‘JHUM’ CULTIVATION

Shifting Cultivation:

• Shifting cultivation has been characterised by rotation of fields rather than rotation of crops, the exclusive use of human labour, use of dibble stick or hoe, and short periods of occupancy alternating with long fallow periods to assist the regeneration of vegetation.
  
  
• Shifting cultivation, locally referred to as jhum cultivation, is considered as an important mainstay of food production for a considerable population in northeast India in States like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur.
  
  

Key findings of report:

• People were returning to fallows, land left after shifting cultivation in a shorter span than was earlier practice. Earlier the cultivators returned to fallows after 10-12 years, now they are returning in three to five years. This has impact on the quality of the soil.
  
  
• Decline of practise: Between 2000 and 2010, the land under shifting cultivation dropped by 70 %. From 35,142 sq km in 2000, the area under jhum cultivation dropped to 10,306 sq km in 2010.
  
  
• Reason: While shifting cultivation ensures food security it does not provide adequate cash for the families and thus they are shifting to regular agriculture, particularly to horticulture. The MGNREGA has also had an impact on reducing dependency of people on shifting cultivation.
  
  

Recommendations made:

• Ministry of Agriculture should take up a “mission on shifting cultivation” to ensure inter-ministerial convergence towards shifting cultivation.
  
  
• Recognise land for shifting cultivation as agricultural land under agro-forestry.
  
  
• Shifting cultivation fallows must be legally perceived and categorised as ‘regenerating fallows’.
  
  
• Extend credit facilities to those who practise shifting cultivation.
  
  
• To address nutritional security of communities involved in jhum cultivation, it recommends broadening the PDS to ensure widespread access to basic food items. This can be done by enlisting well-performing SHG cluster federations already established in several of the NE States.