A Study on tribal Food Habits, Food Culture and Lifestyle of Changthang Region
Abstract
The district is located at a distance of around 430 kmfrom Srinagar and 235 kmfrom Kargil. The present study was conducted in the Changthang region of Leh District in UT Ladakh. The sample for the study was drawn from the Nyoma block of the Changthang region. The traditional food of Changthang people is based on animals, vegetables, and the cropping system of barley. Animal-based products (meat and dairy) are common. Most people eat dry yak and goat meat, which is sliced thinly and hung to dry after slaughter. By-products of livestock such as milk are used to make paneer, churpey (cottage cheese), butter (khakla maar), and ghee. Pastoral nomads consume only meat and milk from their livestock due to the absence of a cropping system, as they migrate in search of pasture for their livestock. During the winter, Changthang people sell livestock like goats, sheep, and yak in other parts of Leh. They face various challenges in life, especially regarding health and basic necessities, which impacts their social and economic life. Most people consume preserved products like dried meat and churpey. Traditionally, the agricultural system in the Changthang region was primarily for self-consumption. Krishi Vigyan scientists provide training on food preservation and value addition for milk products, vegetables, and barley, focusing on drying vegetables in a hygienic way without losing vitamins and minerals.
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Introduction
Changthang is a unique part of Ladakh, characterized by harsh climatic conditions with dryness and very low rainfall. The temperature varies from hot to extreme cold. This area is known as a Cold Himalayan Desert and has very low thermal and hydric indexes. July and August are the hottest months, while January is the coldest. In Changthang, average precipitation, mostly in the form of snow, is less than 10 mm, which can be fatal to livestock during the winter. The population predominantly leads a nomadic lifestyle, constantly moving in search of greener pastures for their livestock.
FIGURE 1: Changthang Location The cropping system is agri-pastoral, with most of the area gross cropped. The average altitude of the region is around 14,600 meters above sea level. Changthang, covering an area of 21,000 square kilometers, occupies a strategic position, sharing borders with both China and Pakistan. It is home to thousands of Changpa nomads (Tashi Dolkar et al., 2017). In Ladakh, women actively participate in all agricultural activities. In recent years, one of the notable features of the mountainous region of Ladakh has been the shift in the traditional subsistence economy towards livelihood diversification among genders. This diversification has had a direct impact on the dominant economic activities of the region (Tashi Dolkar et al., 2021).
Limited food resources and seasonal accessibility to vegetables and fruits make the population susceptible to nutritional deficiencies. However, like other isolated communities, Ladakhis have developed indigenous practices of food processing. As pastoralists, they incorporate milk and milk products to supplement their staples (Anup Raj et al., 2015). The traditional food diets of the region are considered highly nutritious and healthy (Kala, Roy et al., 2004).
Conclusion
The Changpa nomads of the Changthang region exemplify the traditional pastoral practices of the Himalayas. They use natural resources to shape their knowledge of making various foods. However, many women and children suffer from anemia and vitamin deficiencies due to poor vegetation and limited nutritional resources. The agricultural system is witnessing a shift, with an increasing focus on vegetable cultivation and a decline in the production of traditional crops.
