Question

Why was shifting agriculture stopped? What was its impact on local communities?

Answer 1

Shifting agriculture was stopped due to three major reasons :

• European foresters regarded this practice as harmful for the forests. They felt that land was used for cultivation every few years could not grow trees for railway timber.
• When a forest was burnt, there was the added danger of the flames spreading and burning valuable timber.
• Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate taxes.
• Impact. Many communities were forcibly displaced from their homes in the forests. Some had to change occupations, while some resisted through large and small rebellions.