Orissa Review * July - 2006
Shifting Cultivation Among
the Tribes of Orissa
Balaram Dash
Shifting cultivation is considered to be the most Koya -do- Malkangiri sub-
ancient system of agriculture dating back to Division
the lower Neolithic period. It is also known as Gadaba -do- Similiguda &
"Field Forest Rotation" or slash and burn
Pottangi area of
agriculture. Shifting cultivation is practiced in
Koraput Sub-
some form or other in almost all the tribal areas
Division
of Orissa.
Paroja -do- D a s a ma n t a p u r
A number of tribes inhabiting different
area of Koraput
areas of the state are practicing shifting
cultivation. These tribes are Bondo, Didayi, Sub-division
Koya, Gadaba, Paroja, Soura, Kutia Kondha, Lanjia Soura -do- Puttasingi area of
dongaria Kondha, Kandha, Parenga, Jatapur, Gunupur Sub-
Juang, Paudi Bhuyan, Erenga Kolha etc. Division
Majority of these communities have been
Ganjam P a r la k he mu n d i
identified as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs).
Sub-division
The following statement reveals information
on the tribes with reference to the area where (a) Kondh Koraput Koraput Sub-
shifting cultivation is practiced. Division, Rayagada
Statement showing a list of tribes Sub-division
practicing shifting cultivation in different areas Phulbani Kandhamal Sub-
of the state; division
Tribe District Area Kalahandi Th. Rampur and
(undividied) Lanjigarh of
Bondo Koraput Khairput area of K a la h a n d i
Malkangiri Sub- Sub-division
Division Sambalpur Bamara area of
Didayi -do- Kudumulgumma Deogarh Sub-
area of Malkangiri Division, Rairakhol
Sub-division Sub-Division
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
(b) Kutia Koraput Gudari, Ramanguda Saraba or Baru is the term used by the Saora
Kondh Muniguda, Chan- of Ganjam to distinguish their swiddens. The
drapur area of Dongria Kondh of Rayagada district call it
Gunupur Sub- Haru and the Desia Kondh of Rairakhol and
Division. Bamra sub-division, 'Rama'. The Kondh of
Phulbani Balliguda Sub- Kalahandi district use different term, 'Dongar
Division Chasa' and livang or Kunda Chasa is the term
prevalent among the Bonda of Malkangiri
(c) Dongria Koraput Bisamcuttack area district. Shifting cultivation practiced by the
Kondh of Gunupur Sub- Koya of Malkangiri district in the foot hills is
Division. called Lanka podesanad. It is more or less like
Juang Keonjhar Telkoi, Harichan- Dahi cultivation which is extensively practiced
drapur area of in Sambalpur, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Koraput
Keonjhar Sub- and Ganjam hill areas.
division Area Under Shifting Cultivation :
Paudi Keonjhar Telkoi, Banspal The problem of shifting cultivation is
Bhuyan area of Keonjhar perhaps most acute in Orissa than any other
Sub-division State in the country. Although at present an
Sundargarh Bonai Sub-division accurate data on the areas under shifting
cultivation is not available, yet some rough
Dhenkanal Pallahara Sub-
estimates have been made. Before 1936 when
Division
the new State of Orissa was formed, this was
Sambalpur Bamara area of not a matt er of much concern to t he
Deogarh sub- administration for the only locality where it
Division was practiced was in the Kandhamals and the
Erenga Sundargarh Bonai Sub- tribes involved were the Kondh, the Soura of
Kolha division Ganjam and Koraput districts. At that time
certain tribal belts where shifting cultivation
Parenga Koraput Puttasingi area of was being practiced were under princely states
Koraput Sub- and those states were annexed to the State of
Division Orissa later.
Cultivation The areas affected by Podu cultivation
Different tribes of Orissa practicing was about 300 sq. miles approximately prior
shifting cultivation have different names for this to 1936. It became nearly 12,000 sq.miles in
kind of subsistence activity. These are usually 1948 after annexation of princely States. The
expressed by the names given to their swiddens population of tribes engaged in this type of
among different categories of land under cultivation was about 10 lakhs. In the pre-plan
cultivation. The Juang of Keonjhar call it Toila periods, attempts were made to make an
chasa and their brother tribe, the Paudi Bhiyan estimate of the area under shifting cultivation
identify it by Toila, Biringa or Kaman, Bagada, in the State. Dr. H.F. Mooney had made an
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
estimation about the area under shifting by all the villagers in common. Every year in
cultivation in 1951 as 12,770 sq.miles or about the month of Magha (January-February) the
one-fifth of the tribal land surface in the state village headman and the priest select the land
was affected by shifting cultivation and nearly for cultivation. Generally the patch which has
one million tribal people depended upon this completed its rotation cycle and is sufficiently
method of raising crops for their living. covered with trees and bushes is considered
The best source of information now suitable to be cleared for shifting cultivation.
available regarding coverage under shifting After the patch is selected, the headman
cultivation are the vegetation map of India, demarcates the boundary lines by putting mark
prepared by institute, Francis, Pondicherry, on trees by axe and the land is sub-divided into
India. several plots which are allot ted to the
households. The ownership of land after
The following statement gives the area allotment is transferred to the head of the
under shifting cultivation as available from household for a period of 2 to 3 years till he
different sources : cultivates it actively.
Sl. Source Year Pop.Size Area affected
No. Sq.Km. Hectors
1. H.F. Mooney 1951 9,35,700 32681.2 32,68,120
2. ICAR 1958 10,00,000 8000.0 8,60,000
3. Dhebor Comm. 1960-61 9,35,700 8333.35 8,33,335
4. French Inst. Pondichery 1967 7,06,412 30233.0 30,23,358
& ICAR
5. FAO/UNFPA 1980 7,06,400 26490.0 26,49,000
6. Task Force 1983 - 26490.0 26,49,000
7. F.R.T.S.-I 1984 - 9200.92 920092.30
Imaginary
Ownership Right : In Koraput and Ganjam areas the
The type of ownership of swiddens communal ownership of the village over Podu
varies among the tribes from individual land is completely absent. Each household
ownership to communal ownership which is owns a number of sites on hill slopes and uses
governed by tribal customary rules. these in rotation. In course of time Podu land
has become private property which can be
Among the Juang and Pauri Bhuiyan of owned and inherited by customary right. There
Keonjhar district the land under shifting is no legal sanction behind it. A Bonda even
cultivation is the communal property owned sells his plots under shifting cultivation to
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
another and mortgages it whenever he is in Among the Saora the swiddens are
need. Among the Koya the unreserved forest owned individually and are mo rtgaged
land, is treated as private property and is also whenever needed shifting cultivation starts with
inherited by the legal heirs. the work of treefelling and bush clearing in
Techniques of Shifting Cultivation : Few the month of November-December. After the
Case Studies Lanjia Saora : trees are felled, these are allowed to dry up in
situ for three months. The Saora do not cut
The Lanjia Saora constitute a primitive useful fruit bearing trees and creepers. In the
section of the Saora t ribe. The main month of March they are set on fire. In the
concentration of the Lanjia Saora is in the month of April the Saora sow Kandula by
districts of Ganjam and Koraput. According dropping the seeds in the dibbled holes made
to 1981 census the total population of the Saora in rows. After the germination of red grams
was 3,70,061. they sow all other seeds such as, small and
The Lanjia Saora is distinguished among large millets like kangu, Jena, ganga ghantia
other tribes for absence of clan system. The and pulses like jhudunga and burubudi mixed
main exogamous unit is the extended family together. As soon as the seeds are sown they
called Birinda descended from a common do the hoeing so that the soil get mixed up
ancestor, which is based on patrilineage. Each with the ash covering seeds.
Lanjia Saora village, politically speaking is The task of weeding is taken up in the
autonomous, locally self-supporting and self month of June by women only. For six months
contained. from August to January both men and women
The economic life of the Saora centers guard the crops grown in the swiddens against
around two types of agriculture, shifting the ravage of wild animals by raising temporary
cultivation in the hill slopes and terrace huts. In August crops like Kangu, small ganga,
cultivation in the gentle slope at the foot-hill. in November ganga ghantia, burubwdi and
They supplement their income by forest Jhudanga, in December Jena, in January
collections. Kandula is harvested. Every two years the
Saora plant turmeric in part of the swiddens.
Most of the agricultural activities
particularly the works relating to shifting Paudi Bhuyan
cultivation is done on a cooperative basis, on The Paudi Bhuyan, a primitive section
the principles of reciprocity. The shifting of the Bhuyan tribe inhabit a contiguous
cultivation of the Lanjia Saora is known by mountaineous pocket called Bhuyan pirh in
the term Bagada Chasa or Barun and every Keonjhar district, and also found in Bonai and
family, irrespective of economic status has a Pallahara sub-divisions of Sundargarh and
few patches of swiddens in the hill-slopes Dhenkanal districts respectively. The total
yielding mainly minor millets and pulses. Bhuyan population according 1981 census was
The Saora carry out shifting cultivation 2,07,792.
in the hill-slopes. Due to the impact of growing The economic life of the Paudi Bhuyan
population the period of Podu cycle has mainly revolve round shifting cultivation. It is
shrinked from 12-18 years to 4-6 years. supplemented by collection of minor forest
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
produce and to some extent by wet and dry Kutia Kondh :
cultivation, hunting and fishing. The Kutia Kondh constitute a primitive
Among the Paudi Bhuyan shifting section of the great Kondh tribe of Orissa. They
cultivation in general is known by the name are found in a contiguous pocket comprising
Taila chasa, the field under first year of the Belghar area of Balliguda sub-division in
cultivation is known as Biringa, the second year Kandhamal district and Lanjigarh area of
as Kaman and the third year as Guda. The Podu Kalahandi district.
land are located on the hill slopes, hill-tops
The Kutia's derive their livelihood
and at foot hills between 5 to 12 degree slope.
primarily from shifting cultivation. A particular
After cultivating a patch for three years patch of forest or hill slope land is used for
the fallow period is observed for 5 to 7 years shifting cultivation for t hree years
for recuperation. The reduction in recuperative consecutively and then it is left fallow for more
cycle is chiefly on account of increase of than five years to recuperate. After selection
population and shortage of land. The swiddens of site and allotment of plots, each family takes
are owned communally and distributed among care of its respective plot in giving boundary
individual families according to their need and mark and cleaning the area.
capacity.
Forest clearing takes place in the month
The first year shift ing cultivation of March-April. They do not cut the trees from
(Biringa) involves several stages such as ground level and also the fruit bearing trees.
selection of hill slopes in the month of After the felled trees dry up they set fire on it
December-January, tree felling and bush in the month of April-May. Then they work
clearning (Guchakata) February-April, drying the soil with digging sticks to mix the ashes in
up of felled trees and firing in April-May, the soil. After first showr a mixture of seeds
sowing in July, ploughing & Hoeing in July, such as kandul, jhudang, black gram, kating
weeding and debushing in September-October, are sown by dibbling. When the soil get
guarding the crops grown in the first year are sufficiently wet they sow a mixture of seeds
Kulthi, Biri, Rasi and various types of of ragi, kosla, gonga and kangu by broad cast.
vegetables, pulses and creepers. Both men and women take part in the operation.
During the second year (Kaman) the Then weeding is done in the month of June-
main crops grown are short duration paddy and July and the weeds are left in the site to be
Jawar, the former sown in the middle of the decomposed. The crops are then guarded round
plot and the latter on the borders. Besides they the clock to protect these from destruction by
cultivate Kada, Mandia, Kangu and various wild animals. The crops are harvested in
types of vegetables in the second year. If a crop succession one after another. Kosla and ragi
fetches good harvest in the second year then it are harvested in the month of October-
is continued for the third year (Guda), and only November and Kandula in the month of
niger is cultivated. The same patch can be February-March. Threshing is done in the Podu
brought under cultivation for the fourth year fields and grains are stored in bamboo baskets
in case there is a good harvest in the third year. and earthern pots.
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
Juang : The Podu land under third year of
The Juang are found in the district of cultivation is known as Nala, where they sow
Keonjhar and Dhenkanal. As per 1981 census paddy or Rasi. After the third year cultivation,
their population was 30,871. Shifting if the land still have some fertility left, it is
cultivation is the mainstay of Juang subsistence again brought under the fourth year cultivation.
economy. In addition, they resort to hunting Didayi :
and food gathering. The swidden plots are
called Toila. A patch of swidden is cultivated The Didayi are a small primitive hill tribe
for two or three consecutive years and there inhabiting forest clad hill-tract hidden inside
after it is left fallow for 5-6 years. The first the inaccessible 4,000' plateau of
year cultivation is called Toila, second year, Kondakamberu range of Eastern ghats which
'Ekan' and third year and fourth year 'Nata'. stretches along the eastern border of Malkangiri
district. Living far away from the mainstream
The tradit ional village council of civilization, this little community is almost
traditionally owns the toila lands located on
unknown to outside world. The name Didayi
hills within the village territory. During
meaning the "wild people" has been bestowed
puspunei festival, under the leadership of the
upon them by their Oriya neighbours, which
village priest, the village elders and family
they have accepted unhesitatingly.
heads select and distribute plots among
themselves after performing rituals. Then They are shifting cultivators and so used
cleaning and felling of trees begins by the to shift their houses from one site to another in
respective allottees. The next phase involves tune with the rotation of their shifting
firing the dried vegetations. The rain water cultivation. As a result, the houses in hill ranges
helps in spreading the ashes all over the field are found lying almost scattered. The houses
which serves as manure. The toila field is then in hill villages are more isolated than the houses
ploughed with the help of bullocks and where in plains. Formerly, the Didayi used to live
ploughing is not possible they work the soil more in the tiny mountain settlements. Today
with the help of hand axe. only a small percentage of households are
They sow rasi (niger), Biri, Koltha and found to live in their traditionally favoured
dibble seeds of beans near the standing dried mountain habitat, t he majority having
trees. When the crops ripe, they watch their comedown and settled on a permanent basis
fields to ward off wild animals. After on the bank of Machkund river or in the valley
harvesting, the food grains are stored in of Kondakamberu range.
bamboo baskets for future use.
The population of the tribe was 1984 as
In the second year the site is called 'ekan'. per 1981 census.
Along with Paddy, in Ekan, a variety of other
crops and vegetables including Kalort, Shifting cultivation on hill slope is the
Akoyang Jinjani, Kasalak, Pumpkin gourd, principal means of subsistence to a large
Saru Khangra Juani and Khude are also grown. majority. It is described as 'bri' a term which is
Besides gourd and cucumber seeds are also synonymous with the term Podu. The Didayi
planted near the dried trees which provide follow their traditional method of practicing
support. shifting cultivation. The crops cultivated are
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
Red gram, Jawar, Black-gram, Brinjal, Niger, practicing shifting cultivation in Orissa was as
Ragi, Suan, etc. low as Rs.158.40 in the year 1967-68 at current
Generally the steep hill slope with rich prices as against the State average of Rs.324.83
vegetations located close to the village is for the same year.
selected for practicing shifting cultivation. The Evils of Shifting Cultivation :
operation starts from winter (January-
The shifting cultivation is considered
February) when the patch is cleared off. The
devastative and dis-advantageous as it not only
Didayi use axe and sickle to cut trees and
causes harm to the eco system but also exerts
shrubs respectively. The felled materials are
negative impact on economy. Some of the evil
allowed to dry up for a month or so after which
effects of such cultivation are :
the fire is set on it. Then the ashes are
distributed all over the plot. The sowing of i) helps the springs to dryup.
seeds starts from June after the on set of ii) results in soil erosion
monsoon, followed by hoeing and weeding
after one and half months, small iron sickles iii) destroys valuable timber
are used for reaping the crop. Threshing is done iv) responsible for causing very heavy
on a clean field specially prepared for this floods, and
purpose. The grain and seeds are stored in
v) silting of the tanks and fields and damage
storing baskets. Alternatively the plot at one
site is cultivated in cyclic rotation for three to crops.
consecutive years and then abandoned for 10 Past attempts to check the practice :
to 12 years. In view of the extent of the area and
Economic Aspect : population affected by shifting cultivation the
In Orissa there are 11 tribal communities State Government have attempted to tackle the
who are partly or wholly dependent on shifting problem by controlling or nationalizing the
cultivation. All these tribes have a very low practice. The colonization programme was
economic status. It is estimated that the introduced during the sixties in the problem
approximate yield of corn per acre including areas to divert the primitive tribes to settled
the creeper grains is 4 puttis (240 kgs.) whereas agriculture by providing cultivable land,
it comes to 8 to 10 puttis (480 to 600 kgs.) in necessary inputs and residential
case of low land on the plains. (Ref : H.K. accommodation. During the first four plans a
Ghosh, Economic Condition of the Tribals in number of colonies have been established in
the district of Ganjam). One of the main reasons the tribal areas. However, in most of the areas
of economic backwardness of the primitive the scheme has not achieved the desired results.
tribes in Orissa is their practice of shifting In this connection a study conducted by THRTI
cultivation. They are still at the subsistence in the year 1960 revealed that in certain
level that is at the level where each family can colonies the tribals are engaged as agricultural
only produce the bare requirements for its and hired labourers although the purpose of
direct consumption. It is also found that the the colonization scheme was to rehabilitate
per capita income of some of the tribes them as owner-cultivators.
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
Besides the colonization scheme, the H.& T.W. Department took up the
programme of rational land use on watershed responsibility for implementing the pilot
basis has been taken up by the State scheme. The schemes were actually grounded
Government through Soil Conservation in 1988-89. Altogether 185 villages were
Department. The programmes included the identified in 7 ITDA areas covering six districts
following : for rehabilitating 6181 podu practicing
families.
(a) Providing land to the tribals who was
willing to give up cultivation on steep slopes. The pilot scheme covered 11,000 ha of
podu areas in Orissa. The scheme was
(b) Plantation of economic species useful for
implemented by multidisciplinary organization
tribal community.
comprising of Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil
(c) Introduction of conservation farming to Conservation, Forest, Animal Husbandry,
allow tribal people to obtain higher production Fishing, Irrigation, etc.
from crop land.
Strategy :
(d) Utilization of steep slopes for production Keeping in view the recommendations
of timber. Under the above scheme a suitable of ICAR as well as World Bank in the proposed
watershed in the shifting cultivation area is model, the following strategies have been
selected and rational land use programme is included.
executed on the existing catchment. A
schemeatic land classification of watershed (a) To promote forestry on upper reaches
management units together with land use with silvipasture development.
programmes was recommended for watershed (b) To break middle slope length for annual
areas for rationalization of shifting cultivation. or perennial fruit trees and inter-crop.
The above programme was first started (c) The lower slopes will be put under
in selected catchments of Koraput district on agricultural crops.
pilot basis and then it was extended to other
Under t his scheme a number of
problem areas in Phulbani, Kalahandi and
programmes were proposed to be implemented
Keonjhar districts. However, these
during the 8th plan period for control of shifting
programmes were inadequate in view of the cultivation with the assistance of Central
vast population and the area affected by shifting Government.
cultivation.
The programmes are, Land/Jhola land
Recent Approach to the Problem : Development, Development of Irrigation,
In June 1987 Government of India, Agriculture Development, Raising of orchards
Ministry of Agriculture floated a pilot scheme and Horticulture Plantations, Raising of
for control of shifting cultivation. It has two plantation crops, Forest Plantation, Pasture
fold objectives i.e. restoring ecological balance development, Animal Husbandry,
in the hill areas and improving socio-economic Development of Pisciculture, Owner's
conditions of tribal podu practicing families subsidiary occupation, construction of village
by weaning them away from podu cultivation path, soil conservation works, training
with 100% Central Assistance. programmes, other works.
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Orissa Review * July - 2006
References : 5. Patnaik, N. (1977), Shifting Cultivation in Orissa,
ADIBASI, Vol.XVI, No.4, pp.1-21.
1. Guha, Uma & others (1968), The Didayi : A
Forgotten Tribe of Orissa, Govt. of India 6. Ibid, A note on Shifting Cultivation in Orissa
Publication Branch, Delhi. (unpublished report).
2. Govt. of Orissa, H & T.W. Deptt. (1991), Control 7. Patnaik, N., & B. Chowdhury, et.al., Shifting
of Shifting Cultivation scheme, Orissa, Annual Cultivation in Orissa, THRTI, Bhubaneswar
Action Plan 1991-92 (unpublished), (1990) (Unpublished reports).
Tribes of Orissa, Bhubaneswar, THRTI, (1996) 8. Rout, S.P. (1969-70), Hand Book on the Juang,
Development Hand Book for the Kutia Kandha ADIBASI, Vol.XI, No.1-4.
of KKDA, Belghar, Phulbani District, SCSTRTI,
Bhubaneswar
3. Mohanty, B. (1986), Shifting Cultivation in
Orissa : A case study among the Juang, ADIBASI,
Vol.XVI, No.4, pp.17-26.
4. Mohapatra, K. & K.B.Debi, (1972-73), Shifting
Cultivation in Orissa, ADIBASI, Vol.XIV, No.4, Balaram Dash lives at PlotNo.27(P) behind Maharshi
pp.11-28. College, Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR M/S JINDAL STAINLESS LTD. KALINGA NAGAR
HELD AT JAJPUR ROAD
Public hearing for M/s Jindal Stainless Ltd. Kalinga Nagar Industrial complex for
their expansion and modification was held on 30.6.2006 at Jajpur Road. On behalf of
M/s Jindal Stainless Ltd their environmental consultant, M/s global Experts described
briefly about the proposed expansion and modification project of 1.6 MTPY. The company
has earlier obtained no objection certificate from State Pollution Control Board, Orissa
and environmental clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forest for their earlier
proposed projects.
The total plant area of 526.09 ha is acquired from IDCO. The plant is based on the
Blast Furnance-EAP-AOD-LF-Continuous casting Rolling Mill (HRM & CRM) routs to
produce finished stainless steel product. It will have 65 MW WHRB power plant to meet
the power requirement. The company will invest nearly Rs.5575 cr. where the capital
investment towards pollution control environmental management and implementation and
community development will be nearly Rs.353 cr. The total employment generation will
be 1844. The company will give preference to local candidates during its employment
process.
However considering the technological / economic viability of the previous project
the management wanted modification / expansion in order to meet the present market
scenario.
84
