Conservation scientist Dr Joli Rumi Borah, in an interview with Mongabay, stated that her on-the-ground experience in Nagaland challenged the initial belief that shifting cultivation (jhum) was primitive and unsustainable.
Dr Borah, a senior wildlife biologist with the Government of Alberta, Canada, emphasized in the interview, published on 23 April 2023, that traditional jhum landscapes in Nagaland sustained significant carbon stocks and bird diversity, contrary to the belief that jhum had “stagnated.”
Borah also shared that her research unveiled how local communities engaged in shifting cultivation are proactively improving the system to address challenges such as land scarcity and declining crop yields. To support her statement, she cited examples such as the Alder tree coppicing system practiced by the Angami Naga tribe in Khonoma village, which was developed to enhance fallow regrowth and productivity.
“There’s a lot of scope in finding that knowledge (farmers innovating the system) and integrating it better. It was just my journey of growth and learning, evolving as a researcher. There is a disconnect between traditional knowledge and ‘Western knowledge’ as we call it,” Borah was quoted.
Borah also stressed the need for conservation efforts in shifting cultivation landscapes like Nagaland to recognize the dynamic nature of the farming system and its cultural and societal value. She expressed, “This farming system is well adapted to heavy rainfall and environmental conditions in mountainous regions and less harmful to the environment and biodiversity than compared to monoculture such as coffee or oil palm. There is an urgent need for policies to focus on effectively managing shifting cultivation for forests and biodiversity conservation rather than replacing it by commercial agriculture.”
Borah conducted her Ph.D. research on shifting cultivation in Nagaland at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. (2014-2018). Reflecting on her research approach in the interview, Borah recommended involving local communities in the research concept development stage. She advocated for an open mindset and collaboration from the outset to better understand community priorities and research needs.
She also pointed out that the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus) mechanism, aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, could potentially increase vulnerability for shifting cultivation farmers if not carefully designed. She further explained that shifting away from jhum without considering subsistence production and complex land-tenure systems could impact livelihoods and food security.
For instance, a complete shift away from shifting cultivation would not be viable, as subsistence production of staple foods such as rice and maize remains crucial for farmers in these regions with limited market accessibility. “Similarly, complex land-tenure systems across shifting cultivation landscapes will make it difficult for equitable benefit sharing among communities. Involving indigenous people in the policy formation and decision-making process and ensuring their livelihood and food security are important prerequisites for implementing REDD+.”
