Khasi Farmers Revive Meghalaya's Soil Through Traditional Agroecology

Khasi farmers in Meghalaya's Eastern West Khasi Hills district are reviving traditional farming systems by reducing chemical use, restoring indigenous crops and adopting mixed cropping and composting to reverse soil degradation caused by intensive chemical-based chilli cultivation. The agroecological shift is strengthening climate resilience and supporting the state's organic farming agenda.

Hybrid chilli cultivation in Eastern West Khasi Hills initially delivered improved yields and market incomes when chemical fertilisers and pesticides were introduced. Over time, however, intensive use of synthetic inputs caused progressive soil degradation, declining biodiversity and falling farm productivity as soil organic matter was depleted. Farmers are now documenting the limits of the chemical model and returning to practices including mixed cropping, on-farm composting and conservation of local seed varieties that previously sustained the ecosystem.

The return to traditional practices mirrors the broader case for agroecology as a climate adaptation strategy. Soils enriched with organic matter retain more water and resist erosion, critical attributes in a region with intense monsoon rainfall and steep terrain. Local seed varieties conserved by Khasi communities are better adapted to local microclimates and pest pressures than commercial hybrids, and mixed cropping systems distribute risk across multiple species rather than concentrating it in a single commodity.

Meghalaya has set targets for expanding organic farming, and the Khasi experience offers a ground-level implementation model. State agricultural extension services are beginning to document the practices as part of agroecology promotion programmes. With international attention on soil health as a climate mitigation and adaptation lever — including under the Kunming-Montreal framework's ecosystem restoration targets — community-led soil restoration initiatives like those in Meghalaya are gaining relevance beyond state borders.

Key figure — Declining soil productivity reversed through agroecological practices