How can slash and burn agriculture become environment friendly?

Slash and burn agriculture, also called Jhum cultivation, has also contributed to the deforestation.

In this type of cultivation, the farmers cut down the trees of the forest and then burn the plants remains. The ash so obtained serves as a fertilizer. This land is then used for farming. After cultivation, the land is left for several years to recover its nutrients. Meanwhile, the farmers move on and do the same process on some other land. With increasing population, this practice is causing deforestation to a large extent.

The slash and burn agriculture can become environment friendly if-

i) The practice is carried out on small widely scattered plots in order to protect the forests.

ii) The land on which once it is practiced is left for longer period of time for nutrient recovery.