A STUDY OF PRACTICES OF JHUM (HUK) CULTIVATION AMONG THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF TRIPURA

Abstract

This study examines the practice of Jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation) as the foundational socio-cultural and economic pillar of the indigenous Borok (Tipra) communities in Tripura. For tribes like the Debbarma, Reang, and Jamatia, Jhum is an ancestral institution governing their rituals, diet, and social structure. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the research documents traditional practices from site selection to the mixed-cropping of rice, oilseeds, and vegetables. However, the research shows that while Jhum preserves high agrobiodiversity, the modern reduction of the fallow cycle to 2–3 years has caused severe soil degradation and decreased food security. The paper analyses the tension between state-driven rubber plantation transitions and the preservation of tribal heritage. It concludes that a "scientific Jhum" model, integrating indigenous ecological knowledge with modern agroforestry, is essential to sustain the livelihoods and cultural identity of Tripura’s indigenous people in a changing climate.