Final shift

The slasb-and-burn method of cultivation is ecologically disastrous and economically fruitless for the tribals. To provide a viable alternative to this shifting cultivation, the Social Forestry Project of Orissa in collaboration with the Swedish International Development Agency chose 14 landless tribals in Bhatiguda village of the state as beneficiaries under Forest Fanning for Rural Poor programme on an experimental basis (The Indian Forester, Vol 121; No 5).

Each beneficiary family was provided financial support and half a hectare of plantation to raise agricultural crops in the space between rows of plants. The tribals completely abandoned shifting cultivation.