Kohima: International University Nagaland is launching a state-wide research drive to modernize traditional jhum cultivation. Shifting cultivation has long defined Naga life. Now, population growth and changing weather have squeezed land rotation cycles from fifteen years down to just three or five. This shift causes massive soil erosion and hurts crop yields.
An interdisciplinary team is testing a hybrid agroforestry model. They plan to mix ginger, cardamom, pepper, and medicinal herbs with native trees. This approach stabilizes steep hills and removes the need for constant burning. It keeps the soil healthy without forcing farmers to abandon their roots. Registrar Dr. Roopam Bachhil and Director Prof. Zavise Rume lead the charge. "Our goal is not to force our farmers to completely abandon their ancestral practices, but to empower them with scientific innovations that protect our state's incredible biodiversity," Bachhil said.
The university is backing the work with labs, funding, and modern gear. They want to turn subsistence farming into a sustainable business. Prof. Rume plans to turn these research findings into training modules for village councils and extension workers. Field trials start this monsoon season across selected villages. The team will work closely with farming cooperatives and student volunteers to monitor soil health. Ultimately, the university intends to pitch this framework to the Nagaland Department of Agriculture. They hope to drive up rural incomes while restoring the state's vanishing forest cover.
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