Sustainable Sloping Lands and Watershed Management Conference Debating Shifting Cultivation in the Eastern Himalayas: Farmers Innovations as Lessons for

Despite intensive and lengthy government efforts throughout the eastern Himalayan region to control shifting cultivation, the practice remains entrenched over large areas. The study presented here is based on the idea that shifting cultivation must make some sense, if hundreds of millions of farmers continue to practise it despite all incentives to stop. It was designed to take a fresh and unbiased look at the practice, and especially at innovations introduced by farmers in response to contemporary pressures and restraints. The hope was to find innovations that would help resolve the current situation, in which external development and policy interventions are not taking effect while the practice of shifting cultiva-tion is deteriorating as a result of the limitations imposed on it. The aim was to raise awareness on issues related to shifting cultivation, to establish a platform for exchange of ideas, and to develop detailed policy recommendations to support the work of governments. The research presented in this study identifies farmers ’ traditional practices and more recent indigenous innovations that contribute to the benefits this farming system has to offer. These benefits accrue both to the practitioners and to other stakeholders, including national governments. Shifting cultivation and the farmers ’ innovations in particular were found to contribute to forest cover and biodiversity conservation, while at the same time maintaining agricultural and forest productivity. Commercial niche products and organic farming contribute to economic development that is adjusted to mountain circumstances and builds on existing potential. The local institutions developed by shifting cultivation communities were found to be relatively strong, and to enhance social security and cultural integrity. Development ap-proaches that build on this existing potential and capacity are likely to be more acceptable to the farmers concerned and more achievable. Realising this potential, and the need for policy changes across the region, the Shifting Cultivation Re