Correct Answer : Option C) 1 & 2
Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture or jhum cultivation, is a traditional farming practice commonly found in the northeastern states of India and other tropical regions.
Statement 1: Shifting cultivation leads to low land productivity due to non-use of modern inputs - Correct
This statement is accurate. Shifting cultivation relies on traditional methods without modern agricultural inputs like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or high-yield variety seeds. The productivity per unit area is generally low compared to intensive farming systems that use modern technology and inputs.
Statement 2: The cultivation cycle involves long periods of fallow for soil regeneration - Correct
This is a defining characteristic of shifting cultivation. After cultivating a plot for 2-3 years, farmers abandon it and allow it to remain fallow for 10-20 years or more. During this fallow period, natural vegetation grows back, helping to restore soil fertility through natural processes like leaf litter decomposition and nitrogen fixation.
Statement 3: The practice is mechanized in the north-eastern states of India - Incorrect
This statement is false. Shifting cultivation in northeastern India remains largely traditional and non-mechanized. It involves manual clearing of forest land using simple tools like axes and hoes. The practice is characterized by its low-technology approach, which is contrary to mechanization.
