Jhum Shifting Cultivation in Northeast India — Ecological Farming

Jhum (shifting cultivation) is practiced by 35 tribal groups across Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and Meghalaya. A patch of hillside forest is cleared and burnt, planting 30–40 mixed crops simultaneously — rice, maize, cucumber, bean, mustard, yam, ginger. The plot is farmed for 2–3 years then abandoned for 8–15 years to regenerate. Biodiversity maintained: 50+ species/plot vs. 1–2 in monoculture. The NEHU study found jhum carbon sequestration close to natural forest when rotation is 10+ years. Short rotations (3–4 years) due to land pressure have reduced fertility. ICAR-NEH provides improved jhum packages with soil conservation measures.