How has jhum cultivation affected Nagaland’s soil?

In Nagaland, the widespread practice of jhum—a form of slash-and-burn or shifting agriculture—has significantly impacted the local environment by leading to soil erosion and a decline in soil fertility.1

While traditional shifting cultivation was historically designed as an adaptation to tropical soil conditions to prevent total nutrient exhaustion, the modern application of these methods in the region has proven detrimental to the land. By clearing forest cover, the practice leaves the soil vulnerable, and the subsequent loss of fertility necessitates moving to new plots, which can further exacerbate the degradation of forestlands if the land is not allowed sufficient time to regenerate.12

In contrast to these practices, some communities in the southern regions of Kohima, such as the Angamis and Chakhesangs, utilize terracing and irrigation techniques, which offer more sustainable alternatives for managing soil health and productivity in the mountainous terrain.1