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VOL. 3, ISSUE 2 (2021)
Shifting cultivation and tribal livelihood: A contextual debate in contemporary economic anthropology
Authors
Debendra Kumar Biswal
Abstract
Shifting cultivation has been a much debated issue among the anthropologists, environmentalist and policy makers. They have raised the questions and issues mainly on two 
lines; firstly, on dependence of indigenous population for livelihood and it’s productivity vs. deforestation. Secondly, on development projects vs. displacement of the practitioners, i.e. tribal/indigenous population groups who practice this form of agriculture. However, there are very few studies worldwide and particularly in India which have evaluated the economic aspect of this simple form of agricultural practice. Economics of shifting/swidden agriculture argues that it is a sub-optimal method of cultivation, output is low and labour intensity is very high. It is one of the most efficient forms of land use where output is based on very little inputs and shifting cultivators usually optimise their production in relation to ecological conditions and long-term sustainable use of land. However, there is no denying of the fact that per capita land requirement is very high to sustain productivity and to fulfil requirements of food/nutrition. Based on this hypothesis, the present paper has sorted out two assumptions; firstly, it has analysed the factors (primarily land and labour) of production, yield and efficiency to understand the economics of shifting cultivation. Secondly, through the empirical literature, it has tried to analyse the economics of shifting cultivation in different tribal population groups in India.
lines; firstly, on dependence of indigenous population for livelihood and it’s productivity vs. deforestation. Secondly, on development projects vs. displacement of the practitioners, i.e. tribal/indigenous population groups who practice this form of agriculture. However, there are very few studies worldwide and particularly in India which have evaluated the economic aspect of this simple form of agricultural practice. Economics of shifting/swidden agriculture argues that it is a sub-optimal method of cultivation, output is low and labour intensity is very high. It is one of the most efficient forms of land use where output is based on very little inputs and shifting cultivators usually optimise their production in relation to ecological conditions and long-term sustainable use of land. However, there is no denying of the fact that per capita land requirement is very high to sustain productivity and to fulfil requirements of food/nutrition. Based on this hypothesis, the present paper has sorted out two assumptions; firstly, it has analysed the factors (primarily land and labour) of production, yield and efficiency to understand the economics of shifting cultivation. Secondly, through the empirical literature, it has tried to analyse the economics of shifting cultivation in different tribal population groups in India. Download
Pages:36-39
How to cite this article:
Debendra Kumar Biswal "Shifting cultivation and tribal livelihood: A contextual debate in contemporary economic anthropology ". International Journal of Social Research and Development, Vol 3, Issue 2, 2021, Pages 36-39
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