Shifting Cultivation—A Way of Life of Kandhas of Kandhamal: Is it Under Threat?

Abstract

Forest is a complex phenomenon characterized by distinct configurations of vegetation and wildlife. Human interference shapes its development under specific climate conditions. The continuous practice of slashing and burning changes the patterns of vegetation and animal populations. Critics perceive shifting cultivation as an environmentally harmful practice, while others argue that it is a specific adaptation to forests and hill environments. This article examines the existing shifting cultivation practices of the Kandha tribe in Odisha, India. The Kandha contest the dominant narratives on shifting cultivation, or poduchas, and argue to assert their rights over the forest and nature. They claim themselves to be the “Sons of the Soil” and forest inhabitants. Their life-worlds and culture rely on their symbiotic relationship with nature. This worldview intertwines the practice of living in “nature” with agriculture, which is considered a separate activity. However, today economic “development” and sociocultural changes have broken down the relationships between the Kandha tribe and their natural habitat. They resent the presence of exploitative traders and governments who have forced poduchas to become their primary means of subsistence. Resistance to market-mediated relations and the resilience of traditional food collection methods characterize present-day living. As a result, the Kandhas continue living the way they are familiar with, favoring both the people and nature. The present article, based on ethnographic field research, examines the changing practices and worldviews embedded in the sociocultural as well as economic lives of the Kandhas.