Correct option is D
Shifting cultivation, also known as jhum cultivation, is a traditional agricultural practice widely prevalent in the northeastern states of India, particularly in Nagaland. In this practice, farmers clear a piece of forested land by cutting and burning the vegetation, use it for cultivation for a few years, and then move to a new plot, allowing the old land to regenerate.
Key Points:
Nagaland and other northeastern states have mountainous terrain with poor soil fertility, making shifting cultivation a viable option for subsistence farming.
This method is followed by many tribal communities in Nagaland, such as the Ao, Angami, and Konyak tribes.
The crops grown in jhum cultivation include rice, millet, maize, and vegetables.
Shifting cultivation has been practiced for centuries, but it is increasingly under scrutiny due to concerns about deforestation and soil degradation.
The government has been promoting settled agriculture as a more sustainable alternative to reduce environmental impact, but shifting cultivation remains a significant part of the tribal way of life in Nagaland.
