Shifting cultivation is a primitive form
of agricultural practice that barely met the minimum requirements of
foodgrains. It is largely confined to the hill slopes, often extending to steep
gradients in all the hill districts of the region. This practice normally
involves the clearing of forests and is allowed to dry up and the residue is
burnt up. The fields or the clearings are prepared and wait the onset of the
rains. After which, with the broadcasting methods seeds are sown and crops are
cultivated.
These jhum fields are frequently located
near the permanent settlement sites or located within accessible distance.
These fields are temporary as they are used only for one or two seasons; after
this, the same process is repeated in adjacent forest areas. In other words,
there is a distinct rotation of fields that averages 3 to 10 years, this is the
jhum cycle. With increasing population pressure, this jhum cycle has gradually
declined. As a result this practice has become an uneconomical preposition.
The jhum practice had formed an
important element in the hill and mountain inhabitants’ perceptions, traditions
and socio-economic relations. Frequently, the outer perimeter of these jhum
lands formed their respective boundaries with other groups and sub-groups. Thus
they formed a deciding feature in their perception of space. The sub-division
of this space, in the form of allotment of jhum fields to the individuals and
families or between the different communities within the settlement sites was
directly dependent on the socio-political structure of the settlement unit.
More or less, all the hill districts of the region had a generalized pattern
that dominated this practice.
Despite its drawbacks and low returns in
terms of output, no viable alternative has been found so far. Efforts have been
undoubtedly channelized to improve through infusion of technology and capital.
In many areas, as in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, these efforts have been
complemented by extensive introduction of horticulture.
Exact area under jhum cultivation in the
region has remained a matter of estimates and approximation. This has been
largely due to the lack of availability of reliable data, absence of land
records as well as of cadastral surveys. However, the present effort relies
heavily on the reports of North Eastern Council. Thus, one finds that out of
the nearly 60% of the total geographical area of the North East under hills and
mountains nearly 9.77% of the area is under jhum at one time or the other, with
an annual area of 2.58% under actual cultivation. That is, 2.7 million hectares
of land are available for jhum cultivation in the region. However,
administrative re-organization and rapid growth of population, particularly in
the hill section of the region, has exerted corresponding impact on the
availability of land for this practice. Moreover, the traditional practices
were not able to keep pace with the requirements and demands for foodgrains.
Besides the necessity for continuous
spatial extension of the jhum areas in the forest areas, the commercial
exploitation and to an extent urbanization have also significantly influenced
the course of development. One of the important fall out of these practices has
been steady and rapid depletion of forests in the region. In jhum cultivation
the choice of crop is normally consumption oriented and varies according to the
individual family requirements. Paddy is the main dominant crop and is followed
by maize, millets, beans, tapioca sweet potatoes, chilies, ginger, leafy
vegetables etc. All the crops are rain-fed, often harvested in August.
Periodicity of cropping not only differs from one tribe to another but also
from one region to another.
In Jhum cultivation extensive forests
extensive forests is required for this form of agriculture along with heavy
rainfall regime in the region. This has led to serious soil erosion problems.
This coupled with commercial exploitation of forests has led to heavy silting
in the major rivers and consequent increase in the destruction caused by floods
in the region. The most common impact has been in the form of loss of top soil.
In the predominantly jhum areas, this loss of top soil has been variously
estimated at 22% of the cover with secondary vegetation replacing the original
dense cover. This has contributed to declining soil fertility and production.
Besides, coming under the generally free
ownership, there is very little effort to invest on soil conservation methods
and other measures to increase the agricultural returns. This as a result has
left hardly any surplus that could have been effectively invested in other
developmental activities.
Initial attempt to tackle the problems
associated with the jhum cultivation was started in the 1950’s with the
introduction of alternative crops like rubber, coffee, cashew nut and black
pepper. However, major thrust to resolve the consequences of the agricultural
practices was started from the 5th Plan onwards.
All the schemes that were designated to
control shifting cultivation correspond with quantitative and qualitative
changes made to suit the individual states. But on the whole afforestation
programmes and measures to control the soil erosion received high priority in
each of the state’s plan. Terrace cultivation, provision of minor irrigation
facilities etc, were some of the steps that were initiated in this direction.
Pilot schemes in the jhum control measures, provided a means to decide on the
strategy to control and if possible replace it with more stable and permanent
form of agricultural practices.
Several recommendations for a change in the
land use pattern not only aimed at minimizing the loss of top soil through
erosion but also provided for increasing the cash returns for the jhummias. The
problem of shifting cultivation, in the form of affecting a control in its
spatial extent, required investment, technology and viable alternatives
continues to dominate the developmental scenario of the region. Despite the
priority in the various plans, research and volume of research work; this
aspect continues to pose challenge as it has so far avoided any long term
strategy towards resolution. What is in-fact required is detailed analysis of
the land use pattern in the predominantly jhum areas of the region through the
latest techniques and approaches available for each of the constituent states. This
assessment will go a long way in suggesting concrete measures instead of
concentrating on generalized information basis reinforced by few case studies.
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