Abstract
The paper describes the socio-economic conditions and some strategies to restore the productivity of eight villages in Henval Watershed in the Tehri Garhwal Himalayas. The study reveals that the ratio of female to male population is more due to migration of males in search of livelihood to the other places. The average livestock varies from 4.43 to 5.40 per family and average land holding from 0.26 ha (Manjyar) to 1.52 ha (Jaul). Almost all the families in surveyed villages are engaged in farming and their average annual income per family per year is very low and varies from Rs 4000/- to Rs 6500/- per month. Fodder and fuel wood collection is done from the nearby forests, mainly by the women and children of the family and they spend 3 to 4 hours in these activities. Due to grazing of animals and collection of fodder and fuel wood, these activities cause environmental depletion It is suggested that afforestation of village forest /community land through Agroforestry models like silvipasture/ silvihorti system etc, can provide a key to the economic prosperity of the rural hills and would also be helpful in fulfilling the requirements of local inhabitants and ultimately balancing the whole ecology of the Garhwal Himalayas.
Keywords
Productivity, Socio-economic condition, Environmental depletion, Afforestation, Agroforestry models, Strategies, Livelihood