Mainstreaming Barahnaja cultivation for food and nutritional security in the Himalayan region

Selective production of input intensive crops in the present scenario have resulted in productivity stagnation or even decline due to excessive usage of chemicals, affecting the farmers economically. Sustainable agriculture is the way to increase agricultural productivity and economic prosperity by protecting all natural resources. It maintains a balance of soil fertility with crop productivity and nutritional quality. The mixed cropping systems followed earlier in different regions according to their tradition, climatic zone, soil and water conditions were climate-smart approaches to sustainable food production based on practical experiences over the years of old generations. The life style changes, imbalance in farming system in last 70 years and demand for more food as well as declining land resources resulted in intensive agriculture. Besides, least returns and less demand of ethnic crops gave more preference to major staple food crops. Barahnaja is a traditional orphan crops based mixed cropping system practiced in Himalayan region due to its sustainability and assured crop harvest during erratic weather conditions. This traditional farming method is an exemplary scientific approach to derive innovations with respect to productivity, quality, plant soil interactions and organic agriculture. The main focus of the review is to substantiate the characteristics of the traditional mixed cropping system by describing the advantages of the system and opportunities for scientific innovation towards new knowledge and sustainability.