The scope of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) as an alternative crop and means of livelihood, particularly for the rural poor, has not been extensively explored. Tulsi is in much demand for its medicinal and aromatic properties, particularly in Ayurveda. With increased depredation of cereal crops by wildlife, increased pest incidence, and decreasing availability of water for agriculture, an attempt was made to explore alternative livelihoods through Tulsi cultivation and value chain development. Using cross-sectional survey data of beneficiary households, the study employed the ordinary least squares method to examine the relationship between total crop income and the income from Tulsi for 2016 and 2017. The findings suggest that the average household’s gross profit more than doubled within a span of two years. Total crop income of beneficiary farmers increased by 0.8 percent for every 1 percent increase in income from Tulsi. Most importantly, the intervention has shown a tremendous adoption rate. Initially, in 2013, 200 farmers cultivated Tulsi on 8.72 hectors of unirrigated and fallow land in the five beneficiary villages, but by 2017, towards the end of the intervention period, 400 farmers were cultivating the crop on 19.6 hectors of unirrigated, fallow land in 19 villages in Chamoli District. Tulsi farming and value chain development intervention not only provided marginal and smallholder farmers in these villages with a sustainable alternative additional livelihood option but also an opportunity where they were able to sustainably generate income from unirrigated, fallow land.

Sustainable land use is one of the emergent mountain concerns which requires immediate policy and regulatory attention. This study examines land use change and land prices at three different 5-yearly intervals: 2019, 2014 and 2009 respectively in three urbanizing districts of Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan. Empirical evidences are gathered by using mixed-method approaches. Findings of the study suggest that households’ land holdings of cultivated and uncultivated patches have declined significantly whereas, built-up area continued to rise over the years. Simultaneously, value of land in the urban centers has increased exponentially. As a result, sustainability of future economic benefits and ecosystem health becomes a major challenge for local community and policy makers. Therefore, this study recommends effective and sustainable land use planning with the emphasis on legislation, policy making, judicious and healthy use of ecosystem services and local ownership synced with customary laws and traditional knowledge.

We assessed an impact of bay leaf value chain intervention programme on household welfare in mountain agroforestry context. We used primary survey data from project and comparison villages and propensity score matching for creating a valid counterfactual. Results indicate that households in the project villages planted 75 per cent more bay leaf trees, produced 170 per cent more bay leaves and sold more quality products at higher prices than households in comparison villages; per-capita household income increased by NPR 5000–7300, share of bay leaf income in total household income increased by 8–10 per cent and level of poverty declined by 6–8 per cent. Households with female respondents benefited more in some aspects but not so in others, especially in enrolling children in school.