By Syed Shamsuddin Dwarf Grape Plantations in Gilgit-Baltistan — Why They Matter (and Which Grapes Work Best in a Similar Climate) Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), a land of soaring peaks and breathtaking valleys, faces a critical agricultural challenge — extreme scarcity of arable land. Studies and land-use surveys indicate that barely 1–2% of its total area is cultivable, with most households managing landholdings smaller than a hectare. This acute land limitation renders every terrace, courtyard, and flat patch of soil immensely valuable for food production and household income. In such a landscape, the concept of dwarf grape plantations emerges as a practical, innovative, and climate-compatible response to GB’s constraints — combining compact, high-density, and vertically efficient viticulture techniques to turn even the tiniest spaces into productive vineyards. Why Dwarf-Grape Systems Suit Gilgit-Baltistan 1. Maximizing Productiv...
Synergizing Forestry and Agriculture in Gilgit-Baltistan: A Call for Coordinated Innovation Amidst Climate Challenges
By Syed Shamsuddin IN THE WAKE of escalating climate change impacts and mounting land-use pressures, the Forest and Agriculture Departments of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) stand at a defining juncture. The region’s fragile mountain ecosystems, once protected by their remoteness, are now increasingly exposed to erratic weather patterns, glacial retreat, soil degradation, and shrinking cultivable land. Under these circumstances, coordinated and synergistic action between the two departments is not only desirable but inevitable to ensure ecological stability, food security, and sustainable livelihoods for local communities. 1. Convergence of Mandates: Forests and Farms as Complementary Systems Historically, forestry and agriculture have operated as distinct sectors. However, in a mountainous and land-scarce region like Gilgit-Baltistan—where every patch of arable land is precious—this compartmentalized approach no longer serves the realiti...