Jum (shifting/swidden cultivation)

Jum (shifting/swidden cultivation) had been main source of earning livelihood for the indigenous people of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh from the time imemorial. Still, even in 21 decade, a lot of people (where arable lands are scanty or not available) resort to Jum cultivation. A mandatory preparatory work for jum cultivation i.e. slash and burn starts normally from 2nd half of February to 1st half of April. After the small trees and other vegetation are burnt into ashes seeds of different crops are sown in the prepared jum land. During 2nd half of April when the monsoon makes a mild start, this sowing is done. The picture shows fire line with smoke of Jum area under preparation for cultivation in the hills of the CHT.![Burning of jum in CHT.jpg]