Shifting Cultivation: An Analysis of Jhum Cultivation in Karbi Society of Assam

People started shifting cultivation during the Neolithic period yet since that time, a paradigm shift has been observed where hunters and gathers had been replaced by food producers. Contrary to crop rotation, shifting cultivation is associated with rotation fields. In this type of farming, human labour is the main factor needed to keep the activity going, rather than using animals for ploughing. Meanwhile, shifting is a way of life embedded in a community’s cultural life. Again, the shifting cultivation method helps the surrounding population to get alternative resources like firewood, house building materials and timber. In this paper, an attempt has been made to understand the socio-cultural aspect of Jhum cultivation in tribal society. Meanwhile the paper also discusses the political ecological aspect of shifting cultivation. To understand the lived experiences of Jhum cultivators this paper is based on qualitative research design. This paper gives insights on change and challenges of Jhum cultivation in post structural society.