Commercial Forestry and Cultivation

Q.

Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists:

• Waste Land rules

• Forest Acts

• Criminal Tribes Act

• Grazing Tax

Q. Chitemene and Tavy refer to shifting cultivation in which of the following places?

1. Sri Lanka
2. Southeast Asia
3. Africa
4. India

Q. Why did the British ban shifting cultivation?

1. Shifting cultivation was not feasible as it facilitated growth of food crops like maize and millets, not cash crops like tea and coffee.
2. Shifting cultivation made it difficult for the British to keep track of taxes.
3. Shifting cultivation destroyed the timber which the British wanted and had an added concern that the fire would destroy the forest.
4. Shifting cultivation was unyielding to the farmers and the British wanted to improve farmers livelihoods by promoting better agricultural practices.

Q.

Q. Which of the following is/are not alternate name(s) for shifting cultivation?

1. Milpa
2. Chitemene
3. Cassava
4. Khandad

Q. There are many similarities in the way in which the modern world forced changes in the lives of pastoral communities in India and East Africa. Write about any two examples of changes which were similar for Indian pastoralists and the Maasai herders.

Q. Swidden cultivation is known by which of the following names in India?

1. Tavy
2. Penda
3. Bewar
4. Podu
5. Milpa
6. Chena
7. Jhum
8. Kumri

Q. Swidden cultivation is also known as which of the following in India?

1. Podu
2. Milpa
3. Tavy
4. Chena

Q. This practice of cultivation has been around for a long time but has been banned now. It causes an ecological imbalance, but this imbalance can be restored after a decade. What practice are we talking about here?

1. Milpa
2. Kowori
3. Jhadu
4. Mixed cropping