What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?

The ‘slash and burn’ method of farming also known as shifting cultivation is practised in areas of high rainfall and accelerated vegetation growth. In this system, forest land is cleared for raising crops until the soil loses its fertility. It is mainly practised by tribal people in the forested areas of Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of southeast Asia and Northeast India. In India it is known as ‘Jhumming cultivation’.

In shifting cultivation, the biggest disadvantage is the loss of forest cover. With the loss of soil fertility, the farmer moves to newer forest lands often leading to severe environmental degradation.