Question

In which of the following Indian states is the slash-and-burn agriculture called ‘Pama Dabi’?

• A. Andhra Pradesh
• B. Odisha
• C. Chhattisgarh
• D. Madhya Pradesh

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Odisha

• Correct Answer: Option B) Odisha

• Slash-and-burn agriculture, also known as shifting cultivation, is practiced across various states in India under different local names. 'Pama Dabi' is the specific term used for this agricultural practice in Odisha.

• This traditional farming method involves cutting down vegetation in a forest area, allowing it to dry, and then burning it to clear the land for cultivation. The ash from the burned vegetation acts as a natural fertilizer, enriching the soil with nutrients. After cultivating crops for a few years, farmers abandon the land to allow it to regenerate naturally and move to a new area.

• Different states in India have their own local names for this practice:

• Odisha: Pama Dabi

• Jharkhand and parts of Odisha: Kuruwa

• Northeastern states: Jhum

• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Podu

• Kerala: Punam

• Karnataka: Kumri