Define of Shifting Cultivation

Shifting cultivation also known as swidden agriculture is a traditional form of cultivation which has been in practice since ancient times in many parts of Asia, Africa and South America.

In shifting cultivation, a part of the forest land was cleared, trees were burnt and their ashes were sprinkled on the field. Seeds were sown and crops were grown. After cultivating the land for about two to three years, it was left fallow for few years for the forests to grow back. Another patch of forests was then cleared for the purpose of cultivation.

Swidden agriculture has many local names such as lading in Southeast Asia, milpa in Central America, chitemene or tavy in Africa and chena in Sri Lanka. In India, it is known by different names in different states like dhya, penda, bewar, nevad, jhum, podu, khandad and kumri.