Forces of globalisation, dynamism and diversity in the agro-ecological production system: a study in sustainable development from a hill tribe in Western Himalayas

The diversity of practices and dynamism in traditional mountain production systems of south Asia has been the focus of recent studies. This paper attempts to describe the diversity and dynamism of social and agricultural practices in a traditional mountain production system. The paper is based on ethnographic data gathered from Jangi village in district Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh, where farmers are described and interpreted in the context of their risk-mediating roles in their agro-pastoral activities. Here, risk mediation is the reduction or elimination of this possibility, as well as the minimisation of its impacts, in case such a loss or harm does occur. The paper can be seen as contributing to a growing body of literature on resource use planning, management and sustainable development, also indicating that people are changing in response to the forces of globalisation, while maintaining their ecological knowledge.