Slash-and-Burn Agriculture in North-East India

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture in North-East India

Traditional slash-and-burn agricultural cycles are characterized by the alternation of cropping and fallow phases, when secondary vegetation grows. At the end of fallow phases, trees are cut and burnt, and the ashes enrich the soil, thereby allowing a new cropping phase. Slash-and-burn agriculture is considered to be well adapted to tropical climates and soils, and accessible to small farmers because of its low cost. It comprises the contiguous seven sister States (North-east India)-Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland Tripura and the Himalayan state of Sikkim.