• Dr.Mohd Amir
• Mr. Khail Raj

The Choour, a hybrid of Yak and cow (locally known as Dzo for males and Dzomo or Choouri for females), has historically played a vital role in the traditional agricultural system of Padder, a remote and ecologically sensitive region in Jammu and Kashmir. For centuries, this animal was not only central to ploughing and land cultivation but also represented the cultural and economic wealth of households. The Choour was highly valued for its physical strength, adaptability to cold mountainous terrain, and its ability to plough fields in a way that preserved soil structure, promoted long-term fertility, and supported sustainable agriculture. Its role was deeply intertwined with the identity and survival of mountain communities, passed down through generations as a treasured practice.In recent years, however, the emergence of mechanized ploughing using petroleum and diesel-powered tillers has led to a drastic decline in the use of Choour. This shift has accelerated over the past decade, pushing the Choour to the brink of extinction in most accessible parts of Padder, though a few remain in remote, roadless regions like Gandhari and Kabaan. While mechanized ploughing is perceived as modern and time-efficient, it has brought along a host of ecological, cultural, and health-related consequences. Mechanized tillers contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution, disturb the soil structure, and promote erosion by fragmenting the soil into fine particles that are easily washed or blown away. Furthermore, these machines have been associated with increasing incidents of physical injury among operators, including cases of leg amputations, joint pain, and high blood pressure due to constant vibrations and stress. This paper argues that the displacement of Choour-based agriculture represents not merely a technological transition, but a deeper ecological and cultural loss. The replacement of a naturally sustainable, low-cost, and environmentally benign method with a mechanized, unsustainable alternative reflects a failure in agricultural and climate-sensitive policy planning. This study, through field observations, interviews, and review of literature, aims to document the past importance of Choour, examine the negative impacts of mechanization, and provide urgent recommendations for the revival and conservation of this endangered species and the knowledge system it represents. The research also draws attention to global movements toward agroecology and traditional methods, noting similar reversals in mechanization trends in parts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where communities are now rediscovering the value of organic, animal-assisted farming. The extinction of Choour would not only mean the loss of an animal but the erasure of an entire way of life, local knowledge, and an ecologically balanced farming system.

Choour, Dzo, Dzomo, Padder, sustainable agriculture, mechanized ploughing, traditional farming, climate change, animal traction, Ladakh, Himalayan region.

"Extinction of Choour in Padder: A Traditional Agricultural Asset Replaced by Mechanised Ploughing-An Alarming Ecological and Cultural Shift", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no.j152-j159, May-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505A16.pdf

"Extinction of Choour in Padder: A Traditional Agricultural Asset Replaced by Mechanised Ploughing-An Alarming Ecological and Cultural Shift", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no. ppj152-j159, May-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505A16.pdf