Agrarian Transition in Monpa Indigenous Farming Systems of Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh: A Shift towards High-Value Crop Agriculture

Sonam Chhoten; Tashi Lamu

Agrarian Transition in Monpa Indigenous Farming Systems of Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh: A Shift towards High-Value Crop Agriculture

Author(s)	Ms. Sonam Chhoten, Ms. Tashi Lamu
Country	India
Abstract	Agriculture among the Monpa tribe of Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh, has historically been characterized by indigenous farming systems adapted to the fragile mountain ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayas. These systems integrated crop cultivation, livestock rearing, forest resource utilization, and traditional ecological knowledge to ensure food security and environmental sustainability. However, recent decades have witnessed a significant agrarian transition driven by market integration, infrastructural development, state-led horticultural interventions, and changing livelihood aspirations. Traditional subsistence-based agriculture is increasingly being supplemented or replaced by commercial cultivation of high-value crops such as kiwi, apple, large cardamom, vegetables, medicinal plants, and floricultural products. This transformation reflects broader processes of agricultural commercialization and rural economic restructuring occurring across Northeast India. The present study examines the nature, drivers, and implications of agrarian transition within Monpa indigenous farming systems. Drawing upon literature on agrarian change, indigenous agriculture, sustainable livelihoods, and mountain farming systems, the paper develops a conceptual framework linking market integration, policy interventions, technological change, an-d livelihood diversification with agricultural transformation. The analysis suggests that high-value crop agriculture has contributed significantly to household income enhancement, employment generation, and market participation. However, it has also introduced challenges related to biodiversity loss, erosion of traditional agricultural knowledge, increasing market dependence, and environmental vulnerability. The study argues that sustainable agricultural development in Tawang requires balancing economic modernization with ecological conservation and cultural preservation. Strengthening indigenous knowledge systems, promoting climate-resilient farming practices, and enhancing value-chain support are essential for ensuring inclusive and sustainable agrarian transformation in the Eastern Himalayan region.
Keywords	Agrarian Transition, Monpa Tribe, Indigenous Farming Systems, High-Value Crops, Commercial Agriculture, Sustainable Livelihoods, Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalayas.
Field	Engineering
Published In	Volume 17, Issue 2, July-December 2026
Published On	2026-07-08

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Agrarian Transition in Monpa Indigenous Farming Systems of Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh: A Shift towards High-Value Crop Agriculture

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