Assessment of Sustainable Agriculture Practices in Uttarakhand, India

About 65% of adults across the world, engage in agriculture as a profession. Impoverished rural farmers in India experience numerous challenges that greatly affect their livelihood. This study was directed to investigate the sustainability of agriculture in mountainous areas, that are largely understudied. An exploratory and naturalistic study was conducted in a rural village of Uttarakhand in northern India. Primary data focused on the experience of community members was triangulated with secondary statistical data. Findings shed light on the impediments of the agricultural livelihood: lack of water for irrigation, insufficient yield, animal intrusion, and reliance on traditional farming practices. To address these challenges, an Internet of Things-based system for irrigation, integrated with a crop protection system was proposed.