DYNAMICS OF SHIFTING CULTIVATION IN CHURACHANDPUR DISTRICT OF MANIPUR
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Date
2010
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ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD
Abstract
The present study entitled ‘‘Shifting cultivation in Churachandpur District of
Manipur’’ was undertaken mainly to study the nature and extent of area under
shifting cultivation, to estimate the environmental benefits and damages and to
suggest policy measures. The study covered four blocks/mandals, 6 villages and 70
member households. The data pertains to the year 2009 – 10, and collected through
survey method, with the help of specially designed schedule. Several case studies
were also made use of to study for environmental costs and benefits. Simple tabular
analysis were used for estimating cost of cultivation of different crops such as
paddy, ginger, colocasia, maize etc. Percentages were worked out for the purpose of
comparison. Regression analysis was carried out for identifying various factors
influencing returns for different crops. To rank the problems faced by the farmers
Garette ranking technique was employed.
To estimate the environmental damages and benefits, environmental services
such soil erosion, biodiversity and carbon sequestration were valuated following
several case studies. For estimation of returns to land, net present value (NPV) was
adopted to evaluate each land-use system. Benefit cost analysis was adopted to
indicate the performance of each land use. Replacement-cost method was adopted for
valuation of soil erosion effects. Valuation of biodiversity services and carbon
sequestration associated with each land-use system was estimated with the help of
case studies and a proxy index of biodiversity was developed.
Jhuming (shifting cultivation) is an age-old practice in which there exists a
system of hereditary of Chief ship (Hausa) as well as community ownership of
village land. Shifting cultivation follows mixed cropping system of which paddy
occupy 70 percent of the total cropped area. On an average the holding of the crop is
one year with an average of 5 – 7 years of fallows.
About 11.5 per cent of the members were illiterate. Average family size of
the sample member is five. Major proportion of the sample cultivators of shifting
cultivation (54.3%) was in the age group of 50-70 years. About (69%) of sample
cultivators were marginal farmers having an average size of holding of 0.9 ha. Total
area cultivated by 70 shifting farmer families was 72.85 ha. Assets of shifting
cultivators include only jhum hut and their farm implements having value at Rs.
2723 and Rs. 1481 per hectare respectively. The distance of jhum land varies from
0.1 to 0.5 km from settlement area.
Comparision of paddy, maize, ginger and colocasia was made. Allocating
more area under annual cash crops such as colocasia, ginger has more advantageous
than that of cereal crops such as paddy and maize in terms of relative profitability.
The regression estimates of factors influencing gross income from different
crops viz, paddy, maize, ginger and colocasia indicated significant impact on inputs
such as seeds and labour. Increase in area in annual cash crops will give better gross
returns. Increase in cultivated period has positive impact on ginger crop in the gross
returns in terms of gross returns.
The practise of shifting cultivation as a source of livelihood for farmers, was
the major reason as indicated by Garrette ranking test. Major problem faced by
farmers practising shifting cultivation was land preparation. Providing other form
of labour such as animal and machinery labour being difficult owing to its
topography. Farmers practiced their cultivation mainly by owned labour. Shifting
to subsidiary occupation and continuing jhum were the main future plans
expressed by farmers practising shifting cultivation
The financial analysis (excluding environmental costs) under the three landuse
systems demonstrates that the highest gross benefit (measured as Rs./ha/year)
was obtained from horticulture followed by annual cash crop and lowest benefit by
shifting cultivation. In terms of NPV, annual cash crops appear to be the best
performer followed by horticulture and shifting cultivation has the lowest NPV.
When the environmental costs are taken into account, annual cash crops appear to be
the most costly land-use system, with horticulture becoming most profitable. Shifting
cultivation lies in between these two land use systems.
Policy Implications that have emerged from the study includes
Awareness on modern agriculture from primitive stages has to be created through
various programmes. It should be technologically feasible, sociologically
acceptable, ecologically sound and economically viable.
Involve local people in decision-making processes.
Understand farmers’ livelihood needs.
Urgent need to reform credit policy.
An appropriate mechanism should be developed to compensate farmers for the
environmental services that their practices generate.
Government should develop appropriate mechanisms to provide remuneration to
land users for more sustainable practices following the conservation programs
developed elsewhere.
Necessary support services, including long-term credit, knowledge transfer, and
information on the adaptation of perennial crops may need to be provided, as the
returns from tree plantations only come after many years.
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Keywords
DYNAMICS, SHIFTING, CULTIVATION, CHURACHANDPUR, DISTRICT, MANIPUR