
   farming for climate-resilient food systems. It highlights the importance of capacity
   development and farmer-to-farmer exchanges, to share and adapt sustainable
   agriculture practices, including agroecology. FAO and IFAD. 2019. United
   Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019–2028: Global Action Plan. Rome.
   Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. https://comdevasia.org/wp-
   content/uploads/2020/04/UNDFF-global-plan-2019-2028.pdf
4. Despite their unique role as service providers and resilience builders, many
   women farmers remain the most affected by poverty, social exclusion, and are
   more likely to not see their basic human rights respected. Pillar 3 of the UNDFF
   Global Action Plan promotes gender equity in family farming and the leadership
   role of rural women. FAO and IFAD. 2019. United Nations Decade of Family
   Farming 2019–2028: Global Action Plan. Rome. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
   IGO. https://comdevasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/UNDFF-global-plan-
   2019-2028.pdf
5. In line with its Strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031, FAO is supporting
   countries to develop strategic, inclusive partnerships with farmers’ organizations,
   ensuring that climate finance can better reach family farmers on the front line.
   FAO. 2022. FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031. Rome, FAO.
   Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
   https://openknowledge.fao.org/bitstreams/f6270800-eec7-498f-9887-
   6d937c4f575a/download