Agriculture in Spiti is a testament to human ingenuity in an extreme environment. With an incredibly short growing season (roughly May to September) and almost zero rainfall, farming relies entirely on snowmelt. Villagers maintain ancient, gravity-fed irrigation channels called *kuhls* to bring water from glaciers to their fields.
The primary crops include black peas, green peas, barley, and potatoes. Spitian green peas are highly prized in Indian markets for their sweetness and quality. In recent years, lower-altitude villages like Tabo have successfully transitioned to growing high-quality apples.
Animal husbandry is equally important. Locals raise yaks, dzo (a yak-cow hybrid), sheep, and goats. These animals provide crucial resources such as milk, meat, wool, and manure, and are well adapted to surviving the brutal winters. Additionally, the harvesting of wild Sea Buckthorn berries (a hardy, vitamin-rich shrub) has become a small but profitable agro-industry.