Soil and water are the two important natural resources, which are the backbone of the Indian agriculture. The prime cause for the backwardness of the farmers is reduction in soil fertility and productivity, due to massive soil erosion. Most of the farmers are depending mainly on renewable natural resources for their livelihoods. The inhabitants of the foothill region of Northwest Himalayas have degraded lands, fragmented and small land holdings and are generally resource poor.

The increasing lelvel of green house gases in general and carbon dioxide in particular has raised concerns about the vulnerability of human, animal and plant life. Forests though serve as sources and sink of the CO2, there is need to synthesize the impact of climate change on forests and the role of forests in global carbon cycle.

Farmer Subhash Sharma watched the decline of his soil and agricultural yields before he let nature be his teacher and understood the agro-economics of agriculture. He abandoned insecticides and chemical fertilisers and relied instead on the cow, trees, birds and vegetation.

Agriculture in the north-eastern region of India has considerable potential to grow and contribute to the overall economic growth and livelihood of the rural population. The climate is favourable to grow a wide variety of crops, particularly fruits, vegetables and spices.