'Set up income commission of mountain farmers'

Setting up of a farmers' income commission to ensure minimum respectable income to farmers, incentivising ecosystem services provided by Himalayan states, climate change adoption and resilience building of mountain farmers were among recommendations mooted at the conclusion of the Sustainable Mountain Development Summit on Friday.

The recommendations of the summit, held in Shoolini University near here, were presented at the conclave of Chief Ministers and delegates of states from six states in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla.

Shoolini University Vice Chancellor P.K. Khosla gave the details of the proceedings and recommendations at the conclave.

The summit was organised by Centre of Research on Himalayan Sustainability and Development of Shoolini University and Integrated Mountain Initiative with support from the Himachal Pradesh government.

Other major recommendations included a mechanism for compensating farmers for ecosystem services, provision of green cess, green bonds and establishments of green infrastructure fund.

It also called for developing the Himalayas and recommended compensating Himalayan states for conservation of natural resources.

The summit on "Well-being of the next generation of farmers" was attended by over 200 delegates, including four former chief secretaries, five vice chancellors and members of civil society.

Khosla said the summit ended with a hope and determination that the next generation youth will play a pivotal role in conserving the Himalayan states.

The summit sought a balance between development and conservation of environment. It also called upon to create, on the lines of apple cultivation, several other success stories taking advantage of the different agro-climatic zones of 10 Himalayan states and hill districts of Darjeeling and Assam.

It was recommended that Integrated Mountain Initiative should also play a key role of a coordinator between the Himalayan people and the Indian government so that the region gets its due share from the national exchequer when it is mandatory for the Himalayan states to protect 66 per cent of the forest area for the conservation of the Indo-Gangetic basin and Brahmaputra basin.

The summit suggested an unequivocal partnership between all Himalayan people, its political and administrative heads and the government of India for the prosperity of the entire nation.

--IANS

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