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<p>Swidden agriculture, which is deeply embedded in the cultural and ecological fabric of the Asian highlands, is undergoing significant changes due to socio-economic and policy shifts. We investigated these transformations in Bomdo village, Upper Siang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, focusing on the Adi tribe. By employing qualitative methods such as participatory mapping, interviews, and focus group discussions, we documented traditional swidden practices, analyzed changes in land use, and assessed their impacts on local livelihoods and governance structures. Results indicate a significant decline in swidden cultivation, as satellite imagery reveals a decrease in swidden land from a long-term average of 135&#xa0;ha (1990–2000) to 80.9&#xa0;ha (2010–2023). This decline coincides with the rise of wet rice terraces, which are now owned by 94.7% of households, suggesting a shift toward permanent agriculture and greater land privatization. The increasing importance of wet rice cultivation, driven by state policies that support terraces through subsidies and infrastructure, has also reduced the influence of traditional institutions, such as the <i>kebang</i>, which historically governed swidden practices and resource management. Nevertheless, swidden remains vital for food diversity and cultural identity. Challenges such as limited market access and connectivity hinder the viability of cash crops, leaving swidden and wet rice cultivation as complementary practices. Our findings highlight the importance of policies that balance agricultural modernization with support for traditional practices and governance systems, ensuring socio-economic resilience, indigenous identity, cultural continuity, and ecological sustainability. Our study contributes to global discussions on land-use change in highland agricultural systems, emphasizing the need to harmonize change with tradition.</p>

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The Future of Swidden in the Asian Highlands: Insights from a Village in Upper Siang, Arunachal Pradesh, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月1日

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  • Anirban Datta-Roy,
  • Chintan Sheth,
  • Stephen J. Leisz

摘要

Swidden agriculture, which is deeply embedded in the cultural and ecological fabric of the Asian highlands, is undergoing significant changes due to socio-economic and policy shifts. We investigated these transformations in Bomdo village, Upper Siang, Arunachal Pradesh, India, focusing on the Adi tribe. By employing qualitative methods such as participatory mapping, interviews, and focus group discussions, we documented traditional swidden practices, analyzed changes in land use, and assessed their impacts on local livelihoods and governance structures. Results indicate a significant decline in swidden cultivation, as satellite imagery reveals a decrease in swidden land from a long-term average of 135 ha (1990–2000) to 80.9 ha (2010–2023). This decline coincides with the rise of wet rice terraces, which are now owned by 94.7% of households, suggesting a shift toward permanent agriculture and greater land privatization. The increasing importance of wet rice cultivation, driven by state policies that support terraces through subsidies and infrastructure, has also reduced the influence of traditional institutions, such as the kebang, which historically governed swidden practices and resource management. Nevertheless, swidden remains vital for food diversity and cultural identity. Challenges such as limited market access and connectivity hinder the viability of cash crops, leaving swidden and wet rice cultivation as complementary practices. Our findings highlight the importance of policies that balance agricultural modernization with support for traditional practices and governance systems, ensuring socio-economic resilience, indigenous identity, cultural continuity, and ecological sustainability. Our study contributes to global discussions on land-use change in highland agricultural systems, emphasizing the need to harmonize change with tradition.