Question

Which of the following is not associated with Swidden Agriculture ?
a)Karacha
b)Jhum
c)Bewar
d)Panda

Answer 1

Hint: Swidden agriculture is the agricultural practice in which a land cleared by cutting the woods, burning it and then the nutrient rich layer of ash works as a fertile ground for farms. It is also called shifting cultivation.

Complete answer: Swidden agriculture is known by different names in different areas. Let us look at the options given to us.
Option (A) Karacha is a nomadic community of South India. Karachas and Koravas lost livelihood when shifting cultivation was banned by the British in Madras Presidency
Option (B) Jhum is the name by which shifting or swidden agriculture is known in hilly areas of North eastern India like Meghalaya ,Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh. The crops grown in this method are rice, millet and buckwheat.
Option (C ) Bewar is the name by which shifting cultivation is known in areas of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It is practiced mostly by the Baiga community. Little millet is the chief crop grown through bewar cultivation.
Option (D) Panda is the name by which swidden agriculture is known in areas of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra .Madia tribe in the hills of Bhamragadh in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra practice penda cultivation.

Therefore the correct answer is option (A) karacha.

Note: In countries outside India shifting cultivation is known as ‘Milpa’ in Mexico and Central America, ‘Conuco’ in Venezuela, ‘Roca’ in Brazil, ‘Masole’ in Central Africa, ‘Ladang’ in Indonesia, ‘Ray’ in Vietnam. In India it is also known ‘Pama Dabi’ or ‘Koman’ or Bringa’ in Odisha, ‘Kumari’ in Western Ghats, ‘Valre’ or ‘Waltre’ in South-eastern Rajasthan, ‘Khil’ in the Himalayan belt, ‘Kuruwa’ in Jharkhand etc.