Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Dynamics of Shifting Cultivation in Relation to Slope and Elevation in Parts of Nagaland, India


Affiliations
1 North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam 793 103, India
 

Shifting cultivation in North Eastern Region of India is practised along the hill slopes by tribes of the region for subsistence living. The present study was carried out to examine the dynamics of shifting cultivation in relation to slope and elevation in Mokokchung, Teunsang and Wokha districts of Nagaland. Temporal Advanced Widefield Sensor data of Resources I were used to derive information on the changes and spatial extent of shifting cultivation areas in these districts. Slope and elevation parameters were derived from Shuttle Radar Thematic Mapper data. The study found a change in current shifting cultivation lands to regenerating shifting cultivation. All three districts showed an increasing trend in regenerating shifting cultivation and decrease in current shifting cultivation lands. A shift of cultivation plots towards higher elevations was noted. Southern slopes are mostly occupied for shifting cultivation by tribal communities in these areas.

Keywords

Remote Sensing, Slope, Shifting Cultivation.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Kelly, L., The Role of Crop Yields in Shifting Cultivation, Ph D dissertation, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 1975.

  • Spencer, J. E., Shifting Cultivation in South-Eastern Asia, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1966, 19, 1–179.

  • McGrath, D. G., The role of biomass in shifting cultivation. Hum. Ecol., 1987, 15, 221–242; doi:10.1007/BF00888381.

  • Fujisaka, S., Hurtado, L. and Uribe, R., A working classification of slash and burn agricultural systems. Agroforestry Syst., 1996, 34, 151–169.

  • Kerkhoff, E. and Sharma, E., Debating Shifting Cultivation in the Eastern Himalayas. Farmers’ Innovations as Lessons for Policy. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, 2005.

  • AIPP/IWGIA/IKAP, Shifting Cultivation and Climate Change, Briefing paper for UNFCCC Intersessional Meeting, Bangkok. AIPP, IWGIA, IKAP, 2009.

  • Kafle, G., An overview of shifting cultivation with reference to Nepal. Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv., 2011, 3(5), 147–154.

  • Saikia, S., Shifting cultivation and environmental problems in North East India. J. Econ. Bus. Spring, 2014, 1(1), 52–59.

  • Shoaib, J. U., Mostafa, G. and Rahman, M., A Case Study on Soil Erosion Hazard in Hilly Regions of Bangladesh, Annual Report, SRDI, Dhaka, 1998.

  • Sarma, K. and Barik, S. K., Geomorphological risk and conservation imperatives in Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Meghalaya using geoinformatics. NeBIO, 2010, 1(2). 14–24.

  • Grogan, P., Lalnunmawia, F. and Tripathi, S. K., Shifting cultivation in steeply sloped regions: a review of management options and research priorities for Mizoram state, Northeast India, Agroforest Syst., 2012, 84, 163–177.

  • Singh, J. and Dhillon, S. S., Agricultural Geography, Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi, 2004, p. 52.

  • Kumar, M. and Biswas, V., Identification of potential sites for urban development using GIS based multi criteria evaluation technique. A case study of Shimla municipal area, Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, India. J. Settlements Spatial Plann., 2013, 4(1), 45–51.

  • Paul, V. I., Shifting cultivation in Nagaland and the associated environmental impacts. J. Exp. Zool., 2008, 11(2), 325–330.

  • Kant, P. and Katwal, R. P. S., Exploring possibilities of reforestation of forest lands exposed to encroachment and shifting cultivation in the North Eastern India through clean development mechanism. In Proceedings of the National Workshop on Technological Innovations and Research Advancements for Application in Joint Forest Management held at Dehradun, 2003, p. 154.

  • National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Manual National Land Use Land Cover Mapping using Multi-temporal Satellite Data, NRSA, Hyderabad, 2005, pp. 9–10.

  • Sarma, K., Yadav, P. K. and Sarmah, R. K., Landscape dynamics in relation to slope and elevation in Garo hills of Meghalaya, India using geospatial technology. Global J. Hum. Soc. Sci. (B), 2013, 13(2), 18–27.

  • Paul, S., Remote Sensing Indian Agriculture GIS Applications, in Agriculture and, Supply Chain Management, RMSI, 2009.


Abstract Views: 339

PDF Views: 111




  • Dynamics of Shifting Cultivation in Relation to Slope and Elevation in Parts of Nagaland, India

Abstract Views: 339  |  PDF Views: 111

Authors

Jenita Mary Nongkynrih
North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam 793 103, India
Chwadaka Pohshna
North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam 793 103, India
Kamani Kanta Sarma
North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam 793 103, India

Abstract


Shifting cultivation in North Eastern Region of India is practised along the hill slopes by tribes of the region for subsistence living. The present study was carried out to examine the dynamics of shifting cultivation in relation to slope and elevation in Mokokchung, Teunsang and Wokha districts of Nagaland. Temporal Advanced Widefield Sensor data of Resources I were used to derive information on the changes and spatial extent of shifting cultivation areas in these districts. Slope and elevation parameters were derived from Shuttle Radar Thematic Mapper data. The study found a change in current shifting cultivation lands to regenerating shifting cultivation. All three districts showed an increasing trend in regenerating shifting cultivation and decrease in current shifting cultivation lands. A shift of cultivation plots towards higher elevations was noted. Southern slopes are mostly occupied for shifting cultivation by tribal communities in these areas.

Keywords


Remote Sensing, Slope, Shifting Cultivation.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv114%2Fi05%2F1094-1099