Shifting Cultivation to Settled Agriculture for Sustaining Soil Health and Agriculture Productivity in North-East India

Shifting cultivation or ‘jhum’ is a traditional system of crop cultivation following recovery of soil fertility via forest regeneration. The system is still prevalent in many parts of the world including the North-east of India. This subsistence system is embedded within traditional culture by many, yet there is a requirement for the improvement of the system for increased sustainability and economic productivity. Modern technologies, like application of fertiliser, biofertiliser, etc. proved to be beneficial for soil fertility improvement and crop productivity. In the recent past, there has been a tremendous change in land-use from traditional jhum cultivation to settled agriculture like agroforestry plantations in the North-east region of India. Land-uses that have been converted to plantations, with appropriate management, decrease soil degradation, conserve soil organic matter and soil health, besides improving farmers’ livelihoods. Nevertheless, soil carbon sequestration can be achieved in abandoned jhum by multipurpose tree plantations on slopes where normal cultivation is difficult. Integrated farming systems (IFS), through scientific integration of agricultural and horticultural crops, trees, agroforestry, and animal components recycle plant litter, and conserve soil health and available natural resources to increase farmers’ livelihoods. Thus, this chapter aims to highlight options from shifting cultivation to alternate land-uses to achieve sustainability in the hills of North-east India.