Shifting Cultivation: Meaning, Process and Environmental Impact

Shifting cultivation is one of the oldest forms of agriculture. The process involves three main steps: (1) Clearing — a section of forest is cut down; (2) Burning — the cut vegetation is burned, and the ash acts as a natural fertiliser; (3) Cultivation — crops like rice, maize, millet, and vegetables are grown for two to three years until the soil is exhausted. The plot is then left fallow for several years while farmers move to a new location. The abandoned plot may regenerate over time if left undisturbed long enough.

Shifting cultivation is known by many regional names across India and the world. In Northeast India, it is called Jhum or Jhuming. In Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, it is called Podu. In the Himalayan region, it is called Pamlou or Bringa. In Kerala, it was called Kumari. Globally, it is practised in Central Africa (called Chitemene), Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The term 'slash and burn' is the most widely used international name for this type of agriculture.

In India, shifting cultivation is primarily practised in the northeastern states: Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. It is also found in the hilly and forested tribal areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The Naga, Mizo, Garo, and Khasi tribes are among the communities that have traditionally practised Jhum cultivation. The practice is linked to areas with dense forests and tribal populations that rely on subsistence agriculture.

Shifting cultivation has significant negative environmental consequences when practised on a large scale. The main impacts include: (1) Deforestation — large areas of forest are cleared every year, destroying wildlife habitats; (2) Soil erosion — once vegetation is removed, heavy rains wash away the topsoil from slopes; (3) Loss of biodiversity — burning destroys plant and animal species; (4) Contribution to climate change — burning of forests releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. When the fallow period is too short (less than 10–15 years), the soil does not recover, leading to permanent land degradation. The Indian government has encouraged tribal communities to shift to settled farming to reduce these impacts.

The Government of India has discouraged shifting cultivation because of its destructive effects on forests and the environment. Policies under the Forest Rights Act (2006) and tribal development programmes aim to provide alternative livelihoods. Alternatives promoted include terraced farming on hill slopes, horticulture, agroforestry, and settled wet rice cultivation. In Nagaland and Mizoram, state governments have run programmes to reduce Jhum and encourage permanent agriculture. However, shifting cultivation continues in remote areas where modern alternatives have not yet reached.