An economic valuation of shifting cultivation and its alternative land use system in Manipur

Environmental problems related to agriculture and rural developments have been a major public concern in India in recent years. The policies and programs aiming at promoting alternative land use practices of shifting cultivation have failed largely to achieve the desired goal. The present study aims to examine the economic valuation of shifting cultivation and its alternative land use system in Manipur. The study was based on primary data from 70 respondents practicing shifting cultivation and following several studies. The financial analysis under the three land-use systems demonstrated that the highest annual gross benefit per hectare was obtained from horticulture followed by annual cash crop and lowest benefit by shifting cultivation. In terms of net present value, annual cash crops appear to be the best performer followed by horticulture and shifting cultivation. When the environmental costs were taken into account, annual cash crops appear to be the most costly land-use system, with horticulture becoming most profitable. Shifting cultivation lies in between these two land use systems.