International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, Volume 4 Issue 2, Feb 2019
www.ijasrm.com
ISSN 2455-6378
Sustainable alternatives to Shifting
Cultivation in North East India
Anil Pratap Singh
Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University,
Aizawl, Mizoram-796004
Abstract firewood, medicines and other domestic needs,
though it produces low yields of crops and has
In hilly regions of North East States shifting almost no potential beyond subsistence farming
cultivation locally known as jhum continues to be (Crains and Geritty,1999). The earlier 15–20 years
dominant mode of food production and economic cycle of shifting cultivation on a particular land has
mainstay of many rural housholds.It is way of life reduced to two or three years now. This has resulted
which provides subsistence to the dependent in large-scale deforestation, soil and nutrient loss,
community in form of food, fuel wood and fodder. and invasion by weeds and other species
Shifting cultivation leads to soil erosion, decline in (Ramakrishna,1992). The indigenous biodiversity
soil fertility, forest degradation, biodiversity loss, has been affected to a large extent. As Shifting
loss of ecosystem services and air pollution. agriculture is a significant contributor to
Transformation of shifting cultivation to settled deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas
agriculture is key to economic transformation of this emissions suitable policy intervention is required to
region. The suitable technological and policy improve livelihood and food production in hilly
intervention need to made which should respect land regions of North East India (Singh and Pradhan,
tenure, safeguard customary rights and traditional 1993). Various programmes such as National
values. These intervention should address food afforestation programme, social forestry have been
security while maintaining crop diversity, help launched to plant trees on Jhum lands. Bamboo
communities find alternate job opportunities, provide plantations have been done under National Bamboo
access to credit and market and reduction in poverty. Mission. Department of Horticulture, Sericulture,
Jhum rehabilitation schemes should focus on land Rural Development have promoted conversion of
management with livelihood generation, Jhum lands to Settled agriculture. Tea, Cashewnut,
infrastructure development and socioeconomic beatlenut, rubber, coffee, turmeric, pineapple,
development. Some of viable practices like creation passion fruits, floriculture, have been introduced in
of home gardens, fallow forestry, Agroforestry, cash areas which are well connected with market.
crop cultivation, timber tree plantation can help
reduce shifting cultivation to large extent. 2.Shifting Cultivation Scenario in North
East India
Keywords: Jhum, ecosystem services, livelihood,
agroforestry According to State of Forest Report (SFR) 2017 total
forest cover in NE states 1, 71,306 sq km which is
1.Introduction 65.34% of its geographical area. SFR 2017
assessment reported net loss of forest cover to extent
The history of shifting cultivation is as old as the
of 630 sq km in NE region. The main reason for this
history of agriculture itself. Most states of North East
decrease is attributed to shifting cultivation and other
India are covered by dense forests. In the hilly tracts
biotic pressures prevalent in this region. The hilly
of Northeast India, jhuming is the dominant
areas are exposed to environmental degradation,
economic activity.According wasteland Atlas of
massive soil erosion, disturbances of ecosystems,
India published by Department of Land resources,
loss of biodiversity and climate change (Sonowal et
Ministry of Rural Development, area under Shifting
al.,2005). The ideal solution for the hilly area
cultivation accounts to .28% of the total
problems would be settled agriculture with food
geographical area (WAI,2011).This includes .15%
crops grown on slopes and valley lands (Pandey and
under current jhum and .13% under abandoned
Sirothia, 2009) Task Force on Shifting Cultivation
Jhum category. The effects of shifting cultivation are
set up by the Government of India, in their report of
devastating and far-reaching in degrading the
2003, estimated a cumulative area of 1.73 million
environment and ecology of these regions.
hectares under the practice in NE India during the
Nevertheless, it supplies farming families with food,
period 1987-97, based on a report of the Forest
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International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, Volume 4 Issue 2, Feb 2019
www.ijasrm.com
ISSN 2455-6378
Survey of India published in 1999. The Task Force incorporation of trees in the farm was not
also reported that an estimated 620,000 families are appreciated by the farmers.
dependent on shifting cultivation.
Different agro-ecological terms have been used by 3.6 Contour trenches and ICAR 3-tier method:
some tribes of NE India. “Zabo” is a term used by Contour trenches was introduced by the
Phek district of Nagaland (Maithani,2005). It is an Agriculture Department in 2005-2006, but it was
indigenous system practiced for agriculture, forest, discontinued because contour trenches were
livestock, and fisheries with soil and water easily filled with soil due to steep open jhum
conservation base.“Apatani plateau system” is land within a monsoon. This indicates the
practised by Apatani tribe in Subansuri district of quantity of soil loss due to jhuming.
Arunachal Pradesh which is the rice bowl of Apatani 3.7 Sloping Agriculture Land Technology
population.“Panikheti” is a system of terrace (SALT): SALT was introduced in South
cultivation practised by Angami and Chakhesang Mizoram by Rev.Harold Watson of Mindanao
tribes of Nagaland where the source of water is Baptist Rural Life Centre Kinuskusan,
channeled through bamboo or channels from top to Philippines in 2004. It is still practiced and
the bottom in a zigzag manner to maintain all retained by some farmers in Lunglei area. The
terraces(Maithani,2005).“Dhankheti” is a term used farmers planted crops between the hedge-rows
in Sikkim in the same manner as that of Panikheti without using chemical fertilizers.
above.“Bamboo drip irrigation system” is adopted by 3.8 Self Support Project : This policy (also known
farmers of Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya where water is as Mahni Intodelh Project-MIP) aims at self-
conveyed through split bamboos from water source sufficiency in the making of agricultural
to the crop field. “Alder base farming system” is products during the Mizo National Front(MNF)
practiced in Nagaland, and “Alder-large cardamom ministry(2007–2009).The MIP project covers
system” is followed in Sikkim “Bari system” or grape cultivation in eastern higher attitudes in
homestead garden is widely practiced in Assam, Champhai–Hnahlan. To date, the project
Meghalaya and Tripura where different crops, fruits continues to be successful. Oil palm plantation
and livestock are integrated near and around houses under contract farming system with Godrej and
with simple water harvesting methods for Argo-Tech. Company is going on, while
multipurpose domestic use . bamboo management remains questionable.
3.9 New Land Use Policy (NLUP-II): The State
3.Alternative attempts to shifting government renovated NLUP-I in the form of
cultivation in Mizoram NLUP-II in the year 2010 onwards. As many as
Attempts have been made by the State government 120,000 families were targeted as beneficiaries
and Non-Governmental Organisations to replace with financial assistance @ Rs.100,000/- each
shifting cultivation in Mizoram. Nevertheless, no family. NLUP-II is a flagship programme of the
major achievements has been seen so far. Some of Congress Ministry from 2010 onwards. Some
the efforts made by the government and non- success stories have been recorded from broom
government organisations are briefly presented grass cultivation and dairy milk production
below. under agro-allied sectors.
3.1 Terrace: Terrace was introduced in small plots
in Champhai area prior to the British regime in 4.Viable options to Shifting cultivation
the 1890’s.
4.1 Home Gardens serve as an effective, fairly easy
3.2 Land Use Planning (LUP):This policy was
to replicate and scale up approach to
introduced in 1980’s but there was no successful
transformations is the promotion of home
result.
gardens (or extended home gardens). provides
3.3 New Land Use Policy (NLUP-I). This New
access to traditional food crops and contributes
Land Use Policy was exercised during 1981 -
to nutritional security, but also allows for
1991 with negligible success.
income generating opportunities. Combined
3.4 Pit system: Pit system was introduced by All
with horticulture and animal husbandry, the
Mizoram Farmers Union (AMFU) in 2004 -
promotion of home gardens has helped many
2005. The earth was dug and grew crops with
households to increase income significantly and
composed manure but this was abandoned
improve their economic status.
because of high labour cost and unsustainable
production. 4.2 Fallow forestry by planting of native tree species
3.5 Tree-green hedge crop system: This system for provisional and regulatory services has
was introduced by Prof. L.K. Jha in the year proved to be the underlying rationale for the
1995-1996 in a small on-farm experiment but widespread acceptance of this model by
ended co-terminus with the project. Generally, villagers across Nagaland. This is an excellent
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International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, Volume 4 Issue 2, Feb 2019
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ISSN 2455-6378
model for replication and promotion of fallow 6.Appropriate technology and lessons
forestry practice. learned from the past attempts
6.1 Clear-cut policy on agriculture system and
4.3 Traditional practices of cultivation of food crops
strong political support is required.
Aji system of the Apatani, zabo system of
6.2 Sustainable land management and appropriate
Chakesang, bun system of the Khasi Hills, alder-
technology adoptable to the local conditions
based system of the Angami, and the tree-based
underlining traditional practices need to be
rice cultivation of the Konyak are some of the
ensured.
best practices being followed by traditional
6.3 A holistic community based approach with
communities.
cropping based on land use capability and
4.4 Agroforestry,large scale plantation of fast location specific needs to meet the requirement
growing timber and economically important tree of the people.
species with intercropping of ginger, turmeric, 6.4 Enhancement of soil and water conservation
black pepper, and lemon grass has proved to be through rain water harvesting and/or irrigation
ecologically viable, economically sustainable facility where possible.
and socially acceptable. 6.5 A special incentives for farmers involved in
cluster farming providing tractors, tillers,
4.5 Cash crop cultivation Broom grass cultivation in weeders, quality seeds (HYV) and pump-sets
Meghalaya; rubber plantation in Tripura; tea free of costs, or at a remunerative subsidized
cultivation in Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya and rates.
Arunachal Pradesh; cashew nut plantation in the 6.6 Participatory seed development program and
Garo Hills of Meghalaya; floriculture in capacity building program with interface
Mizoram and passion fruit cultivation in between farmers and scientific fraternity to
Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram are a few ensure sustainable agro-ecosystems, quality
examples where cash crop cultivation has seeds and planting materials as well as
transformed shifting cultivation. exploration of marketability outside the state.
6.7 Agriculture linked- roads for agro-horticultural
4.6 Timber tree plantations in villages where the land products through production centres for
is sufficient and people have moved out for jobs clustered or compact villages.
or business (de-population), a large area of 6.8 Credit facility for farmers in Rural and National
shifting cultivation land has been converted into Banks.
timber tree plantations. This has happened in the 6.8 Involvement of farmers’ participation from the
states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and, on a micro-planning stage to end product.
small scale, in Meghalaya. This practice has Various concepts and practices have been
helped in restoration of land and creation of highlighted on agroforestry systems to substitute
wealth for the land owners slash and burn method of cultivation over the past
decades. The environmentally degraded and
5.Problems identified and the research- unsustainable practice of age-old shifting cultivation
gaps in to an improved/settled farming system at all levels
Perceived problems identified in relation to shifting is need of the hour. Three excerpts on agroforestry
cultivation includes shortened fallow period; soil models have been quoted which most likely
loss, loss of forest cover, decline of soil fertility; addressed thought provoking in more or less the
scarcity of water and irrigation facility; lack of farm same way.
machinery and facility; lack of appropriate “SALT-like or any other appropriate agro-forestry
technology suitable to the local environment; lack of system is to be devised taking the indigenous
farm loans and rural bank loans; lack of agro- knowledge and local participation into proper
processing plants; lack of HYV crops; lack of supply account for modernization of shifting cultivation for
of good and timely planting materials; lack of a sustainable ecosystem with a promise for self-
transport facility; lack of minimum support price and reliance to the highlanders of the concerned
crop insurance scheme; lack of assured market and region”.Agroforestry being site-specific, should be
market links; unstable income; problem of weeds, focused on rural communities in various ecological
pests and diseases; and peculiar topographical conditions under real farming situations and
configurations unlike neighbouring states of North managed by farmers in the farmers’ lands with both
East India. There is a missing link between the short and long-term goals(Grogan et al,2012) . “A
projects and the monitoring-evaluation processes whole range of agroforestry system models based
under both government and non-government-run upon traditional value systems at the level of crop
projects became lacunae of the research gaps organization, and at the level of introduction of tree
(Dhiman, 2005). species as part of agroforestry models where socially
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ISSN 2455-6378
valued ecologically significant keystone species are nious with the environment. The long term objective
brought in offers a range of opportunities to work should be to develop alternatives to shifting
with local communities for sustainable agroforestry cultivation that are ecologically sound, economically
models”. From the statements cited above coupled feasible, and culturally acceptable.
with the experience of an old-age practice of shifting
cultivation in hilly areas of northeast India, a References
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