Question

Examine shifting axe cultivation critically.

Answer 1

Shifting agriculture is common in India’s tribal areas; it is referred to by many names, such as jhum by the Nagas and penda by the Maria of Bastar. A little before the planting season, trees on a hillside are felled and burnt as part of shifting axe agriculture. The ground is covered with a layer of ashes by the time the planting season begins. Seldom are the seeds sown in the ashes; instead, they are dispersed. With the aid of sporadic rain, the seeds eventually sprout and establish roots. The crops that do grow are typically of low quality and in short supply. A new plot of land is then put under the axe once the soil loses its fertility after a few years due to a lack of ploughing and manuring.

1. Because the crops produced by this kind of agriculture are usually sparse and of low quality, it is considered inefficient.
2. It causes deforestation, which encourages soil erosion and floods.
3. Valuable timber is wastefully lost.