Shillong, July 01: Solutions to the age-old practices of shifting cultivation or Jhum cultivation, posing environmental challenges, must be found delicately as it’s intertwined with the socio-economic-cultural identities of many tribal communities of the northeast.
Shifting cultivation is basically, clearing small forest areas by burning the vegetation and then cultivating crops for a limited period before moving to new plots. Post harvest, the land is left fallow for wild vegetation to take root again.
Experts however say this sort of farming helps regenerate soil fertility but also poses environmental challenges like deforestation, soil erosion and biodiversity loss.
Jhum cultivation has found its root in the social and cultural identities of many tribal groups of the region from time immemorial. It provides subsistence to a large group of dispersed communities in the region, though areas under Jhum cultivation are declining.
This sort of farming practise supports livelihood and food security of these communities. Moving beyond mere farming practices, Jhum cultivation over the ages is now identifiable with a way of life, tradition and land tenure system of some of these communities.
However, growing population and market demands have forced some of these communities to go for shorter fallow periods, which are posing greater environmental challenges.
Experts say, any effort to transform Jhum cultivation should take into consideration different socio-economic and cultural aspects of these communities like for example poverty alleviation, food security, and sustainable development goals.
Citing best practices these experts add, integrated farming methods, including aquaculture, agro-forestry, together would Jhum cultivation could do wonders.
Then policies should be framed by according due importance to the intrinsic farming method and the associated socio-economic and cultural aspects, so that Jhum cultivation could be balanced with its merits and demerits. The stakeholders should be educated on sustainable farming methods and market-oriented skills. Partnerships should be formed with stakeholders so that comprehensive and inclusive solutions could be implemented.
The experts say that Jhum cultivation is a complex issue and there are no simple solutions to it and the approach therefore should be multi- disciplinary involving the stakeholders for sustainable development of these communities.
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