Question

'Shifting cultivation' is not practiced in which one of the following states?
1. Assam
2. West Bengal
3. Odisha
4. Andhra Pradesh

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : West Bengal

The correct answer is West Bengal.

• Jhum cultivation is popular as the shifting cultivation.
• Shifting cultivation is not only an age-old agricultural practice but also intrinsically related to the culture and identity of those practicing it.
  • Such an approach does not aim to make a profit from the agricultural surplus, judiciously used natural resources and forests.
• Agricultural practice such as jhumming or shifting cultivation is based on the Asiatic mode of production.
• Shifting cultivation in the northeast region is complex system cultivation with a wide variation that depends upon the ecological variation in the area and cultural diversity among various tribal communities.
• Shifting cultivation has been considered by many as ecologically destructive.
  • They are referred to as the scourge of forests and the practice of shifting cultivation is looked upon as a major cause of soil erosion.
• Shifting cultivation is also held responsible for causing floods in the plains since topsoil erosion affects the valleys and results in sedimentation of river beds.

• List of local names of shifting cultivation:

Name of Shifting Cultivation	Region
Jhum	North-eastern India
Deepa	Bastar District (Madhya Pradesh)
Zara and Erka	Southern States
Podu	Andhra Pradesh
Kaman, Vinga and Dhavi	Odisha
Kumari	Hilly Region of the Western Ghats of Kerala