For many decades now, the state government and its agencies have been campaigning against shifting or jhum cultivation in Nagaland, so much so that the traditional agricultural practice that sustained our community for centuries is now being viewed as an ‘unproductive’ system of farming. This sustained demonization of jhum cultivation has blinded the locals themselves from seeing beyond the “slash and burn” practice.
Of late, many researchers have concluded that shifting cultivation is actually not as bad as it was believed to be. In fact, it is now mainstream knowledge that shifting cultivation is better than monocropping when viewed from the environmental perspective. Shifting cultivation reduces soil erosion, maintains soil fertility, promotes biodiversity and is more sustainable, less susceptible to pest and disease pressure, and more resilient to climate change.
Another advantage that shifting cultivation has over monocropping is that it helps cultural and indigenous preservation. Shifting cultivation is deeply rooted in indigenous and local cultures, reflecting a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. It preserves traditional agricultural practices, which are more sustainable and well-suited to the local environment. By embracing shifting cultivation, indigenous communities maintain their cultural identity and protect their ancestral knowledge.
Further, the diverse range of crops grown in shifting cultivation systems can provide a more balanced and reliable source of food for communities. In monocropping, a single crop failure can lead to food shortages and economic distress. Shifting cultivation reduces this vulnerability by spreading risk across various crops.
While it is agreed that shifting cultivation is not without its own share of drawbacks, it is very wrong to demonize it while glorifying monocropping. There are many scientific inputs that underscore the ecological, cultural, and agronomic merits of shifting cultivation over monocropping. Improvement of management practices and the integration of modern knowledge into traditional systems is the way forward; demonizing jhum cultivation is not.
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