Adoption of Agro-ecological Methods (Organic Farming, Crop Rotation, Agro-forestry) for Improving Soil Health and Long-term Productivity: Insights from the Himalayan Hills

Mountain agricultural systems of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) face persistent challenges: soil erosion, nutrient depletion, shallow profiles, climate variability, and socio-economic pressures such as out-migration. Agro-ecological approaches—organic farming, diversified crop rotations, cover cropping, and agro- forestry—offer sustainable pathways to restore soil health and enhance long-term productivity. This paper synthesizes evidence from ancient and medieval Indian agrarian literature, indigenous mountain knowledge systems, and contemporary scientific research (ICAR, FAO/IFOAM Himalayan Agro-ecology Initiative, peer-reviewed journals). Findings indicate that integrating organic inputs, perennial trees, legume-based rotations, and reduced tillage improves soil organic matter (SOM), microbial biomass, water-holding capacity, aggregate stability, and carbon sequestration. Adoption, however, is constrained by market failures, labour shortages, and fragmented landholdings. The study concludes with policy recommendations emphasizing landscape-scale watershed planning, community nurseries, value-chain development, and participatory research platforms.