Shifting Cultivation in North-East India : Policy Issues and Options

Contents: Preface. 1. Shifting cultivation in North-East India. 2. Strategies of controlling shifting cultivation. 3. Tenacity of shifting cultivation. 4. State initiatives--some case studies: Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram. 5. Controlling shifting cultivation--policy. Appendices. References. Index. Illustrations.

"Shifting cultivation in regarded as a first step in transition from food gathering and hunting to food production and is widespread in the hills and mountains of North-East India. This is an extensive method of agriculture in which farmers rotate land rather than crops to sustain livelihoods. Despite persistent efforts by official agencies to control shifting cultivation, there is no sign of let-up in its spread, which is as pervasive as it was ever before.

This study after discussing at length various measures adopted for controlling shifting cultivation, highlights the factors contribution to its tenacity and the issues involved in addressing the problem successfully. The study deals with issues connected with land and forest policies, social dynamics, techno-economic and political economy considerations behind the continuation of shifting cultivation in different states of the north-east region." (jacket)