Appropriate Technology Asia

Our India programme

is currently focussed predominantly in Ladakh and the wider area within Jammu and Kashmir, although we maintain a small presence in Chhattisgarh.

 

Our country office is based in New Delhi, and our office is comprised of a multi-ethnic staff of 5 people, giving us the linguistic capability we need to work with the wide diversity of ethnic groups found in the Himalayan regions of northern India.


Geography

In Ladakh, the terrain consists of narrow desert valleys, broad swathes of pasture, and the gigantic mountain ranges of the north-western Himalayan massif. Altitude varies between 2900 and 5900 metres above sea level, and winter temperatures can fall as low as -60°C when wind-chill is taken into account.

 

The severity of the climate is enhanced by the rainshadow created by the Himalaya, and precipitation levels are consequently very low, at around 50mm per annum. The intricate tracery of rivers and streams which have carved valleys through the loosely consolidated glacial sediments and heavily metamorphosed rocks are derived predominantly from glacial meltwater and snowmelt.

 

The Changthang region is a sub-division of Ladakh and covers an area of some 21,000Km². Livelihoods are predominantly focused on the rearing of livestock. The Changthang pasture area alternates in height between 3750m to 5400m.

 

It is an area that receives minimal rainfall of around 70-100mm per year, although this varies considerably, and may be as low as 10mm in a dry year. Snowfall in the pasture area averages at 5 to 7mm per month during December, January and February. The relative humidity is also extremely low. The majority of the pastures are located in the riverine valleys, where sufficient water from the rivulets and streams sustains the pasture.