In this system, farming communities clear a patch of forest, burn the vegetation to release nutrients into the soil, and plant crops. After a few harvest cycles, the soil fertility drops, and the farmers abandon the plot to let it regenerate while they move to a new area. It requires vast tracts of land to allow for sufficient fallow periods.
Heard on the job
The village is preparing a new jhum plot on the hillside for this coming monsoon season.
Also heard as
- jhum cultivation
- shifting cultivation