Shifting Cultivation
Shifting cultivation is a type of primitive subsistence agriculture, practiced mostly by tribal communities in tropical regions.
- “Primitive” here, again, refers to its traditional nature, not its effectiveness or value.
- It is subsistence-based—meaning it is done mainly for household consumption, not for selling in markets.
What makes it unique is that the land itself is not permanent.
Instead of farming the same plot every year, farmers shift from one patch of forest land to another.
The key idea: Use a patch of land → grow crops for a few years → move to a new area → let the old land recover.
🔥 Why Is It Also Called Slash-and-Burn Agriculture?
This system is also known as slash and burn agriculture. Why?
Because the process begins with:
- Slashing or cutting down the natural vegetation (mostly forests),
- Burning the biomass right on the field.
The ashes from the burned vegetation mix into the soil and act as a natural fertilizer. This temporarily boosts soil fertility, which is vital since no chemical fertilizers are used.
🌴 Where Is Shifting Cultivation Practised?
This practice is common in the tropical belt, especially in forested, humid, and sparsely populated areas.
Different regions have different local names for shifting cultivation:
| Region | Local Name |
|---|---|
| Northeastern India | Jhuming |
| Central America & Mexico | Milpa |
| Indonesia & Malaysia | Ladang |
These names reflect cultural and regional identities, but the core practice remains the same.
🌿 Is Shifting Cultivation Sustainable?
Originally, yes. When population was low and land was abundant, the system allowed soil to naturally regain its fertility during long fallow periods (sometimes 10–20 years).
But today, with:
- Increasing population
- Shrinking forests
- Shortened fallow periods
…the system is under stress. The land doesn’t get enough time to recover, leading to deforestation, soil degradation, and declining productivity.
🧭 Conclusion:
Shifting Cultivation is:
- A traditional, forest-based subsistence farming system,
- Characterised by cutting and burning vegetation to prepare land,
- Practised under various names across the tropical world,
- Once sustainable, but now facing ecological challenges in the modern context.
This form of agriculture reveals a deep symbiotic relationship between humans and forests, but also highlights how delicate that balance is in today’s world.