The Structure of <i>Jhum</i> (Traditional Shifting Cultivation System): Prospect or Threat to Climate

Abstract

The knowledge behind the culture and beliefs of indigenous community needs to be harnessed and should be used to complement the modern technologies and policies for better and sustainable use of biological resources and increase resilience of the sector associated. The main objective of the current research was to study Jhum (Traditional Shifting Cultivation System) and the cycles and culture associated with it. The study was done in northeast Himalayan region of India and phenomenological approach was used. The research reveals that Jhum is the component of traditional agro-ecosystem encompassing diverse set of knowledge and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional life-styles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources for their livelihood. The cycle associated with the system reflects the synergy of practices with the natural phenomenon and indicators. Contrary to common modern belief, Jhum is carbon sink, maintain soil health, preserve biological diversity and sustain local climate. Forest clearing during Jhum is not deforestation but forest modification allowing forest regrowth during sufficiently long fallow. Fundamentally, Jhum as a system is an integrated approach to establish agro-ecosystem in the difficult terrains of tropical hill regions that involve forest, soil, biodiversity and livestock management through their culture, tradition and rituals that coevolved with associated ecosystem. Instead of being threat to climate or environment, the system can provide deeper insight into the many different aspects of sustainable and climate resilient development; and the interrelated role of local peoples and their cultures.

Performance evaluation of native plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for paddy yield enhancement in the jhum fields of Mokokchung, Nagaland, North East India

“…Jhum cultivation in the past has been a successful practice that provided livelihood support to the poorest sections of society. The traditional jhum cycle of 15–30 years has been found effective to restore soil fertility and maintain sustainability [ 6 ] because the longer cycle was aligned with the natural regeneration cycle of the forest. However, the legacy of the traditional farming system passed on from generation to generation is now getting disrupted due to accelerated soil erosion, land degradation, increasing population, and decreased land accessibility.…”

ML‐Based Hybrid SAR and Optical Image LULC Mapping and Change Analysis With Variations in the Air Quality of the Imphal Valley, North‐East India

“…Since November, the weather in the valley, becomes drier and windy. Thus, farmers start preparing for Jhum cultivation during mid‐January to February, by clearing a patch of forest (Thong et al., 2020), burning the twigs, branches and waste from the cleared area, releasing substantial amounts of CO, NO x , SO x , and aerosols in the surroundings (Bhagawati et al., 2015). This augments the spike in the concentration during the fire season of February and March, which is also reflected from Figure 4.…”