Question

Why did the european foresters discourage the practice of shifting cultivation? give three reasons?

Answer 1

1. They felt that land which was used for cultivation every few years could not grow trees for railway timber
2. There was also a danger for forest fire
3. Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate tanes

Answer 2

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.
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.
When a forest was burnt, there was the added danger of the flames spreading and burning- valuable timber.
Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate taxes. Therefore, the government decided to ban shifting cultivation.