Question

Why did the British government ban this shifting cultivation in India?

Answer 1

HEY,

In shifting cultivation, parts of forests are cut and burnt in rotation. Seeds are sown in the ashes  after the first monsoon rains.

The following prompted Europeans to ban it.:

1. They regarded this practice as harmful for forests. They felt that the land which was used for cultivation every few years could not grow trees for railway timber.

2. When a forest was burnt, there was the added danger of the flames spreading and burning- valuable timber.

3. Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate taxes. Therefore, the British government decided to ban shifting cultivation.

Hope that helps.