Practice of shifting cultivation by Orissa tribals poses threat to environment

Rayagada (Orissa) -  Shifting cultivation practiced by the tribals in Orissa's Rayagada District is posing threat to the environment and forest resources.

The state's forests are on the verge of extinction as they face rampant timber smuggling, extensive mining, unplanned industrialisation and uncontrolled cattle grazing.

Talking to mediapersons, Bharat Kania, a tribal from Rayagada district said that they are forced to undertake deforestation due to the absence of sufficient cultivable land.

"Actually this area is tribal dominated and poverty stricken area. More than 60 percent tribal does not have their own land, so they cut the trees and burn it. Then after cleaning this area, they do cultivation and grow pulses, ragi, millets and other crops and earn their livelihood," said Kania.

In practicing shifting cultivation, the tribals are compelled to set fire to the forest areas and clean the high land to carry out cultivation. This leads to the degradation of the forest area and depletion of its various resources.

"Actually here (on the upland), we used to do this kind of shifting cultivation. We don't own any land. Work is also not available. So how would we survive? This is why; we cut the trees and do this cultivation. We are growing different type of pulses and crop and earning our livelihood," said Bhushan Bidika, another tribal

The total forest cover in Rayagada district during the year 2001 was 3197.4 square kilometres. Presently, it has reduced to 2919 square kilometres.

According to media reports, forests are continuously disappearing at a rate of 2.7 percent per year.

"Their primary need is that they need to grow crops which they do mainly nearby their habitat on the uplands, by cutting the trees. Because of lack of awareness, government needs to do something for it (their awareness). Unless they become sufficiently educated, this problem can not be solved as such," said Bijay Ketan Acharya, Divisional Forest Officer in Rayagada district.

Rayagada district is a land of meadows, forests, water falls and terraced valleys, inhabited by many primitive tribal groups.