The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Shifting cultivation is a primitive subsistence farming method where a plot of land is cleared and cultivated for a short period. Once the soil fertility declines, the farmer abandons the plot to allow natural vegetation to regenerate and moves to a new patch of land.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Shifting cultivation is widely known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. This name derives from the practice of cutting down (slashing) the vegetation on a plot of land and burning the debris to clear the area and add potash to the soil.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: This system does not involve permanent cultivation. It is characterized by the rotation of fields rather than crops. Cultivation is temporary (usually 2-3 years), and the land is left fallow for a significant period to restore fertility naturally. It is typically practiced on small, scattered plots rather than large agricultural fields.
- Statement 3 is Correct: In India, this practice is predominantly found in the hilly and forested regions of North-East India (such as Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland), where it is locally known as ‘Jhuming’ or Jhum cultivation. It is also practiced in parts of Central India and the Western Ghats under different local names.
Key Takeaway
Shifting cultivation is a temporary, slash-and-burn agricultural system primarily practiced by tribal communities in tropical forest regions, distinct from sedentary or permanent agriculture due to its cyclical land abandonment.