Explain ‘Slash and Burn’ agriculture.

Slash and Burn cultivation is a form of primitive subsistence agriculture. It is mainly practised by the tribes in the tropics of Africa, South and Central America and South East Asia. The natural vegetation in the area is cleared by fire. Thus the ashes enhance the fertility of the soil. Thus slash and burn agriculture is also called shifting cultivation.

Mostly the area cultivated is very small. Farming is done with primitive and basic tools like sticks and hoes. Cultivation is done there till the soil loses its fertility. After the soil is completely infertile, the farmer shifts to other parts. They clear another area of the forest for cultivation. Subsequently, the farmer may return to the once cultivated earlier area after some time. It has different names in different regions. It is called Jhuming in Northeastern states of India, Milpa in Central America and Mexico and Ladang in Indonesia and Malaysia.