TY - JOUR
T1 - Climate change, water and agriculture linkages in the upper Indus basin
T2 - A field study from Gilgit-Baltistan and Leh-Ladakh
AU - Tuladhar, S.
AU - Hussain, A.
AU - Baig, S.
AU - Soheb, M.
AU - Angchuk, T.
AU - Dimri, A. P.
AU - Shrestha, A. B.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study has been conducted by the Indus Basin Initiative under the regional programme River Basins and Cryosphere of ICIMOD, through the Upper Indus Basin Network India and Pakistan Chapter with financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). This study was partially supported by core funds of ICIMOD contributed by the governments of Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Tuladhar, Hussain, Baig, Ali, Soheb, Angchuk, Dimri and Shrestha.
PY - 2023/1/10
Y1 - 2023/1/10
N2 - The Indus is one of three largest river systems emerging from the Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH). In the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), water resources, agriculture and livelihoods are highly vulnerable to climate change induced hazards and risks. Present study investigates impacts of climate change on water availability, agriculture and livelihoods based on perception data collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews from selected study sites in Gilgit-Baltistan and Leh-Ladakh subregions of the UIB. Findings revealed that climate change is inducing both direct and indirect impacts on water availability, agriculture, and livelihoods. Local people reported that changes in precipitations patterns, temperature and timing of seasons, and increased incidence of crop pest attacks are resulting in the decline of crop and livestock productivity (direct impacts). Climate change is also impacting productivity indirectly through degradation of rangelands/pastures and water variability in traditional irrigation systems. Local people are taking diverse adaptation measures to cope with climate change impacts. These measures include revival of less water intensive traditional crops, start of enterprises and value chain developments in Gilgit-Baltistan, and improvement in water management practices and integration of traditional agricultural products with tourism in Leh-Ladakh. Some adaptation measures are likely to have negative impacts on sustainability of local agriculture. For instance, inorganic agricultural practices in Gilgit-Baltistan, and unplanned shift to water intensive crops and improved breeds of livestock in both Gilgit-Baltistan and Leh-Ladakh. Based on findings, this study suggests establishing a learning mechanism for local communities through collaboration of local institutions from both sides of border and people to people connections.
AB - The Indus is one of three largest river systems emerging from the Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH). In the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), water resources, agriculture and livelihoods are highly vulnerable to climate change induced hazards and risks. Present study investigates impacts of climate change on water availability, agriculture and livelihoods based on perception data collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews from selected study sites in Gilgit-Baltistan and Leh-Ladakh subregions of the UIB. Findings revealed that climate change is inducing both direct and indirect impacts on water availability, agriculture, and livelihoods. Local people reported that changes in precipitations patterns, temperature and timing of seasons, and increased incidence of crop pest attacks are resulting in the decline of crop and livestock productivity (direct impacts). Climate change is also impacting productivity indirectly through degradation of rangelands/pastures and water variability in traditional irrigation systems. Local people are taking diverse adaptation measures to cope with climate change impacts. These measures include revival of less water intensive traditional crops, start of enterprises and value chain developments in Gilgit-Baltistan, and improvement in water management practices and integration of traditional agricultural products with tourism in Leh-Ladakh. Some adaptation measures are likely to have negative impacts on sustainability of local agriculture. For instance, inorganic agricultural practices in Gilgit-Baltistan, and unplanned shift to water intensive crops and improved breeds of livestock in both Gilgit-Baltistan and Leh-Ladakh. Based on findings, this study suggests establishing a learning mechanism for local communities through collaboration of local institutions from both sides of border and people to people connections.
KW - agriculture
KW - climate change
KW - high mountains
KW - traditional irrigation systems
KW - upper Indus basin (UIB)
KW - water variability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147001595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85147001595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/5fe3615d-77ab-37f1-9317-65a24703da4a/
U2 - 10.3389/fsufs.2022.1012363
DO - 10.3389/fsufs.2022.1012363
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85147001595
SN - 2571-581X
VL - 6
JO - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
JF - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
M1 - 1012363
ER -