A Scale to Measure the Attitude of Farmers towards Shifting Cultivation

Shifting cultivation, also known as Jhum cultivation is the traditional slash-and-burn cultivation in hilly areas of northeast India. This type of cultivation is age old and practiced from generation to generation. This practice is considered as a hazardous practice that effects the environment. It is often considered as the main causes of forest fires, flash flood and soil erosion resulting in reduced and degraded primary land resource. The negative impact of such practice has triggered serious alarm to implement effective strategies. The only possible means to sustain the environment could be organic farming, considering the minimal usage of chemicals by the people of the region by nature. However, it is not easy to eliminate this practice since it is linked to culture and socio-economic conditions (Debral, 2002). Though several strategies and approaches have been followed to change the mindset of the farmers to shift from Jhum cultivation to a more sustainable form of cultivation, there seems to be not much improvement. Therefore, it was of interest to find out the attitude of the farmers towards shifting cultivation so that more effective strategies can be developed by decision makers, policy planners and extension functionaries.