Jhuming: Rice Cultivation in Eastern India

Jhuming, also known as shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn agriculture, is a traditional farming method. It involves clearing a patch of land, usually by cutting down trees and burning the vegetation, to prepare the soil for cultivation.

Practice of Jhuming

This method is particularly prevalent in the hilly and forested regions of India. Based on the practice's common geographical locations:

• Jhuming is a characteristic agricultural practice found primarily in the Eastern part of India.
• States like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and parts of other eastern states are known for this cultivation technique.
• The practice is adapted to the local environment, where farmers cultivate crops like rice, maize, and various vegetables for a few years until the soil fertility depletes.
• Afterwards, the land is left fallow to recover its natural vegetation, and the farmers move to a new area to repeat the process.

Why Eastern India?

The topography, forest cover, and socio-cultural context of Eastern India make it a suitable region for this form of cultivation. It has been a sustainable practice for indigenous communities for centuries, adapted to the forest ecosystems of the region.