In the hill state of Uttarakhand climate change is driving a major transformation in agriculture. Once dominated by water-intensive crops like wheat, paddy, and potatoes, the state’s farmlands are now tilting towards climate-resilient pulses and spices as extreme weather patterns worsen year after year.
A new report titled Water and Heat Stress in the Hills paints a grim picture: over the past decade, Uttarakhand has lost 27.2% of its cultivated land and suffered a 15.2% decline in total agricultural yield. The hardest-hit are food grains and oilseeds, with wheat and paddy cultivation seeing a marked decline. Meanwhile, pulses and spices are emerging as the unexpected winners of this climate-induced shift.
The Rise of Resilient Crops
As rainfall becomes erratic and winters turn drier, crops that require less water and fewer inputs are becoming vital to survival. Pulses like chickpea, pigeon pea, horse gram (gahat), and black soybean (kala bhatt) many of which are GI-tagged traditional varieties are expanding their footprint across hill farms.
Spices, too, are booming. Turmeric cultivation has more than doubled, while chilli output is up by 35%. Overall, spice farming has expanded by 50%, with yields improving by 10.5% between 2016 and 2022.
Potato Collapse Highlights Crisis
The decline of the humble potato is one of the clearest signs of stress. Once a crown crop in the hills, potato production has plummeted by over 70% in five years from more than 3.6 lakh metric tonnes in 2020-21 to just over 1 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24. Cultivation area also fell by 36.4% in the same period, with districts like Almora and Rudraprayag worst affected.
Experts attribute the fall to disrupted weather cycles. Less snowfall and scattered rainfall have drained soil moisture during crucial growth stages.
Weather Extremes Driving Change
Uttarakhand witnessed 94 extreme weather days in 2023, damaging nearly 45,000 hectares of farmland, as per India’s Atlas on Weather Disasters. Rising temperatures, shrinking snowfall between October and January, and erratic monsoons are forcing farmers to pivot.
To support this transition, Krishi Vigyan Kendras are introducing drought-tolerant crop varieties and offering guidance to farmers in crop planning. Pulses and spices not only require less water but also help restore soil health and provide better market returns.
A Future Rooted in Adaptation
For Uttarakhand’s hill farmers, the shift isn’t just about crop choice it’s about survival. As climate change continues to reshape their fields and futures, resilient crops like pulses and spices are fast becoming the new backbone of hill agriculture.