Agricultural definition and operational cycle
- Clearance: Forest plots are cleared during the dry winter season by cutting undergrowth and slashing trees.
- Burning: Cleared biomass is burned in situ, releasing nutrients into topsoil ash that acts as a natural fertilizer.
- Mixed cropping: Seeds of paddy, maize, millets, vegetables, and cotton are dibbled into the ash-enriched soil with simple tools (dao/hoe).
- Fallow period: After 2 to 3 years of harvest, declining yields and weed invasions prompt abandonment for forest regrowth.
Regional terminology and traditional practices in India
- Northeast India: Universally termed Jhum cultivation across Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Central India: Known locally as Bewar or Dahiya in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
- Southern and Eastern India: Termed Podu in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, and Kumari in Western Ghats tracts.
Ecological challenges and settled farming transitions
- Population pressure has drastically shortened traditional fallow cycles from 15-20 years down to 3-5 years, causing topsoil erosion and biodiversity loss.
- Government initiatives promote settled terrace farming, agro-forestry, horticultural orchards, and settled organic cultivation.
- Supported under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).
Official source
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Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What is the simple definition of shifting cultivation?
It is a farming method where forest land is cleared, farmed for a few years, and then left fallow while cultivation shifts elsewhere.
What is shifting cultivation called in Northeast India?
It is widely known as Jhum cultivation in the northeastern states of India.
Why is ash important in shifting cultivation?
The burned plant ash supplies essential potassium, calcium, and mineral nutrients to the cleared topsoil.
Why has shifting cultivation become ecologically unsustainable?
Shorter fallow periods prevent forest recovery, leading to severe topsoil erosion and declining soil fertility.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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