Characterization of shifting cultivation, trends, and diversification of livelihood patterns: A case study from forest villages in Barak valley, Assam, Northeast India
Laishram Kabita Chanu, Aparajita De, Kasturi Chakraborty, S. Selvin Pragalath Paul
Abstract
Shifting cultivation is an agriculture system used traditionally and the predominant land use in the mountainous regions of many parts of the world since time immemorial. Recently, there has been a change in the traditional shifting cultivation practice. The purpose of the current study is to map the spatial distribution of the shifting cultivation plots in forest villages of Barak Valley, Assam, Northeast India, document the socio-economic profile of cultivators, and examine how shifting cultivation methods are transforming into other agricultural systems, leading to livelihood diversification. The study included both primary and secondary data. The shifting cultivation plots were digitized using Sentinel 2 images for the year 2022 in ArcGIS 10.8. The shifting cultivation plots were observed to be concentrated in the southern part of Barak valley and sparsely distributed in the northern part. The average plot size was 1.35±0.02 ha. A total of 146 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The villages were mostly located in remote areas with little access to basic amenities such as metalled roads and schools. A diversification of livelihoods among the younger members was observed in most of the villages. Almost 92% of the respondents who were engaged in activities other than cultivation were in the age group of 18 to 50 years. The main reason cited by the respondents for such diversification was earning additional income. The most common form of livelihood was shifting cultivation combined with commercial farming on the fallow land, being practiced by 105 of the 146 respondents. The fallow period ranged between 2-10 years. Weed infestation and loss of fertility were cited as the major reasons by all the respondents for leaving the jhum plot fallow. Species such as Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, Musa sp, Piper betle L., Parkia timoriana (DC.) Merr., Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda and other economically important species were cultivated in many of the fallow lands and have grown to be a significant income source for the majority of households. This has increased the pressure on the remaining forest lands, as these are being transformed for shifting cultivation. Although conversion of fallow for monoculture and agroforestry may not be the solution to every problem, it holds promise for both ecological and economical sustainability, if managed judiciously. However, transition to other livelihood systems must occur with minimal degradation of the ecosystem services.