In which part of country is 'Jhoom farming' famous?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
Jhoom farming, also widely known as shifting cultivation, slash-and-burn agriculture, or 'Jhum,' is a traditional agricultural practice most famous and prevalent in the **North-Eastern** part of India. This method involves clearing a patch of forest or land, burning the vegetation, cultivating crops for a few seasons until the soil fertility declines, and then moving to a new patch, allowing the original land to recover naturally. The practice is deeply rooted in the culture and tradition of the tribal communities inhabiting the hilly and forested regions of North-East India, including states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. The steep terrain, high rainfall, and dense forest cover of this region historically made Jhum the most suitable way to sustain agriculture.

The incorrect option is 1 (Northern):
The Northern parts of India, which include states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, are predominantly characterized by flat, fertile alluvial plains of the Indo-Gangetic system. Agriculture here is primarily intensive, settled farming—relying heavily on irrigation and permanent cultivation, especially of crops like wheat and rice. Due to the favorable geography, high population density, and established irrigation infrastructure, the traditional, itinerant practice of Jhoom farming is not famous or widespread in the Northern plains.

The incorrect option is 2 (Western):
The Western part of India, encompassing states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, features varied geography including arid plains, plateaus (like the Deccan), and coastal regions. While farming is extensive, it includes cash crops and dryland agriculture. Jhoom farming is not a characteristic feature of this region; for instance, areas like Rajasthan practice rain-fed and irrigated farming, while coastal Maharashtra uses plantation and settled rice cultivation methods. Shifting cultivation is entirely unsuited to the semi-arid climate and geographical conditions found in much of Western India.

The incorrect option is 4 (Southern):
The Southern part of India, particularly the peninsular region including states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, is known for intensive, settled cultivation, plantations (tea, coffee, spices), and extensive rice farming in the river deltas and coastal plains. While some localized tribal communities may practice forms of shifting cultivation known by different regional names, 'Jhoom farming' specifically is not the famous or primary form of agriculture associated with Southern India. The term Jhoom is overwhelmingly linked to the unique cultural and ecological systems of the North-East.