Review Note on Shifting Cultivation in Northeast India amidst Changing Perceptions

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v13i0.24252

Keywords:

Northeast India, shifting cultivation, sustainable alternatives to jhum, tribal communities

Abstract

Historically, shifting cultivation has been traced back to the neolithic period. It has undergone transitions from being a subsistence agriculture to small surpluses. Despite the global changes intruding into the socio-economic sphere of the tribal communities across Northeastern region of India, shifting cultivation continues to play an important role in providing livelihoods and food security to the rural tribal households. It seems that shifting cultivation is closely tied to the cultural identity of the tribal people. Therefore, its importance lies beyond mere economic concerns. Though with government interventions and under innovative shifting cultivation, the farmers in the region have switched to newer methods of cultivation, shifting cultivation continues parallel to sedentary cultivation accommodating at the same time the value system and needs of the tribal society. Concurrently, the Jhumias – shifting cultivators are constantly incorporating new measures into shifting cultivation to make it ecologically less destructive. Amidst changing perceptions on shifting cultivation practices, the paper tries to analyse the continuance of shifting cultivation in the region.

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Author Biography

Ratna Bhuyan, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj

Ratna Bhuyan, PhD, (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0494-5429), is a Social Scientist. She has earned PhD in Economics from the Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India. Bhuyan is currently working at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Her research focuses on promotion of rural and traditional livelihoods, promotion of nano and micro-enterprise clusters across the Northeastern region of India. Other areas of interest include reviewing policies and projects related to socio-economic development, peace research, skill development and research methods in social science. She has co-authored and co-edited a few books and has published papers in peer-reviewed journals. She has also been the copy editor for publications under different publication houses including Oxford publications.  Ratna Bhuyan, PhD, (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0494-5429), is a Social Scientist. She has earned PhD in Economics from the Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India. Bhuyan is currently working at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Her research focuses on promotion of rural and traditional livelihoods, promotion of nano and micro-enterprise clusters across the Northeastern region of India. Other areas of interest include reviewing policies and projects related to socio-economic development, peace research, skill development and research methods in social science. She has co-authored and co-edited a few books and has published papers in peer-reviewed journals. She has also been the copy editor for publications under different publication houses including Oxford publications.  Email: ratnabhuyan.nird@gov.in,  bhuyanmamu@gmail.com

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Published

2019-12-29

How to Cite

Bhuyan, R. (2019). Review Note on Shifting Cultivation in Northeast India amidst Changing Perceptions. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 13, 90–95. https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v13i0.24252

Issue

Vol. 13 (2019)

Section

Articles