Question

Shifting cultivation practiced in North East India is called

• A. Sawami cultivation
• B. Jhum cultivation
• C. Harhi cultivation
• D. Solum cultivation

Hint:

"Jhum" is synonymous with the North-East hills.
It is a "Slash and Burn" technique.
Remember: Long Jhum cycle = Sustainability; Short Jhum cycle = Environmental degradation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the local or regional name of shifting cultivation as it is specifically practiced in the North-Eastern states of India.
Detailed Explanation:

• The Process of Shifting Cultivation:
Shifting cultivation is an ancient agricultural system where a piece of forest land is cleared by cutting trees and burning the remaining vegetation.
The ash produced acts as a natural fertilizer, providing nutrients for crops like rice, maize, and vegetables.
After a few years (usually 2 to 3 years), the soil loses its fertility, and the farmers move to a new patch of forest, letting the old land lie fallow to recover.

• Jhum Cultivation in North East India:
In the Seven Sister states (Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh), this practice is widely known as "Jhum."
The practitioners are referred to as "Jhumias."
While it was sustainable in the past when the fallow periods were long (15–20 years), the increasing population has shortened the "Jhum cycle," leading to deforestation and soil erosion.

• Impact on Soil Science:
Initially, the burning increases the availability of Phosphorus and Potassium in the soil.
However, the removal of vegetation on steep slopes makes the land extremely vulnerable to heavy monsoon rains.
This leads to massive loss of the "O" and "A" soil horizons.

• Global Context of Names:
Shifting cultivation has different names worldwide: Milpa in Central America, Ladang in Indonesia, and Podu in Odisha/Andhra Pradesh.
Sawami, Harhi, and Solum are not standard terms for shifting cultivation.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The specific regional term for slash-and-burn or shifting agriculture in North-Eastern India is Jhum cultivation.