ECONOMY

चंद्रा भागा की कल - कल गूँज उठती है इस सुंदर घाटी में , हीरे, जवाहरात, सोना उगता है यहाँ की माटी में !!

ECONOMY

In an area, which is covered with snow for more than six months of the year, and the terrain is extremely rocky and difficult what kind of economy one can expect or visualize. Economic resources of such a region can only be few, depending upon the mercy of nature. The ecology must have played a most dominant part in the evaluation of professions of the people. In absence of adequate rain, the region remained deficient in food grains, devoid of forest resources and deprived of mineral wealth.

As the district is mountainous and rugged so major part of it is barren and uncultivated. The economic distress of the people can very well be imagined in view of the meager and limited quantity of land available for cultivation. Still, agriculture was primary source of the valley like other states. Agricultural operations begins in April and ends in September. From September to early April, Lahoul remained under snow. The nature of the soil varies little. Agriculture is the only mainstay of the people of this area. Due to high altitude and very cold climate only 'rabi crop' is raised during the summer season.They grew mainly barely, wheat, peas, potatoes, apple and vegetables. Buck-wheat is also grown in certain villages of the lower valley. The entire population is dependant on the agriculture. Almost the entire district is barren and about 2770 hectares i.e.25% of the total area is under cultivation . The valleys are extremely narrow with steep mountains and river running through deep gorges. In proportion to its vast area, whatever land is fit for agriculture's available lies in small flats, sixty to one hundred meters above the river beds. What hamper the extent of agriculture operations is not only the shortage of flat lands or lands with gentle slopes, safe against erosion, but also the non-availability of adequate sources of water for irrigation. Means of irrigation in this district are Kuhals [small water channels] drawn from streams. All the irrigation channels could not run satisfactorily due to non-availability of sufficient water from nullahs. This is because of scanty snowfall during the winter months. In Lahoul the quality of land and its produce is wonderfully homogeneous throughout the tract . The nature of the soil varies little and it may be described as alight sandy loam, singularly free as rule, from stones but dotted over in many places with large boulders. The mass of the cultivation, and consequently of the population is grouped in the fertile valley of the Chandra-Bhaga which is known as Pattan. This is the lowest and warmest portion of the Lahoul. Snow lies over the whole of the district generally from December till the end of the April and during that time no agriculture work is possible. It is possible to sow barley and peas in March end or early April and reap the crop in July. In mid or end of April the main cash crop of Lahoul 'potato' is sown and reap the crop in September. In July, people sow buck wheat which also ripens towards the end of September. Kuth is sown in November before the snow fall and also during April. The November sowing is however preferred as the seeds, get more time for stratification which is essential for better germination. Harvesting begins with the moving of the hay in the middle of the August and buckwheat, barley, wheat are reaped in succession. In the areas under double crop both barley and buckwheat are cut down . Unlike the other parts of the Pradesh, where ploughing is done two or three times before sowing, here the practice is to plough the soil only once at the time of sowing. This is because of the very short growing season, which leaves little time for any preliminary ploughing.

A.F.P.Harcourt, the commissioner of Kullu [1869-71] observed that, 'The Lahoulis are shrewd and sharp traders, with far more intelligence and desire for knowledge'. The people of Lahoul have earned a fame of great traders. Perhaps they were the great carriers of trade between Kullu, Ladhak and Tibet. Large numbers of Lahulas were engaged in trade both as traders and as transporters. They used to purchase indigo, rice, brass and copper wares at Kullu and carry them on their ponies and goats to Ladhak and Tibet, which they bartered for borax, wool and other products. There was not much to export from Lahoul. A little wool and some spices such as coriander, cumin seeds were sent outside the region. Kalajeera, ratanjot etc are some of the medicinal and aromatic plants that spring up with the coming of summer on the slopes of these ranges. But now in modern days people of Lahoul are basically engaged in the trade and agriculture of cash crops like peas, potatoes, kuth, hopps, mannu, vegetables, apples and charma. In compare to olden days these cash crops have completely changed the life of Lahulis.

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