(a) whether the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has asked the State Governments of
Assam and others in the North East to make alternative arrangements for shifting cultivators
engaged in Jhum cultivation;
(b) if so, the reaction and response of the NER State Governments thereto;
(c) the extent of nutrient soil estimated to have been degraded year to year due to Jhum
cultivation; and
(d) the extent of soil deposited per year into the sea on this account?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTILAL BHURIA)
(a) The ICAR has been recommending alternatives to shifting cultivation. However, the
Council has not issued any directives to state government of Assam & other N-E states in this
regard.
(b) State Governments and North East Council are implementing Watershed Development Project
for Shifting Cultivation Areas and Jhum Rehabilitation Programme based on the research findings
of ICAR.
(c) The nutrient loss per annum has been estimated to be around 11, 0.4 and 6 thousand
tonnes of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, respectively.
(d) The extent of soil loss due to Jhum cultivation is approximately 77 million
tonnes/year, out of which about one fourth may be lost to the sea.