Jhum (Shifting Cultivation) Improvement & Fallow Management Programme

Why it matters

Helps jhum-practising farmers improve yields and food security on their existing shifting-cultivation plots through better seed varieties and farming techniques, without forcing an abrupt change of practice.

What you get

Since jhum cultivation covers around 60% of Nagaland's food-grain area and remains central to half of rural households, the state agriculture department runs targeted interventions to make jhum more productive and sustainable rather than simply discouraging it outright. Under projects including the NAFCC-funded "gene pool conservation of indigenous rice varieties" initiative active in five districts, farmers get access to improved indigenous and high-yield rice varieties (such as SARS-1 and SARS-2), line-sowing training, and improved fallow-period management to let soil recover faster between jhum cycles, raising both food security and long-term land productivity.

Eligibility criteria

• Household practising jhum (shifting) cultivation in a notified project district
• Willingness to adopt improved seed varieties and line-sowing methods
• Participation in farmer field demonstrations

How to apply

1. 1

   Register interest through the village agriculture extension worker

2. 2

   Attend field demonstration and training sessions

3. 3

   Receive improved seed/planting material and adopt recommended practices on the jhum plot

Documents required

• Village council certificate
• Household/farmer identity proof