Jhum cultivation declining in Meghalaya

Shillong, Jan 30 (UNI) The Meghalaya government today said jhum cultivation was on the wane in the state, state Additional Chief Secretary W M S Pariat said here today.

Inaugurating a two-day workshop on ''Scientific Management of Jhum Areas'', organised by Meghalaya Soil and Water Conservation Department, he said, '' The reason may be that jhum is no longer a lucrative option or simply because people have stopped cultivation altogether because of lack of land and switching over to new vocations. '' He said implementation of the schemes to control jhum cultivation should not be a watertight compartment, but have an integrated approach.

'' Barring the decrease in the jhuming cycle from 20 to 30 years to three to six years, this method of cultivation is arguably the one that is most suited in the hills of Meghalaya and perhaps in the whole of North Eastern Region, '' Mr Pariat opined.

State Agricultural Production Commissioner V S Oberoi said the present allocation of fund of Rs 10,000 per hectare for treatable areas was not sufficient for the required treatment because of the terrain and rainfall condition in Meghalaya.

He felt that the state government should urge the Union Ministry of Agriculture&Cooperation to consider raising this norm from the Eleventh Plan period itself.

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