Shifting Agriculture in Northeast India: Ecological Functions and Livelihood Implications

Abstract

Shifting agriculture, or jhum, is a long-standing farming practice among indigenous communities in Northeast India. Traditionally, this system relied on fallow cycles of 10–20 years, which allowed the soil to recover and secondary forests to regenerate. In recent decades, increasing population and land pressure have reduced fallow periods to 2–5 years, as reported across multiple empirical studies which have raised concerns about deforestation, soil loss, and declining biodiversity. Synthesized findings across different literature show that ecological outcomes are strongly contingent on fallow length, disturbance frequency, and landscape context, where recovery time is adequate, jhum can facilitate forest succession, maintain agro-biodiversity, contribute to carbon storage, and sustain food and livelihood security.  Across sites, researchers reported that farmers cultivated a wide variety of cereals, pulses, vegetables, and cash crops, while abandoned fields recover vegetation that stores carbon and supports wildlife. The literature also documents rapid system adaptation, including shifts toward agroforestry, commercial crops, and climate-resilient species such as millets. This review integrates peer-reviewed studies and key policy reports from Northeast India to evaluate how fallow dynamics, land-use change, and policy interventions shape ecological recovery and livelihood resilience in jhum landscapes.